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Parenting As a Spiritual Jew
That Daddy Feeling
All for One and One for All Creative Jewish Living Magazine Parenting from the Spirit Issue 1, Vol.1
Jewish Parenting
by Alon Kaplan Welcome to the inaugural issue of Creative Jewish Living Magazine. When we looked about for a subject for our first issue one idea presented itself as obvious: Jewish Parenting. We'd been writing about it, talking it over with our friends, creating an involving, meaningful Jewish life for our children... everyone is either a child or a parent (or has been or will be.) Being a Jewish Parent is the most difficult job you'll ever love, and yet, few words are so charged, so slanted as the term "Jewish Mother." (Jewish Father mostly escapes the cultural bias.) We all know about Portnoy's Complaint (not to mention Woody Allen's All-Seeing-Mother-in-the-Sky.) Here, on these virutal pages, you will meet a different type of "Jewish Mother" (and Jewish Father, too.) Thoughtful, spiritual, caring. Wanting the best for their children... and being brave enough to let go (but never stop loving - or worrying.) Jewish Mothers and Fathers who are striving to raise menches and menchettes. Who share their love of Judaism by inviting their children into the magic of the Holidays. And we hope to meet you too. We want to hear your stories, your thoughts. Everywhere on Creative Jewish Living, there are places to discuss, submit articles, connect. We invite you to Join the Discussion. ....
What's Inside
Topics
Featured Articles
Chuppahs
 Beautiful, luxurious Chuppahs (Jewish Wedding Canopies) without spending thousands. Silky, washable fabrics, hand finished by our seamstress with hems & ribbon. Personalize with your names & quote. Easily convertible after the wedding...
Havdalah Sets
 Havdalah is the ritual ceremony that distinguishes between the holy Shabbat and the 6 days of the new week. The wine in the kiddush cup is blessed first. The fragrant spices in the spice box are sniffed and blessed second. The flame of the havdalah candle in the...
Tsedaka Boxes
 Tsedaka means charity. The Hebrew is related to the word Tsedek which means justness and rightness. Giving tsedaka is a cornerstone for a righteous Jewish person's life. One is encouraged to give 10% of one's yearly income to tsedaka. Beautiful tsedaka boxes teach...
Mezuzzahs
 The mezuzah case is created to hold a tiny parchment of a hand-written Shema ('Hear O Israel the Lord Your God is One'). In this passage from the Torah, God commands us to write God's words on our doorposts which include "And you shall love the Lord your God with all...
Kiddush Cups
 The Kiddush Cup holds ritual wine for blessing every Jewish festival, including the weekly festival of Shabbat. Wine symbolizes joy-- Jewish festivals are for rejoicing!
Seder Plates
 The six cups are for the items on the seder plate: chazeret (bitter greens), z'roa (roasted shankbone), charoset (apples and walnuts), maror (horseradish), karpas (greens), and beitzah (egg).
Matzah Plates
 The Festival of Matzah is celebrated during Passover each spring for 8 days. The matzah is first tasted during the Passover Seder. This special plate honors the matzah as the centerpiece of the Seder table.
Challah Plates
 Shabbat is the holy festival that begins every Friday evening. Two loaves of delicious challah wait, on the ceremonial challah plate, for their blessing that marks the start of the festive meal.
Eliyahu and Miriam Cups
 Elijah the prophet will return as the harbinger of the Messiah. He will reconcile parents and children and answer all hitherto unanswerable questions about Jewish Law. Miriam the prophetess was Moses' sister who sang and danced with the women on the far side of the...
Candlestick Holders
 Sacred candleholders hold ritual candles. We light and bless the candles at the start of every Jewish festival, including the weekly festival of Shabbat. The festivals come in just as the sun sets. Two candles remind us both to remember and to guard our Holy Days.
Menorahs
 The menorah is the centerpiece of the Jewish winter holiday of lights, Channukah. Eight candles are lit, one more each night, for eight blazing festive nights. The flames illuminate the ones who gather together to celebrate this holy festival. |