pray, it's like God is smiling at me."
When the kids are asked about
questions they have about being
Jewish, 8-year-old Alex asks, "Why
can't God make people stop killing
people?" Nechama, age 7, wonders,
"How did God make himself? How
was He always there?" and 6-year old
Ilana asks, "Are there Jewish robbers
and do they work on Shabbat?"
Some of the quotes are definitely of
the '90s; others are timeless. There are
several mentions of Bill Clinton and
morality and prayers for the Yankees
and Spice Girls. The comments affirm
that kids have much awareness of
what's going on in the world around
them.
When 8-year old David is asked if
there are miracles that happen today,
he replies, "If everyone got free med-
ical insurance."
This is Seligman's and Mark's first
collaborative book. Seligman, who has
largely worked as a journalist in secu-
lar areas, credits Mark with showing
her "how writing itself can be a Jewish
act, how writing and covering Jewish
subjects is a profession very much
informed by Jewish learning, Jewish
ethics and a Jewish language."
The authors were inspired by tal-
mudic and other sources that give
much respect to the views of children.
In the beautifully written foreword,
they quote the well-known verse of
Psalms: "Out of the mouths of babes
and sucklings, you have founded
strength."
Parents, educators and all who love
children will read this with interest,
bookmarking their favorite lines. The
book invites conversation, as it sparks
memories of other children and for-
mer children and their wise words.
Seligman says she has already received
many additional quotes by e-mail
from readers.
Are kids natural theologians?
Seligman says, "I think there's a lot
that theologians can learn by asking
kids questions." She adds that working
on this book enhanced her respect for
children from a very young age.
Mark, who has won many awards
for his writing and is the co-author
with Dr. Ruth Westheimer of
Heavenly Sex, comments, "Children,
who themselves are miracles, see the
world as miraculous and God's cre-
ation for the spiritual dazzle that it
is. In the Chasidic kingdom of
Piacezna, the rebbe didn't teach
graduate school, he taught kinder-
garten where hearts and minds are
most wide. He taught them, and
they taught him, in turn."

"Angels do different things.
Some of them wipe your rears." .
Dassi, 5

"I think when somebody dies if
their soul is brought to God and
found to be perfect they get to
turn into angels and help every-
one else be perfect." — Leeya, 13

"If an angel came to my house
on Sabbath, I would ask it to help
me set the table. — Brendan, 7

What r

can guide you.

Explore our comprehensive
list of synagogues
on pages 36-46.

Open*

• \.;^`V,

'

"At my brother's bris, they cut
the stem and left two strawber-
ries." — Miriam, age 7

"A bris ... Uh-oh. I know, but I
better not say." — Arianna, age 6

"A bris is a time when babies
don't have fun —Jonathan, age 11

:k .4* W4- M r.

t

"On Shabbat, we light candles
because on the seventh day God
created candles." — Adieh 4

"On Rosh HaShana, we dip
the apple in the money."
Elana, age 3

"Passover is when you can't eat
any more food." — Lizzie, 4

On Purim, we read the
Megilla and shake goggles."
— Ghana, 3

"Chanuka comes from
Disney." -- Bill, 3

Visit our website at:www.psourcebook.corn

"We wouldn't get presents on
Chanuka if it wasn't for Christmas.
Christmas came around the time of
Chanuka and some Jewish kids
said, "I wish we could get presents.
So one family started giving pre-
sents and then lots of families start-
ed it too."
Sarah, age 7

—

"I'm glad I'm not non-Jewish,
because when you get 10 presents
a night for the 12 days of
Christmas, you get really spoiled."
— Abby, age 7

"I'm Jewish. Are you
Christmas?" — Ben, age 7

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12/2

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173