AbouT BooKs Lifesaver About The Author In 40 Things You Can Do To Save the Jewish People (Alef Design Group), Joel Lurie Grishaver offers parents guidelines on ways to help and maintain their children's Jewish iden- tities. Written in an easy, comfortable, and, above all, positive voice, the book was includ- ed in the new 100 Essential Books for Jewish Readers by Rabbi Daniel Syme and Cindy Frenkel Kanter. Among Grishaver's suggestions: * Don't force children to attend synagogue or JQeI Lurie Grishaver temple services, but rather create reasons they offers parenting tips will want to go. for- Jewish moms and * Always insist that Shabbat come first — dads. before friends, sports, movies, homework, anything. * Make your home "smell" Jewish. So what if it's only gefilte fish in the jar; it will create powerful memories. * Sleep in a sukkah, don't wear leather shoes on Yom Kippur, and have a great time on Simchat Torah. In the following excerpt, Grishaver offers a bit of advice on what to do for a holiday just around the corner, Purim. Shelach Manot: Try It — You'll Like It Shelach manot is the mitzvah of I giving gifts of food to friends and family on Purim — it is an opportu- nity which should not be missed. ;When it comes to mitzvot, shelach . 1manot is a slam-dunk. The Story: After Haman was ;hanged, the Jews fought back and :defended themselves against all the pogroms that he had planned for them. When the fighting was lover, Mordechai, the new right- : hand man of King Ahasheuerus, sent a royal edict to Jews who I lived everywhere from India to Ethiopia. In this letter he command- led Jews: 1. To tell the story of what hap- : pened — which is why we read Ithe megillah and do the grogger :thing today. 2. To celebrate and have a good time — which is why you'll 2/27 1998 84 see costumes, carnivals, parties and even acceptable public drink- ing. 3. To send gifts (of food) to friends, which he called shalach manot. 4. To give gifts to the poor — which is why Purim is such a won- derful tzedakah opportunity. The How To: (a) Make a list of family, friends and other people important to you. As you are working on your list, remember teachers, Jewish teach- ers, adoptive "grandparents" in your neighborhood or congrega- tion, the crossing guard who always says hello, etc. (b) Prepare a package of food gifts for each person/family on the final list. The official rule: "These gift packages must include at least two different kinds of food." Additional Purim Opportunities: (c) Prepare a special container 1) Purim is a great time to do a for the gifts. Use your imagination. "hands-on" gift of food to the poor. On or around Purim, hand (d) 2) If you are really in the Jewish deliver all the gifts possible. (e) Once this becomes a popular In-Crowd, you already know about "Be Happy — It's Adar." I'll let you custom in your circle of friends, in on the secret. Adar is the you can't wait to sit back and sort Hebrew month in which Purim your sweets the way other people falls. The Talmud says, "When you do on Halloween. enter Adar, joy increases." This is Remember to actively involve a great insight — that anticipation your children at every step. of a good time increases joy in the world. If you get your hands on a The Point: Jewish calendar, you, too, can First, this mitzvah is fun. Second, remind the world to increase its it involves food. 1 happiness quotient at the right time Third, it teaches a powerful les- son — we are not alone. By mak- i of year. 3) Develop your own Purim pro- ing the list and then making the ject, sending treats to Jewish col- rounds, shelach manot helps us 1 lege kids, old-age homes and trace and celebrate the connec- preschools. It's a little bit of Jewish tions in our lives. goodwill. Or just help out with the community-wide Great Purim Parcel The Generalizable Lesson: Project, sponsored by Jewish All mitzvot are, to quote my Experiences for Families and The mother's friend and teacher Rabbi Jewish News. Help make or deliv- Gunther Plaut, "opportunities." er shalach manot to Shalom Detroit Some are easier to take advan- 1 newcomers, Jewish new tage of than others. Some are more powerful or more immediate, 1 Americans, Jewish Home and Aging Services residents, Group or have more direct impact than Apartments for the Elderly of Jewish others. A few of them are a lot of Family Service, Kosher Meals on fun. A lot of them are rewarding. Wheels recipients and others. Parcels will be made this Sunday, Joel's Tenth Law: I March 1, at the ASE building, Always score the easy mitzvah 21550 W. 12 Mile Road in points. Be smart — at least rack Southfield. For information, contact up your Jewish continuity points on JEFF at (248) 354-1050. El all the Jewish stuff which is inher- ently fun to do. Excerpts from "Shelach Manot — We know in our hearts that it is I Try It, You'll Like It" reprinted with always better to perform a mitz- permission from 40 Things You vah than not to do it. Every Jewish tradition you observe is a check in I Can Do To Save the Jewish People by Joel Lurie Grishaver. Copyright the plus column. Your Judaism can 1993 Joel Lurie Grishaver and certainly survive if you don't do published by Alef Design Group. everything. To order, contact Alef Design But every time you skip one Group, 4423 Fruitland Ave., Los of the fun mitzvot or customs Angeles, CA 90058; (213) 582 (like shelach manot), it is a real 1200. waste.