All the Jewish parenting news you probably didn’t have time to read this week.
– Mama Grizzly Sarah Palin did a two-day stint in Israel this week, and the most controversial topic of conversation regarding her trip? Her necklace choice. Palin wore a rather large and visible Star of David necklace, perhaps to show her support for Israel, or perhaps because she thought it was sort of like wearing a lei while you’re in Hawaii. (Washington Post)
– RIP Sara Ruddick, whose book, “Maternal Thinking: Towards a Politics of Peace,” brought a feminist and anti-violence approach to parenting. Of her many notable theories, one that stands out is the idea that mothering is gender-neutral, stating, “Anyone who commits her or himself to responding to children’s demands, and makes the work of response a considerable part of her or his life, is a mother.” (NYT)
– You may have experienced nagging parents whose one only wish was to have grandchildren, but a couple in Israel are taking it to the extreme. After their 27-year-old son, who was unmarried and childless, died in a work-related accident, they had his sperm extracted and are now waiting for permission to find a woman to bear their grandchild. Their lawyer states: “It’s an idea of continuation. It’s a dream. Magic.” (Jewish Journal)
– Today marks the 100th anniversary of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire, a tragedy which killed 146 factory workers, many of which were young Jewish women. Marjorie Ingall reflects on the event and how history has perhaps painted the wrong picture of the two factory owners. (Tablet)
