How to Raise a Jewish Child: A Practical Handbook for Family Life

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.

i bought this book hoping to gain some insight into things i can do to make our household more 'jewish' and ways to guide our new baby to a life of 'jewishness' that we didn't have until we had her. i thought this book would at least give me some ideas...and it does this plus so much more. i have actually learned tons from just reading the first few chapters (with new baby -not alot of time for reading)...things that i never learned in my childhood about jewish traditions and prayers and holidays. i even impressed my brother who married into an orthodox family when i recited the prayer for 'firsts' when he was with us when the baby saw her first snow. i really feel much more confident that i can teach my daughter some valuable lessons that i hope will become a part of her life that will always be with her. i recommend this book to those of us who just never got the 'jewish stuff' from our growing up and want to give their kids more than just bagels and lox. it also gives us tools for answering so many of the questions that jewish kids will ask their parents, and i firmly believe that the way we answer these questions will make a difference in our kids level of commitment to their jewish heritage.

I have read most of this author's books, and I have found all to be quite helpful. Good guidelines for choosing camps, schools, and shuls.

This wonderful, accessible book is a great start for a new or not-so-new Jewish family. The explanations, historical accounts, resources, and suggestions are all shared with sensitivity and clarity for those not familiar with their Jewish heritage, but eager to learn so that they can transmit our memories and traditions to another generation. A "must buy" for Jewish parents who want to share Judaism with their children but are unsure or insecure about how to begin. It is also a great gift. Use it well.