This is what the ganenet (kindergarten teacher) asked for from the parents: A dollar is 4.5 to 5 New Israeli Shekalim. Amounts are in shekalim. 220: Weekly exercise class, in the gan. 60: Photocopies 35: Embroidered towel 80: End of year gifts and pictures 80: "Sal tarbut" (culture … [Read more...]
Collective Gifts for Preschoolers–Yes or No?
September 17, 2006 by
I decided go to my daughter's class. It's true, as Sephardilady suggested in the comments, that I could meet the teacher another time, but I would like to see how the teacher and the school present themselves to the parents. So far they seem to have been doing a wonderful job and my daughter … [Read more...]
Does Israel Support Family Values?
September 9, 2006 by 4 Comments
Saul Singer, in his column in Friday's Jerusalem Post Magazine, maintains that Israel is a family-friendly country. His proof is that the birth-rate among upper-middle-class Israelis, including secular Jews, is much higher than in any other developed country. THERE IS little point in lecturing … [Read more...]
Women’s Hospital Center Devalues Mothers
September 5, 2006 by
My friend, visiting a relative in Beilinson hospital in Petach Tikva, saw a series of posters promoting the women's center there. Each poster contained a photo of a patient along with a quote from a staff member. Under the photo of a newborn baby, with an adult's hand placing a pacifier in its … [Read more...]
Raising Other People’s Children
August 30, 2006 by
At Orthonomics today Sephardi Lady quotes a rabbi/doctor on the halacha of disciplining other people's children. They come to the conclusion that it's okay to reprimand other people's children when the action is assur deoraita (biblically prohibited). I looked up the Mishna Berurah that is quoted … [Read more...]
Unofficial Guide to Israeli Vermin
August 27, 2006 by
No, this is not a political rant. Here is the homeowner's guide to insects you are likely to encounter in Israel. Jukim. Known by exterminators as tikanim (tikanot?). These are huge, winged, roach-like creatures that fly in without warning through upper-story windows. Watch out for them when … [Read more...]
Spirit of Motherhood by Masha Faygel Tokayer
August 27, 2006 by
This book, subtitled Insights into Nurturing, is a revision of Tokayer's earlier book Created in Wisdom. As a mother of seven, grandmother, contributor to Natural Jewish Parenting magazine and an experienced La Leche League Leader (breastfeeding counselor), the author has a lot to say to new mothers … [Read more...]
Eccentric Children
August 21, 2006 by
In the discussion of skyrocketing tuition costs on Orthonomics, a poster writes that homeschooled kids are easily identified as such and implies that they are tagged as "different" by their peers. The commenter obviously sees this as a bad thing. I don't homeschool (yet) but I happily embrace my … [Read more...]
Back to School, Israel Style
August 19, 2006 by
This post is from 2006, and prices have gone up. The summer vacation is ending in about two weeks. School is supposed to start on September 1, but the students in the north asked to start on Sunday September 3, so in solidarity with them all the schools are going to start then (or so I heard). … [Read more...]
Thought-Provoking Parenting Book
August 16, 2006 by
Last summer I attended a lecture by Dr. Gordon Neufeld, a Canadian psychologist and co-author of Hold On to Your Kids.. This book radically changed the way I look at our culture and our families. I recently reread it and it's even more powerful the second time. I can't possibly do justice to it in a … [Read more...]
Recent Comments