“69 Ways to Raise Your Child with Your Heart: Insights from Jewish Mothers”

April 27, 2024 580 Views

“69 Ways to Raise Your Child with Your Heart: Insights from Jewish Mothers” by Jo Mi-hyun is a book that delves into parenting from the perspective of Jewish parents.

Among the similarities between Koreans and Jews, one notable aspect is their emphasis on education. Koreans have a strong interest in education, and similarly, Jews place significant importance on education.

As a people who once lost their nation and only retained their ethnicity, Jews exerted great influence in reclaiming their country through education. Despite ongoing conflicts and wars, education remains a cornerstone of their nation-building process.

“69 Ways to Raise Your Child with Your Heart: Insights from Jewish Mothers”

This book, authored by Jo Mi-hyun, focuses on the educational practices of Jewish parents, as the title suggests.

The subheadings of each chapter alone could be helpful:

Accept things as they are.
There are no perfect parents in the world.
Don’t fear others’ eyes.
A word of praise and encouragement can change a child.
Show both sides of affection.
Practice what you expect from your children.
Raise your children to be helpful to others.
Instill good habits in your children.
Children learn through conflicts.
Put your child’s needs before your own pride.

“Yiddishe Mama: The Jewish Mother”

A Jewish mother is called a “Yiddishe Mama,” meaning one who nurtures her children joyfully. This contrasts with the education system in Korea, where knowledge-centric education is prevalent.

While Jewish education may seem unique, it’s fundamentally not. Their education system is based on “relationships” and “character education,” rather than focusing solely on knowledge.

Although Korea once had a similar educational foundation, it shifted towards a more Americanized education policy with modernization and industrialization.

“At the core of education lies communication.”

The book consistently emphasizes “communication.” In Jewish education, children are treated as individuals and recognized as beings to live with, not just as objects of knowledge.

Through communication, natural conversations occur, allowing parents to understand their children’s thoughts, interests, and reasons behind their actions. Education based on such “communication” is considered the core of Jewish education.

In reality, even as adults, Jews communicate and learn together. This contrasts with the East Asian trio of “Korea, China, and Japan,” where rote memorization dominates education.

“Effort to Understand Children is Necessary”

Ultimately, the book discusses treating children as individuals, laying the foundation on communication, and making efforts to understand each other. From communication to handling unexpected situations rationally, effort is needed.

Children are said to be mirrors of their parents. If parents lead by example and show their children the way, wouldn’t the children naturally follow?

Jews, who have had significant global influence, attribute their success to education. Therefore, there is much to learn and apply from their methods. This book provides insights into Jewish child-rearing practices.

“69 Ways to Raise Your Child with Your Heart: Insights from Jewish Mothers”