ealexander
03-10-2006, 08:11 PM
Hello Dr. Bradley,
My name is Ela Alexander and I have been to your forum in Crystal Springs School Hillsborough CA a few weeks ago.
I am a teacher in a private Jewish Day School and have a 14 year old son. Since the school is K to 8th grade there were many 6th, 7th and 8th grade parents also at the forum but I was the only educator from the school.
After your forum I returned to the school and spoke to the other teachers and to some administrators. I told them what I learned about teens and alcohol. I also shared what you said (or at least my interpretation of what you said) that it is impossible to teach a teenager how to drink responsibly.
The response was different than I expected. The other teachers (all Jewish Americans) said that this is not the case in their house. Some refered to their children and some refered to their own teenage years growing up in a Jewish home.
This prompted me to ask you: What do you think are the effects of growing up in a culture/religion where alcohol plays such a big part?
For Jewish people it is a Miztvah (Commandment) to drink wine. Why it is part of the rituals of Shabbat (during the beginning, middle and the end of Shabbat). It is also a part of every Jewish holiday. In Passover for example we are told to drink 4 cups of wine. On Purim, another Jewish holiday, observant Jews are told to drink until they can't recognize each other.
To make matters worse do you know what, according to Jewish religion, is the legal drinking age? 13 if you're a boy and 12 if you're a girl for as per Jewish law a 13 year old boy has a Bar Mitzvah and is considered an adult! That is also when he or she recieves his or her Kiddush Cup (traditional wine cup used for performing Jewish rituals).
So you see, for us Jews there is no other alternative. We have to 'teach' our children how to drink responsibly. How can I help my students and my son obey Jewish law without drinking themselves silly?
Perplexed and worried,
Ela Alexander
My name is Ela Alexander and I have been to your forum in Crystal Springs School Hillsborough CA a few weeks ago.
I am a teacher in a private Jewish Day School and have a 14 year old son. Since the school is K to 8th grade there were many 6th, 7th and 8th grade parents also at the forum but I was the only educator from the school.
After your forum I returned to the school and spoke to the other teachers and to some administrators. I told them what I learned about teens and alcohol. I also shared what you said (or at least my interpretation of what you said) that it is impossible to teach a teenager how to drink responsibly.
The response was different than I expected. The other teachers (all Jewish Americans) said that this is not the case in their house. Some refered to their children and some refered to their own teenage years growing up in a Jewish home.
This prompted me to ask you: What do you think are the effects of growing up in a culture/religion where alcohol plays such a big part?
For Jewish people it is a Miztvah (Commandment) to drink wine. Why it is part of the rituals of Shabbat (during the beginning, middle and the end of Shabbat). It is also a part of every Jewish holiday. In Passover for example we are told to drink 4 cups of wine. On Purim, another Jewish holiday, observant Jews are told to drink until they can't recognize each other.
To make matters worse do you know what, according to Jewish religion, is the legal drinking age? 13 if you're a boy and 12 if you're a girl for as per Jewish law a 13 year old boy has a Bar Mitzvah and is considered an adult! That is also when he or she recieves his or her Kiddush Cup (traditional wine cup used for performing Jewish rituals).
So you see, for us Jews there is no other alternative. We have to 'teach' our children how to drink responsibly. How can I help my students and my son obey Jewish law without drinking themselves silly?
Perplexed and worried,
Ela Alexander