Jews Succeed even Under Worst Conditions: A Clear-Cut Jewish Approach to Raising Successful Children

By Peter Kalyabe

Our children are raised in a totally different world than we did which is a clear indication that some of the parenting approaches applied today are already obsolete.
Regardless of your traditional background, “Jewish childhood nurturance to prosperity” is for you. It’s a thorough investigation presenting how we can strengthen the values that have stood the test of time as we welcome and deal with the new inevitable changes to raise a modern successful holistic child. As you read this book expect a consideration to all aspects of life including the socio-financial pillars a child should be consciously taught if they are to live a fully rewarding lifetime.
It’s widely agreed that every tradition all over the world seeks to teach certain lesson to those who embrace it. In this book we chose the Jewish community as a centre stage to analyze their way of life, to derive lessons and wisdom and pass them on to our own children in our respective cultures. One may ask; what is it that has kept the Jewish community successfully afloat despite the constant changes they have faced over the years? From the analysis, knowledge, observation, experience and research, the readers of this book have got something to walk away with for themselves but mainly for their young ones.
Success to your child.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Peter Kalyabe
• Release date: Mar 18, 2012
• ISBN: 9781476254463

Peter Kalyabe

Kalyabe Peter a certified teacher in Ontario, Canada.His professional experience and training includes specialty in child growth and development, special education, and Worlds of Childhood. He has also written several related books.

Book preview

Jewish Childhood

Nurturance to Prosperity

Award Your Child a Succesful Life

Peter Kalyabe

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Smashwords Edition

Copyright 2012 Peter Kalyabe

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Another product from Global Child Prosperity

Table of Contents

INTRODUCTION

PART I: JUDAISM AND CHILD REARING

PART II: GENERAL CHILD REARING

PART III: PREPARATION FOR FINANCIAL VICTORY

PART IV: WRAPPING UP

INTRODUCTION:

It’s not a secret that rearing children in our contemporary world is a challenge unlike any faced by previous generations. The rapid pace of change in society bruises and batters familiar social structures year in and year out. With the overwhelming amount of new information, new scientific facts, and the general breakdown of barriers among ethnic and religious groups, it can be challenging to pass on the values of previous generations.

This is one of the reasons why it’s crucial to firmly grip the values that have stood the test of time, and at the same time, welcome unfamiliar values that have helped other communities stand tall in the midst of challenges. This requires a willingness to remain open to new ideas and a dedication to respecting the natural tides instead of fighting against them.

There is no mystery to raising happy, healthy children—not even in our global, wired, mass-culture world. It all depends on the choices you make from the many options you have from day to day, week to week, and year to year basis. This involves attempting to do the best you can for your children’s well-being, security, health, and emotional happiness.

Many distinct cultures across the globe have contributed to the essence of civilization as we know it. I wondered, wouldn’t it be worthwhile to thoroughly analyze how some of them have managed to effectively prepare their children for the uncertain future ahead? We are going to examine a select group of cultures, one culture at a time. In the end, we hope to be more aware and better informed on how best to nurture our own children in this ever-changing world.

We will first examine Jewish childhood. How has their preparation worked out for them? What methods do Jewish parents use that we can apply to child-rearing in our way of life in order to ensure future success in this uncertain but fast-paced climate? You may note that the Jews themselves lead their lives in a variety of different ways.

Note:

It’s widely known in communities all over the world that there are no surefire solutions. Every situation is different, regardless of the strong tradition, strictness, and values people lean on—including Judaism.

However, parents want to prepare their children to start out strong on a good path. Parents want to provide their children with powerful tools to become the wisest, strongest, and happiest people they can be, to establish a firm positive self-image and a secure sense of their place in the world. Parents hope that their children will discipline themselves and make intelligent, meaningful choices as they grow. As clearly stated in the Talmud (the collection of ancient Rabbinic writings), With every child the world begins anew.

This book is designed for every parent regardless of their cultural background as it derives modern parenting lessons from Jewish guiding pillars. Similarly, don’t be surprised when you learn one or two things you can apply in your personal daily life. It’s deliberate.

Your children count on you to search for everything that can help prepare them reach where they belong—their summit of achievement.

PART I

JUDAISM AND CHILD REARING

Who are the Jews anyway?

Jews are an ethno-religious group of people originating as the Israelites in the Ancient Near East. Jewish ethnicity, nationality, and religion are strongly interrelated. Judaism, then, is the traditional faith of the Jewish people. The Torah is the pivotal book that has guided them for thousands of years.

According to Jewish law, a Jewish person is any person whose mother is Jewish, whether or not they are religious. Jews originate from the Semitic language family; but since language studies get interwoven with cultural studies, the term came to describe cultural and historical ethnicities. Jews today can be found virtually everywhere in the world.

Formal entry to the Jewish community occurs on the 8th day for male babies, when they are circumcised by an authority figure, or Mohel. This figure performs the circumcision in a joyous ceremony known as a Bris, or Brit Millah, which can take place either at the synagogue or at home. This is when the naming of the child takes place. A female child may also have a naming ceremony, often at the synagogue on the first Sabbath after birth.

No culture is static unless it is in the process of dying. Therefore, Jewish culture comes from the daily lives of the people who experience it as Judaism. This recorded way of life has evolved over the past 4,000 years, in its religious aspirations, values, cultural artifacts and rituals, spiritual celebrations, and philosophical ideals.

Today there are slightly over 13 million Jews in the world. Most of them live in the US (slightly over 2.5% of the population) and are made up of Reform, Reconstructionist, Conservative, and Orthodox Jews.

History:

The Bible tells us how it all began. God appeared to Abraham (the patriarch of Jews, Christians, and Muslims) and asked him to leave his homeland. God told Abraham to go in the direction of the Promised Land (from Mesopotamia to Israel). The most significant demand God required of Abraham was that he and his descendants commit to a belief in one God (monotheism). Indeed God’s request is always recited in the Shema—the most important Jewish prayer.

Later, because of famine, the Israelites went to Egypt, where they were enslaved. Moses heard the voice of God calling him to rescue his fellow Israelites from Pharaoh. Moses successfully accomplished this mission with God’s help.

At Mount Sinai, Moses received the Ten Commandments, which have been the code of conduct for many civilized nations around the world.

Jewish history and teaching from the very beginning is interpreted in accordance with the tradition one follows. Please note that no two Jewish families provide their children with the similar combination of religious, culture, and community practice. Contemporary Jews tend to believe that in the past all Jews did things the same, the orthodox way, but it’s also said that this is simply not true. Judaism has always been a pluralistic tradition that is deep and wise enough to carry many kinds of vessels on many different journeys, as noted by Anita Diamant, an American author who has also written several guides of Jewish people.

First question; what is it that has endured Jewish children amidst adversities in various wavering circumstances that life has hurled at them?

Second; would you choose to increase your level of awareness in the effort to construct a strong foundation around your child that literally nothing can penetrate through? In the analysis below are some of the answers you are searching for.

You are invited to find a way to tailor some of the insights you may find interesting into your child’s life.

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Culture:

Just like other cultures, Judaism is unique. It is a constantly evolving religious civilization, and like any civilization, it contains multiple attributes, such as language, literature, rituals, customs, art, laws, community, music, history, ethics, holidays, group hopes and aspirations, and a common physical and spiritual homeland.

People tend to understand things in relation to what they already know. It’s no wonder that there is a tendency to fit Judaism into common categories by which the vast groups are defined. Judaism is referred to as a religion, a nationality, a people, culture, race, or civilization. It’s important to know that, in general, Jews who identify themselves as cultural Jews wouldn’t describe their behavior or attitude as being particularly religious. However, many Jews cherish the same features in their understanding of Judaism. These similarities are what others refer to when they say that Jews are religious. This is because so many Jews share beliefs and attitudes about life and an approach to the world and relationships.

Case in Point:

For instance, many parents know that the most important things in life are not things at all. So they teach their children how to distinguish between right and wrong, good and bad, and caring from neglect, etc. Therefore those parents can easily be termed as religious basing on this sort of approach to life’s lessons. But intuitively, we know that religion comes in a broad category, which might include rituals, customs, holidays, and the list goes on and on.

It would therefore be right for someone to conclude that Judaism is not inherited like wealth or any physical features. Values are passed on by parents to their children through example, instruction, and immersion, dating back to perhaps 1800 B.C.

It’s apparent that Jewishness, if I may, comes from families that are connected to a Jewish community—near and far. Children tend to follow in their parents’ footsteps, whatever those might be. Just as musicians tend to raise musicians, Jewish culture has survived and been upheld through engagement in the Jewish way of life. This has proved to be beneficial for everyone involved, and we are going to examine it below from various angles.

One could say that Jewish learning extends beyond classrooms and books. It involves taking the family to Jewish books fairs, children’s music and storytelling concerts, Israel Independence Day parades, craft fairs, synagogue Purim fairs, and Hanukkah parties. These are ways to impart the Jewish basics. People can revitalize their culture by participating in community and/or synagogue-sponsored social-action projects. Also, summer camps and youth groups add a sense of identity to children by providing a new set of Jewish peers and a sense of community.

Existence is Choice:

We know that it’s in our very nature of life to choose. Humans assert their uniqueness as individuals by making decisions. Jewish ancestors realized over the years that free will takes dominion over everything. This is what is termed as choosing life, where children are taught and encouraged to choose that which enhances the quality of their lives to bring greater meaning and purpose to it (Deuteronomy 30:19). If I may invite myself to rephrase this great literature; generally the life we live is not chance but choice.

Among the lessons taught is the message that everyone’s choices affect not only their own lives but also the lives of others—including future generations.

It’s universally considered noble to give back and provide for the needy. This is true in Judaism as well. The Ten Commandments, which provided some of the first principles of the Jewish religion, stressed a practical belief in the oneness of God and showed respect for the relationship between God and humanity. It is this caring relationship upon which all others are based.

The values of giving back and providing for the needy are lived and taught to children by constantly reminding them that feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, and housing the homeless are not voluntary acts of charity—Justice is an obligation to do good. (Tzedakah = justice)

This teaching is evident in the Jewish community when they organize themselves on behalf of the poor and the needy. Every individual is expected to assume that responsibility, including the children.

Giving is not only a responsibility; it is seen as a privilege and an expression of dignity. It defines a good and honorable person (Mensch). Jewish law states that even the poor should give to those less fortunate than themselves—even if their gift comes directly from someone else’s charity (Tzedakah).

The Talmud, a collection of ancient rabbinic writings, dictates, Do not separate yourself from the community. Community is one of the core values of the Jewish people. While personal responsibility is a cornerstone of Jewish thought, radical individualism runs against the grain of Judaism, which views community obligations as necessary and binding. Both as individuals and as families, Jews are required to connect with other Jews—to pray with them, to celebrate births and mourn deaths with them, to pool resources for the establishment of schools, synagogues, and cemeteries, to make sure that no person is hungry or lacking essentials, and to pursue peace and justice for all humanity.

It was realized early that positive memories and identity are only fully nurtured through a community and cannot be entirely home grown. This has served as a great gift to parents in supplementing and reinforcing the transmission of parental values and beliefs to their children, without substituting family models. Just as young children watch older kids for cues about how to behave, the children in the community will see an array of Jewish role models (athletes, artists, professionals, friends, rabbis, cantors, etc.), which teaches them about what a Jew should be like. As the proverb goes, Life is with people.

It’s in these synagogues, or get togethers, that rabbis read and interpret God’s law. They teach the children how to follow through, help them practice Hebrew (especially for religious purposes), and show them how to pray based on holy books.

Also, in community, children are set on the road that has been chosen for them.

Mysteries pondered:

In life there are questions which can’t be easily answered but in a Jewish community interaction, their mystery can be lessened. They may include; how do we discover meaning and purpose in the world? What is the meaning of creation? Where did we come from, and where are we going? How can we create a world of peace where individuals and nations can sit down together in harmony and goodwill? How is God the power or process through which we achieve individual fulfillment? How is He discovered in the every miracle of life?

When people get together there is a new aura that arises in their midst. As one contemporary rabbi put it…, ‘’Every time you participate in a [Jewish] service, a celebration, a class, a program, a concert, or a lecture, you ought to feel that something has been added to the richness of your life and the life of your family that you simply cannot get in any other setting…" It’s partly from such observations and activities that readers can extract methods for raising our children.

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Home Environment:

We’ve all heard about the never-settled nature vs. nurture argument. We can rephrase it as a question and ask; what is it that determines what we end up becoming; is it environment or our native abilities?—May be both.

Let’s continue looking at a home setting in a Jewish child’s environment.

Toddlers and Preschoolers

Preparing Preschoolers for a Way of Life

The way toddlers are raised will determine how they behave later in life. For example;

If the family custom is to put money in a Tzedakah box before lighting candles on Friday night before dinner, children will associate the pleasure of giving with the sweetness of the Shabbat table.

NOTE: Tzedakah can be translated as righteousness, justice, or fairness in the name of offering something of value, mainly (but not exclusively) money, for good causes. The concept will be revisited later. It’s a worthy noble act.

The act of Tzedakah is expressed to children in age-appropriate ways, through arts and crafts. For instance, Preschoolers can be encouraged to make and customize a family Tzedakah box in several ways, like decorating the box with a child’s favorite images or drawings. This helps the child to feel attached to the box itself.

The Library:

Jews have long been called the people of the book or the people of the library. Given the levels of educational achievement among Jews, it’s no surprise. Have you ever been to a Jewish home? When you do don’t be surprised to find bookcases filled with everything from college textbooks, to popular novels, encyclopedias, dictionaries, and lots of magazines and newspapers. You will find information of all kinds including a number of books on Jewish subjects.

Home:

Home is where the