CeleBraTe

for works by Chaim Nachman
Bialik. His Far Over the Sea, pub-
lished in 1939 by the Union of
American Hebrew Congregations,
includes a collection of poems
about everything from Tom Thumb
to Shabbat, any of which is perfect
for tiny, tired ears.
Here are a few more ideas for
ushering in Mr. Sandman:
* Leave a love note under your
son's pillow before he goes to
sleep. Write his Hebrew name at
the top.
* If your daughter has bad
dreams, help her create something
that will remind her that God pro-
tects her during the night. You could
make a cloud with stars and hang it
atop the bed, or perch a pretend
bird on the side of her dresser.
* Look for cassettes or CDs of
Jewish stories, and let your children
listen as they fall asleep.
* Though you may believe you
have no artistic talents, your child
certainly won't notice if you embroi-
der familiar, comforting symbols on
a favorite blanket. You could make
your family and a Star of David.
Or, if sewing seems too challeng-
ing, try drawing with a permanent
marker. ❑

Elizabeth Applebaum
AppleTree Editor

A

lullaby is like a river that
gently, slowly cradles chil-
dren and carries them off to
peaceful sleep.
No wonder, then, that so many
mothers choose to put their little
ones to bed with a song.
Probably the most famous Jewish
lullaby is "Raisins and Almonds," a
traditional tune adapted by
Abraham Goldfaden. Goldfaden's
version premiered in the 1 880
operetta Shulamit, which toured
with much success around the coun-
try, including a 1925 appearance
at the Circle Theater on Hastings
Street in Detroit.
A lullaby, a poem, the Sh'ma, a
whisper of eternal love — all are
perfect ways to put your little dears
to sleep. Here are a few more
ideas perfect for Jewish mothers
and fathers.

A Bedtime Blessing
Praised are You,
HaShem our God,
King of the universe,
who closes my eyes in sleep,
my eyelids in slumber.

May it be Your will,
God and God of my fathers,
to lie me down in peace
and raise me up in peace.

Praised are You,
HaShem,
whose majesty gives light to the
world.

There are numerous Jewish lullaby
tapes with songs from the turn of the
century. Their lyrics speak of par-
ents' dreams for a boy well-
schooled in the Torah, a rich future
with a good husband or wife and
many children, a long life.
Put on one of these tapes or CDs
and it's as though you're in another
world, 1930s Europe where bright-
red lipstick is fashionable and men

Kathy Siefman of West Bloomfield gets daughter Alana, 3,
ready for sweet dreams.

wear pin-striped suits and hats.
Even if you were born decades
later, these tender songs are
enough to make you nostalgic.
Two we recommend:
Tania Solnik's "Lullabies and Love
Songs" (1996, DreamSong
Recordings) and "Yiddish Lullabies"
(1991, Israel Music). The latter fea-
tures original recordings of such
greats as Yossele Rosenblat and
Samuel Malaysky.
While you're listening, you might
want to pick up an old-fashioned
book, too. There's nothing like a

story by Sadie Rose
Weilerstein, the most pop-
ular Jewish author of the
1930s. Her books Little
New Angel and What
the Moon Brought are
gentle, sweet stories cer-
tain to delight any young
child. Tales are always
full of fun and hope, and
boys and girls will love
hearing another chapter
each evening.
If poetry is more your
style, be on the lookout

Hashkivenu
Lie us down in peace,
HaShern our God,
and raise us up again in life,
our ruler.
Spread over us Yo'
direct us with -goo• eOtirrsei
and save us for Your narne's-sa
Shield us and remove from
every enemy, pestilenCe,.-.sword
famine and sorroW.
Remove all adversaries
before and behind us
and shelter us in the shadow of Your
wings.
For You are our guarding and saving God,
a gracious and compassionate Ruler.
Guard our going out and our coming in
for life and peace, now and forever.

