Jewish Parents Can Gain Insight

Behavior Disorders as well as
founder of NEFESH, an inter-
national network of Orthodox
mental health professionals;
ur children are a bless-
Rabbi Jerry Lob, a clinical
ing, but sometimes
psychologist in private prac-
as parents we need to
tice in Chicago, specializing in
arm ourselves with knowledge to
adolescent and family therapy;
make those blessings grow.
and Bill Winkler, director and
"Positive Jewish Parenting':
Dr. Holz er
owner of Verbal Connections
an interactive conference for
Group, a local educational
strengthening practical parenting
consulting company. He is a
skills, is designed to help parents
longtime STEP (Systematic
learn from experts and each
Training for Effective
other. The Detroit presentation
Parenting) program teacher.
of this national program from
Two concurrent work-
the Orthodox Union will be held
shops will be held. The first
7:30-10:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb.
offers "Raising a Mentch"
3, at Yeshivat Akiva, 21100 W. 12
Rabbi L ob
with Rabbi Lob; "Instilling
Mile Road, Southfield.
Positive Jewish Values in an
Speakers include Dr. Barry
Age
of
Materialism,
the Internet and Other
Holzer, a New York psychiatrist and direc-
Societal
Influences"
with
Dr. Holzer; and
tor of the Center for Attention Deficit and

Keri Guten Cohen
Story Development Editor

0

stantly come to me with differ-
"Learning To Listen Effectively:
ent challenges, and as a parent,
A Method That Encourages
Cooperation" with Winkler.
I am aware of the challenges
myself!"
Session two features "Building
Rabbi Reuven Spolter of
Self-Esteem in Each of Your
Young Israel of Oak Park said,
Children" with Rabbi Lob;
"'Positive Jewish Parenting' is
"Enhancing Communication
a well-known program to get
with our Teens" with Dr. Holzer;
great advice on how to become
and "Discipline that Teaches
better at dealing with children
Responsibility and Promotes
Bill Win kler
and raising them as commit-
Self-reliance" with Winkler.
ted Jews in today's world."
A question and answer session with the
presenter follows the workshops.
Earlier in the day during Shabbat,
"These are issues Jewish parents face
Rabbi Lob will speak at Young Israel of
and struggle with; it's a service to our
Southfield. Dr. Holzer will speak at Young
Israel of Oak Park. Topics for both rabbis
memberships and to the greater Jewish
community because everyone can benefit': will be related to the evening program.
Tickets to the program are $10 per per-
said Rabbi Yechiel Morris of Young Israel
of Southfield, which is co-sponsoring the
son or $18 per couple in advance and $15
evening with Young Israel of Oak Park, the
and $25 at the door. For reservations or
information, contact Beth Raz, (248) 547-
Orthodox Union and Akiva.
"As a community rabbi, people con-
2384 or gan@raz.net .

Family Fun

T

JNF hosts fundraiser to support park in Israeli desert.

he Jewish National Fund's Family
Fun Fair at Temple Israel in
West Bloomfield celebrates Tu
b'Shevat, with proceeds to help build Yahel
Park in the Negev.
On Sunday, Feb. 11, from 2-5 p.m., JNF
will host the Family Fun Fair featuring
a concert by singer Craig Taubman, a
sampling of Israeli foods and interactive
educational activities and games designed
for kids to learn about Tu b'Shevat, Israel
and JNF.
Tu b'Shevat, the Jewish New Year for
Trees, falls on the 15th day of the Hebrew

month of Shevat (Feb. 3 this year) and
marks the time when trees begin to drink
in the rainfall of the new year.
The Reform movement of southeast
Michigan undertook the Yahel Park project
with JNF.
Yahel was the first Reform kibbutz,
established 30 years ago. About 40 miles
north of Eilat, Yahel has nearly 200
residents in the Arava Desert Valley. It is
the largest date plantation in the region,
has a pomello orchard, a dairy herd and
bed-and-breakfast tourism enterprise.
Kibbutz Yahel and JNF are planning

a recreational/educational park to serve
tourists and residents and provide jobs.
The park will demonstrate one of the
central themes of JNF's work in the desert
— water conservation and development.
Plans call for a reservoir surrounded by
date palms, walking paths, a lookout tower,
playground facilities, gardens, a farm-
ers market, a restaurant/coffee bar and a
motion-based ride where the participants
will experience the exhilaration and dan-
gers of desert flash floods while learning
about the secret of survival in the desert.
There also will be a motorized tour.

Yahel Park will provide opportunities for relaxation and education.

Craig Taubman

The Family Fun Fair will be at Temple
Israel, 5725 Walnut Lake Road,
West Bloomfield. Entry fee is $5 per
person; children younger 5 are free.
Reservations by Feb. 4 have a chance
to win a $1,000 Hiller's Markets
shopping spree: (248) 324-3080.

IN

January 18 • 2007

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