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To
Kindle a Soul:
Ancient
Wisdom for Modern Parents and Teachers
By
Lawrence Kelemen, Targum Press/Leviathan Press 2001, 255 pages
Scholarly
but absorbing and easy to read, Kelemen's book explores the significance
of ancient teachings as they relate to modern-day parenting and
teaching. Keleman states that his book is not about how to raise
children as much as it is a book about how to begin becoming a
good parent and teacher. It is not a catalog of the do's and don'ts
of parenting, rather a holistic approach to creating an environment
for yourself and for the child where parenting and teaching are
handled naturally and fluidly. We are our child's role model,
for good and for bad.
Kelemen propagates a planting-and-building paradigm, a two-pronged
combination of agricultural and engineering techniques designed
to nurture both soul and physical entity of that most unique creature
in the universe, a person. His simple and clear natural guidelines
offer ways to instill and reinforce basic morality and codes of
behavior, and handle problems such as bed-wetting, attention deficit
disorders, tantrums and dishonesty. Citing both Talmudic and modern
teachings, Kelemen gently leads parent and teacher through the
labyrinth of potential pitfalls in the tortuous art of child-rearing.
He illustrates that, through imaginative play and exercise, proper
sleep and eating routines, not only can a parent or teacher discipline
without yelling or hitting, but also greatly increase a child's
sense of self-esteem, security and love. And in the process the
parent or teacher herself or himself grows as a person, and gains
self-knowledge and fulfillment.
As King Solomon wrote in the ninth century B.C.E., "Educate a
child according to his own way, and then when he matures he won't
turn from these teachings." Kelemen gives us many examples. He
writes, for instance, "Being 'fair' does not mean giving each
child the same thing. Children should receive what they need (physically,
emotionally, and spiritually) when they need it, even if a peer
or sibling did not receive the same thing at the same time."
Timing is an essential element in good educating. Kelemen quotes
the advice given in Jewish law: "Teach five-year-olds Bible, ten-year-olds
Mishnah, and fifteen-year-olds Talmud." Although the ages may
vary today, the rationale is still valid: plant the correct seed
at the correct time so that future building blocks may find fertile
minds. Reading Biblical verses trains children in basic decoding
skills; studying the Mishnah's laws builds reading comprehension;
and following Talmudic debate teaches children to view a problem
from multiple perspectives simultaneously.
A fascinating, helpful and enlightening book, highly recommended
for any parent or teacher.
RABBI LAWRENCE
KELEMEN is a professor of education at the Neve Yerushalayim College
of Jewish Studies for Women in Jerusalem, where he lectures in modern
and medieval philosophy. Kelemen was awarded his undergraduate degree
at U.C.L.A. and did graduate studies at Harvard. He began his career
as a professional downhill skiing instructor, served as the news
director and anchorman for a California radio station, and then
traveled to the Middle East to conduct 12 years of postgraduate
field research. For the past 5 years his weekend seminars have electrified
parents, teachers, and university students across North and South
America, Europe and the Middle East. Kelemen is also the author
of Permission to Believe (1990) and Permission to Receive
(1994), and he is the translator of the classical text of ancient
pedagogical theory, Planting and Building (1999). |
