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Temple Israel book clubs allow children and adults to enjoy reading together.
I I-year old Elana Weinstein and mom
Debi enjoy the discussion.
>4
4
10 year old Adam and his father Mike
Mickelson listen to the discussion.
Fathers and sons participate in a book club discussion with Rabbi Bennett, right.
SHELLI DORFMAN
Editorial Assistant
A
Lisa Boose makes a point, while 10-year-
old daughter Erica listens.
n evening meeting in a temple is not an exceptional
occurrence. But when half of those attending are boys
younger than 12, have put in a day of studies and then
Hebrew school, and are there to discuss a book they vol-
untarily chose to read, something quite unusual is going on.
Rachel Erlich, director of the Temple Israel Hodari Family
Children's Library and Media Center, where the Jan. 28 discussion
took place, called the program pioneering. Erlich believes this is the
first father-son book club in any synagogue library in the United
States, and possibly the only one in any setting."
On another January evening, in the same room, a second group
sat in a circle of friends, alternating one big, one small, some with
arms around one another.
Reviewing Are You There, Goch Its Me Margaret? by Judy Blume,
a mother-daughter book club discussed peer pressure, religion and
adolescence.
Erlich supervises both groups, open to fourth, fifth and sixth
graders accompanied by a same-sex adult.
The clubs are open to the entire community. The girls meet
enjoys discussing the book.