Winter holiday Tips For Jewish Mothers90929
From The Wiki Force
When my son was little, we attended a co-op preschool in Manhattan Beach, California the location where the sole curriculum was "conflict resolution". As a result of this, none of their art centers contained any holiday references. The children never even came home having a Mother's or Father's Day card just in case among their students didn't have both mom and dad inside their lives.
We gone after Santa Cruz, California in time for my son to get started on kindergarten. I soon found that Santa Cruz had a totally different policy about holidays. To my amazement, one of the kindergarten teachers stood a Christmas tree in their own classroom! Then through the springtime, within daughter's co-op preschool, I became again faced with the various policy. One of the art centers contained stickers of bunnies and Happy easter !. When I brought this for the attention in the teacher, her response was, "Those aren't religious symbols."
It's interesting to note that folks have differing beliefs in what could be religious symbols. Genuine a Menorah downtown this season because some think it is inappropriate to experience a religious symbol from the postal service. Not surprisingly, I'm sure that you will have plenty Christmas related symbols through the downtown this season. Lights, trees, bells, holly and more are displayed across town in schools, stores, and other public.
So rather than beat them, I say let's join them. Frequently Jews are a bit shy about public displays of religiosity because of each of the anti-Semitism that we've encountered. So here's a method to fully stand up with pride, with some strategies for Jewish mothers with little children. The following tips help kids love their Jewish identity despite being bombarded by each of the fun, extremely colorful, and exquisite holiday symbols which simply don't are part of them.
1. When school starts, allow the teacher know before hand that your particular child is Jewish and will also be absent on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur (our holiday season). Ask for a little consideration and also to please not plan any fun and exciting special projects on days past which means your child won't feel omitted. Ask the school board along with your principal to place the holiday season inside their school calendar so teachers understand them.
2. Around Hanukah, ask your son or daughter's teacher if you're able to come in towards the classroom to generate latkes. The kids love them! I've had kids ask me year after year basically was going to make latkes and i have had parents thank me for doing it. If you need, turn this in to a cooking lesson. Ensure it is easy on yourself by buying bags of frozen shredded potatoes and minced onion from the supermarket. Or simply just make sure they are at home and bring them in already warm. Browse the Hanukah story from a picture book as they definitely eat. You may also light a menorah to really make it truly exciting. As soon as the students are done eating, help them learn how you can play dreidle. Peanuts from the shell work rather well to the dreidle game kitty - should there be no peanut allergies.
3. Have a latke party at home and invite relatives and friends. Chocolate gelt enables you to play dreidle with. Inside our family, each person has their particular menorah to light. My daughter developed a gorgeous menorah one full year in addition to a square of granite. You will want a lot of candles for all those menorahs but the light makes it worth while. After lighting, march around your table, like Maccabees singing Chanukah songs. Are you aware that it's actually a tradition for Jewish mothers to only to use the table and enjoy the light as the candles burn? Get all of your cooking and serving done first and luxuriate in this relaxing 20 minute-meditation-mitzvah for girls only!
4. Use books and CDs to help you your kids get into the holiday spirit. There are numerous children's books that tell the tale of Hanukah. Certainly one of the best picture books is termed, "Festival of Lights, The storyplot of Hanukkah" by Maida Silverman. My daughter always loved the sticker book, "Melly's Menorah" by Amye Rosenberg. For older children, there is a chapter book called, "Jason's Miracle: A Hanukkah Story" by Beryl Lieff Benderly. For only teenagers and adults, there is a book called, "The Complete Story of Chanukah" by Nissan Mindel. The top CD There is for Jewish holidays is, "To Life! Chanukah along with other Jewish Celebrations". Cindy Paley also has a great Chanukah CD and "A Singing Seder" for Passover.
5. Being with Jewish children helps your child know he/she is just not alone in celebrating holidays which might be completely different from a lot of the other children at school. Community is available with the many synagogues out and about. Moreover, there are several places that you can find out about Judaism. The most popular location to go is Chabad.org where there are plenty of articles, mp3 downloads and videos - all free of charge. But even though you can just learn alef, start there, you'll be able to teach your kids "alef".
If they are confronted with the gorgeous, glittery and glowing holiday symbols that permeate our society through the "holidays", understand that you can give your kids something they can enjoy that's all their own. Kids are content to understand that some holidays are part of others whether they have something special that belongs to them. You'll be able to reach your goals in imparting the most beneficial that Judaism provides by experiencing and enjoying the many Jewish holidays all year round. They might not have the glamour and glitter nevertheless they provides your kids with deep meaning and miracles, a sense of values, as well as a heritage they're able to take immense pride in.
