I Romans well, Father. He does not
I create and improve the conditions
I see them as we do. He knows their I of the world." This is a popular fal-
I might, their wealth."
lacy, usually accompanied by the
Come on! Thirteen-year-olds
words tikkun olcm.
I don't talk like this. It's reminiscent
Yes, there are clear guidelines
I of those old films about biblical
I about how Jews are to treat the
figures, where characters always
: earth, their fellow human beings
sound so stilted: Moses never
and animals. But the Talmud never
I says, "We should try this path
says that Jews, more than any oth-
ahead," but instead utters (prefer-
ers, must improve the world.
ably in a deep voice, and with
If you can overlook these mis-
I arm outstretched), "Let us try this
takes, you will likely enjoy Active
path that lies before us."
Parenting Today for- Jewish Families
I The story of Masada is a
complex, disturbing and
I haunting tale. If you want to
Supplemental Parent's Guide
Acrqo Panantmg Way'° program
learn about it, look instead for
factual material and stay
away from this book.

I Active Parenting Today
for Jewish Families by

I sages and Blessings," which
I includes blessings for a son,
daughter, eating fruit, seeing
shooting stars and finding a
long-lost friend.
The authors continue, "You
can whisper a few private
encouraging words, or your
positive 'I' messages, before
I you pronounce the customary
Shabbat blessings. By taking
the time to bless our children
I and family, we are giving a
I direct message that they are
special and important to us."

Bilingual Baby Lan-
guage Video: Hebrew

from Small Fry Productions,
$16.95.

I Childhood educators assure
us that. earlier education is
almost always better. Don't
for
WiS
force your child to read, of
course, but read to him from
I an early age. Eschew the
She'll see the word chum (brown),
"you good baby, you cutie baby"
for example, then a picture of a
garbage in favor of "Mama loves
horse (soos in Hebrew) and then
you, my darling child."
I the words soos chum.
If you're fortunate enough to be
I This brief handbook is part of
English speakers who have never
I bilingual, by all means introduce
a program, developed by
I learned another language may feel
I both languages to your baby as
B'nai B'rith International and the St.
I. a bit dizzy thinking about a "horse
because some of the questions and I soon as possible.
I Louis Jewish Community Center,
I brown," but children will have no
ideas are very good. The authors
Whether a video offers the same
together with a group called Active
problem quickly understanding
take examples from the Torah to
I stimulation is certainly debatable.
I Parenting, as part of a comprehen- I show parents ways in which they
• (even if they can't articulate it) that
I But if you don't already speak
j sive guide to Jewish parenting.
in Hebrew the adjective follows
can improve their own lives.
I Hebrew and want to give your
It's not really an educational
the noun.
In a chapter called "Winning
I child some basics, Bilingual Baby
guide (unlike Diamant's book,.for
The video, which contains about
Through Cooperation Through Dia- I Language Video: Hebrew may be
I example, there are no descriptions
160 words and runs 45 minutes, is
logue," we read a brief and well-
just what you're looking far.
I of what Tu b'Shevat is and how it
recommended for children ages
: written description of God's relation-
The video is part of the Total
can be celebrated), but rather a
1-5. There are words for colors,
: ship with Moses ("While God is all- I Immersion Method, which means it
'series of questions for parents to
animals
and everyday phrases,
: powerful, God is open to Moses's
I is all in Hebrew, and this is one of
consider, and ideas for developing
and the narrator clearly is a
thoughts and ideas").
its most attractive features. (While
I
Jewish identity.
native Hebrew speaker, and her
It then asks, "Have you created
the video does have an English
I This book is not perfect. Thankful- : an atmosphere that encourages
pronunciation is clear and easy to
translation of each word at the loot-
I
understand.
= ly, the authors don't translate "mitz-
communication? Did you feel lis-
: tom, this won't prove much help to
(Note: if your family already
vah" as "good deed" (as so often is
tened to as a child? By whom, in
those still in the "goo" stage of lan-
!the case); but they do opt for
speaks
Hebrew, tapes also are
particular? What were the char-
guage development.)
responsibility." In fact, the exact
available in French,•Spanish, Ger-
acteristics that marked that rela-
Baby will watch a tape that intro- .
translation of mitzvah is "command-
man, Italian, Japanese, Russian,
tionship?"
duCes her not only to Hebrew
: ment." Furthermore, they mistakenly
I Portuguese, Dutch, Swedish and
The book also has an excellent
words, but also to how the Ian-
state that Jews are "responsibleto
chapter called "Positive
Mes- •
guage works — always in•Hebrew. I Greek.) Dr

Ofra Fisher, Debbie Amster,
I Rabbi Phil Miller, Marci
I Mayer Eisen, Gloria Morgen-
stern, Einat Bronstein and Dr.
I Michael H. Popkin. Published
by Active Parenting Publishers
(in Marietta, GA), copyright
I 2000, 43 pages, $6.95.

Rat. P. 8.1.4
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fxyC Braman.,

I

1/19
2001

105