Community Magazine December 2012

SAFE Promotes Healthy Self-Esteem Among the most crucial topics that Project SAFE teachers discuss with 5th-12th graders in community schools, is self- esteem. Low self-image is linked to drug abuse and other serious problems, and thus maintaining healthy self-esteem is a vital component in the effort to keep kids away from drugs and other self-destructive habits. Parents play an important role in fostering a positive self-image in their child. Some of the basic self-esteem building tips recommended by SAFE include: • Build genuine regard for your child. Your true feelings about someone are likely to show no matter what you do or say. If you feel positively about your child, he is more likely to regard himself in a favorable light. To help improve your feelings, make a list of what you appreciate about your child. Include specific stories that are especially endearing. Keep this list on your phone, and read it often. • Use a cheerful tone. Think of how you say your child’s name. Notice if your voice lifts up in a cheerful manner, or goes down in a dismal tone. A child should feel that his name is associated with pleasant feelings. • Speak in positive terms. In our efforts to raise a “perfect” child, we often point out the child’s negative behaviors. Try shifting words around from the negative viewpoint to the positive. Instead of, “You didn’t help me yesterday,” say, “I love when you help me. It makes things so much easier for me.” • Identify your child’s strengths. From an early age, help him develop in areas he enjoys, to a point of mastery. Being good at things is one of the pillars of a healthy self-image. Other topics discussed in project safe classes include: If you or someone you know needs help, please call our confidential, toll-free hotline, 24/7, at 1-866-569-SAFE (1-866- 569-7233). Have a question? E-mail: ask@thesafefoundation.org . Russia Inaugurates World’s Largest Jewish Museum Israeli President Shimon Peres joined Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Moscow on Thursday, November 8, 2012 to inaugurate the city’s new Russian Jewish museum and tolerance center, the world’s largest Jewish museum. The new center is housed in the former Bakhmetevsky bus garage, an avant-garde Moscow landmark designed in 1926 by Konstantin Melnikov. The museum, which brings together different cultural traditions through a Jewish prism, is the brainchild of Russia’s Chief Rabbi Berl Lazar, and Alexander Boroda, the president of the Federation of Jewish Communities of Russia, who conceived the idea back in 2007. Rabbi Lazar discussed the idea for the museum with Russian President Vladimir Putin, who lent his support for the project, saying it would help normalize interfaith relations. “For a long time, the story of Russian Jewry was very hard and even tragic. Now things have changed,” Rabbi Lazar said, though he urged Russia’s Jewish community not to forget the difficult periods in its history. The museum includes a section on the persecution experienced by Jews in the former USSR. Russian businessman Viktor Vekselberg, who donated toward the museum, praised the museum for not shying away from sensitive questions about Russian Jewish history. Lazar also praised Putin for his support of the venture. The museum also depicts the persecution of Soviet Jewry, particularly in the 1960s and 1970s. The exhibition shows a collection of anti-Zionist and anti-Jewish propaganda, including a pamphlet in Russian entitled, “Judaism: a Past Without a Future,” and an anti-Semitic book published in 1963 by the Ukrainian Soviet Academy of Sciences, titled, Judaism Without the Jewels . A handwritten translation of Pirke Avot (Ethics of the Fathers) from 1973, whose pages have yellowed with age, stands as testament to the determination and bravery of the Soviet Jews. The writer risked imprisonment to translate and write out the book, as its publication was prohibited by the USSR. –Joanna Paraszczuk, jpost.com • Tobacco, hookah, marijuana, alcohol and other drugs • Gambling • Risks, dares and consequences • Peer pressure and the art of saying no • Media’s images and messages • Healthy body image • Healthy eating • Body changes • Self-respect • Defining values • Developing an honest character • Reputation • Goal setting • Assertiveness training • Optimism and success • Handling stress • Managing time and prioritizing • Defining and solving problems • Making healthy decisions • Accepting responsibility • Developing healthy relationships • Healthy communication • Respecting differences in others • Dealing with cliques • Bullying vs. normal conflict • Cyber-bullying • Defining and solving conflicts • Relationships with parents • Relationships with siblings • Recognizing and dealing with feelings • Understanding mental health • Good sportsmanship • Luxury vs. necessity • Coping with change • Driving responsibly • Personal, internet, and summer safety • Social media awareness Community Chest 82 COMMUNITY MAGAZINE