Today, as in biblical times, the family is the central unit of Jewish life. From the pages of Hadassah Magazines popular "Parenting" column come fifty-seven thoughtful, humorous, provocative, and comforting essays that gently guide Iewish mothers and fathers through the joys and trials of raising children in a complex, modern world while trying to maintain and preserve cherished family traditions. A remarkably wide range of important topics are discussed, including: - Deciding to have children - Choosing schools, camps and day-care centers - Teaching your child Jewish civic responsibility - Discussing Torah around the dinner table -Talking to children about serious subjects such as God, death, child abuse, the Holocaust and Antisemitism - Divorce, single parenting and intermarriage - Using television as a tool for Jewish education. Editorial Reviews From Library Journal Bell has selected over 50 articles on topics common and uncommon, social and spiritual from the popular "Parenting" column she edits for Hadassah magazine. Ranging widely, she discusses such diverse issues as deciding on having a bris for your newborn son, celebrating the birth of a daughter, celebrating bar and bat mitzvas, choosing a college, grandparenting, caring for aging parents, dealing with a parent's death, teaching Judaism in the home, creating an appropriate Sabbath environment, facing the "December dilemma," and teaching children Jewish civil responsibility. While all the articles are sound, thought-provoking, and ultimately practical, some are especially memorable: Blue Greenberg's "The Joys of a Large Family," Jack Reimer's "Ethical Wills," and Daniel Symes's "Preventing Teenage Suicide." What a strong and joyous celebration of the Jewish family--Orthodox, Reform, or Conservative--in America today! Highly recommended. - Marcia G. Fuchs, Guilford Free Lib., Ct. Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc.