October, 2003

‘Positive Jewish Parenting Conference,’ Addressing Daily Challenges Facing Families, Comes to Chicago: OU, Associated Talmud Torahs and E.L.A.N. Diagnostic Center To Present How-To Session

Saturday; November 1, 2003
Associated Talmud Torahs of Chicago
2828 West Pratt Blvd., Chicago

In an ongoing effort to address parenting issues facing families today, the Orthodox Union and its National Conference of Synagogue Youth; the Associated Talmud Torahs of Chicago and its affiliate schools; in conjunction with the E.L.A.N. Diagnostic Center, will present an interactive parenting conference aimed at strengthening parenting skills in Chicago area Jewish families.

The conference will be held Saturday night, November 1, 2003, from 7:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. at the Associated Talmud Torahs of Chicago, 2828 West Pratt Boulevard. Admission is $10 per person in advance and $18 per person at the door.

This Positive Jewish Parenting conference will address issues and challenges daily facing parents of children in the mainstream (not children at risk), and generate practical ideas and suggestions for enhancing parenting skills. The conference is a continuation of several highly successful similar programs held throughout the country by the OU, each one attracting hundreds of participants.

Well-known professionals in the field of psychology and social work from Chicago, New York and Israel will present interactive workshops and discussions throughout the evening. The keynote address will be presented by Rabbi Dr. Tzvi Hersh Weinreb, noted psychologist and rabbi, and Executive Vice President of the OU. His address will be followed by a participant question and answer session with a panel of workshop presenters.

The Chicago presenters include Michal Cohen L.C.S.W., Hadassah Goodman L.C.S.W., A.C.S.W., and Drs. Jerry Lob, Rivkah H. Simon and Mara Stein. The international experts include Dr. Naomi Baum of Efrat, Israel; and Drs. Norman Blumenthal, Rona Novick and David Pelcovitz of New York.

“Raising a child in this day and age is a great challenge,” declares Frank Buchweitz, OU Director of Special Projects, and the coordinator of the organization’s parenting programs. “Orthodox families are not immune to the stresses and challenges that affect parent/children relationships in general, while having their own additional challenges revolving around the Orthodox emphasis on education and morality, and the time pressures that are a factor in Orthodox life. The 12 conference sessions, under the leadership of experts in parent/child interaction, will be ‘how-to’ lessons on coping with these factors. This conference should be a ‘can’t miss’ item on the agenda of all Orthodox families.”

The conference is the latest example of the OU’s increasingly significant priority of offering programming on behalf of the Jewish family. “Clearly, whatever can be done to strengthen the Jewish family will help ensure the stability of our community in years to come,” explained Rabbi Moshe D. Krupka, OU Executive Director for Programming. “The parent/child relationship is the essence of Jewish family life within the context of Torah. The OU is devoting increasing time and resources to solidifying our community’s family relationships.”

Conference sessions include the following:

• Setting Limits for Our Children: What Do We Allow? What Do We Forbid?
• School and the Home - Friend or Foe? Beyond Sibling Rivalry: Helping Children Become Cooperative, Caring and Compassionate
• Time Management for Today’s Religious Family
• The Impact of Media and Technology on Our Children
• Preventing Eating Disorders
• Reclaiming the Art of Listening and Talking Between Parents and Children
• Building A Lifelong Relationship with your Child: Six Characteristics That Really
  Make a Difference
• Conversations with Children about Their Bodies’ Development (for women only)
• When Your Children Drive You Crazy: How to Get Back on Track
• Talking to Your Children About Disturbing World Events
• Understanding and Setting Healthy Boundaries – (focusing on teens).

The conference is also being held with the support of the following Social Services Agencies of Chicago: Jewish Children’s Bureau, Jewish Family and Community Service, and Response Center. The OU’s national programs, including this conference, are held in conjunction with the Rabbinical Council of America (RCA) and F●E●G●S, with the support and encouragement of the International Association of Orthodox Mental Health Professionals (NEFESH). For information and advance registration contact Associated Talmud Torahs at

773-973-2828; www.att.org\elanhome.htm; or parenting@att.org.

The Orthodox Union, now in its second century of service to the Jewish community of North America and beyond, is a world leader in community and synagogue services, adult education, youth work through NCSY, political action through the IPA, and advocacy for persons with disabilities through Yachad and Our Way. Its kosher supervision label, the , is the world’s most recognized kosher symbol and can be found on over 275,000 products manufactured in 68 countries around the globe.

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Orthodox Union Department of Communications and Marketing David Olivestone Director Stephen Steiner Director of Public Relations Main Office: 11 Broadway, New York, NY 10004 Phone: 212.613.8318 Fax: 212-613-0763 E-mail: steiners@ou.org  |  media@ou.org

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