RE: [HaSafran} Help! Good prayer stories for storytelling to children?
Nachshon Waxman's mother implored that all of Israel pray for her son when he was held captive by palestinian terrorists. They did, with thousands, both religious and secular streaming to the Kotel and people everywhere reading psalms and going to synagogue. When her son was killed in the attempted rescue operation, an anti religious journalist asked Mrs. Waxman "How do you feel that you prayed and prayed and God did not answer your prayers?" Her reply was "He did answer my prayers. Sometimes he just says no." I don't know if this is an appropriate prayer story for children, but it stands out in my mind as one of the most beautiful prayer stories as all of Israel, in its mourning and sorrow, drew from the incredible strength and poise of a woman who should have been the most broken. Yoni Bedine Director of Israbook -Special Orders Dept. GEFEN Publishing House, Ltd. POB 36004 Jerusalem 91360, Israel [EMAIL PROTECTED] Tel. 972-2-538-0247 Fax. 972-2-538-8423 === Submissions for Ha-Safran, send to: Hasafran at lists.acs.ohio-state.edu SUBscribing, SIGNOFF commands send to: Listproc at lists.acs.ohio-state.edu Questions, problems, complaints, compliments;-) send to: galron.1 at osu.edu AJL HomePage http://www.JewishLibraries.org
Re: [HaSafran} Help! Good prayer stories for storytelling to children?
Off the top of my head: There's Yussel's Prayer and its cousins, about the boy whose intention/kavanah is so much more sincere than the congregation's rote prayer/kevah, that his flute playing is what sends the congregation's prayer to heaven on Yom Kippur. Hannah prays, the high priest thinks she's drunk, but her prayer for a child is answered and we model the way we daven the Amidah on her behavior. In Yossi Asks the Angels for Help, by Miriam Chaiken, Yossi wants to rely on prayer to solve his problem until his teacher tells him that he shouldn't depend on G-d for things that he can do himself. He's lost money or something and prays. Thinking about his teacher's advice, he retraces his steps, finds what he needs and figures out a way to retrieve it. A storyteller could change the events, but keep the moral. Which is like the Reed/Red Sea not parting as the Egyptians are bearing down on the Children of Israel until someone steps into the water. Of course, Moses strikes a rock instead of talking to G-d, and this may have cost him his chance to enter the Promised Land. So actions aren't always better than prayers; just usually. Esther asks everyone to pray before she sees the king and saves the Jews of Persia. So maybe prayer helps actions. Saul asks why David isn't at a Rosh Hodesh dinner before throwing a spear at the wall. But this was before formal Rosh Hodesh services existed, I assume. If this helps and you need more detailed sources, let me know. Rose Myers Edith Scheinberg Library Hillel Academy Fairfield, CT == HaSafran - The Electronic Forum of the Association of Jewish Libraries Submissions for HaSafran, send to: Hasafran at lists.acs.ohio-state.edu SUBscribing, SIGNOFF commands send to: Listserver at lists.acs.ohio-state.edu Questions, problems, complaints, compliments;-) send to: galron.1 at osu.edu AJL HomePage http://www.JewishLibraries.org/
[HaSafran} Help! Good prayer stories for storytelling to children?
Got a request from the principal of the Hebrew school today-she needs a few stories about prayer for children that a storyteller can do this coming Sunday. (nothing like planning in advance!) Can anyone think of any stories that I can recommend? (children may be anywhere from ages 5-11) Thanks for your help! Janice Levine Atlanta === Submissions for Ha-Safran, send to: Hasafran at lists.acs.ohio-state.edu SUBscribing, SIGNOFF commands send to: Listproc at lists.acs.ohio-state.edu Questions, problems, complaints, compliments;-) send to: galron.1 at osu.edu AJL HomePage http://www.JewishLibraries.org
[HaSafran} Help! Good prayer stories for storytelling to children?
--- Message requiring your approval --MIME-Version: 1.0 From: "Janice Levine comcast.net" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: [HaSafran} Help! Good prayer stories for storytelling to children? Got a request from the principal of the Hebrew school today-she needs a few stories about prayer for children that a storyteller can do this coming Sunday. (nothing like planning in advance!) Can anyone think of any stories that I can recommend? (children may be anywhere from ages 5-11) Thanks for your help! Janice Levine Atlanta === Submissions for Ha-Safran, send to: Hasafran at lists.acs.ohio-state.edu SUBscribing, SIGNOFF commands send to: Listproc at lists.acs.ohio-state.edu Questions, problems, complaints, compliments;-) send to: galron.1 at osu.edu AJL HomePage http://www.JewishLibraries.org
