How to Raise a Jewish Child: A Practical Handbook for Family Life
by Anita Diamant with Karen Kushner
Published by Schocken Books
Click on book
cover to order
at Amazon.com
Reviewed by Lauren Segelbaum
First published in 2000, How to Raise a Jewish Child has been updated with a new introduction by Anita Diamant, author of The Red Tent. This is a book written by Diamant and Kushner because in their words, it is a book that “is about raising healthy, joyful human beings within our rich, diverse, life-giving tradition….Jewish parenting is about giving your children a gift that will help them become the wisest, strongest, happiest people they can be.”
If only it was that easy. As a parent of two Jewish teenagers, do I wish I had this book 14 years ago? Maybe so! The subtitle of this book is, A Practical Handbook for Family Life. I would have rather seen it titled a guide versus a handbook. Then I wouldn’t feel guilty for the pages I skimmed through and for those I didn’t even read.
The authors state this is a book of strategies and tools in raising your children. They stress that this book is also a celebration of Jewish life. The celebration focus is what makes this book so versatile because it allows the Jewish or non-Jewish reader a wonderful overview of the Jewish cycle of life. Chapter titles range from “Creating a Jewish Space” to “Making Community” to chapters broken down into the child’s respective age. The chapter “Defining Jewish Time” gives a wonderful look at the Jewish holidays, including the Sabbath, and supplies a variety of prayers necessary to each important holiday.
I found this chapter the most educational. Because of this chapter not only is this book helpful for parents raising Jewish children but helpful to couples entering interfaith relationships. This book is a wonderful reference book for those who have questions about the specifics of the religion for example, what is the meaning of the holiday of Shavuot and the role of non-Jewish family members in specific rituals and rites of passage. A great book for new parents who plan on raising their children in the Jewish faith or for new couples who hope to incorporate the wonderful traditions of the Jewish religion.
Armchair Interviews says: Guidebook or handbook, this has a lot of excellent information.
Author’s Web site: http://www.AnitaDiamant.com