By Leah Goodman
Remember those parenting magazines stacked up at the doctor’s office or piled in your parents’ bathroom? The cute photos, enticing headlines splayed on the cover, and advice columns showed us that even though our parents knew a lot, they were still searching for answers, for guidance.
Not much has changed.
But as we age, and actually read those magazines ourselves, we realize how little is relevant to Jewish parenting. So much of our lives as Jewish parents differ from those in the outside world.
These days, popular frum magazines have insightful chinuch sections. Here I feel more at home; the writers address parenting issues that resonate in a Jewish family. And yet, I don’t think I’m alone when I say that some articles leave me wanting.
As a Lubavitcher, I feel like we should read about and discuss our own unique brand of chinuch. We certainly don’t lack material: Chassidus is filled with beautiful insights and our Rebbeim have given us innumerable important directives.
While there are chassidishe chinuch messages available, I was taken aback when I recently saw a new magazine focusing solely on chinuch. I was holding my dream come true: the parenting magazine for Jewish parents!
My first impression was good. So was my second. I ripped the plastic right open and got lost in the richness of 30 Minute’s clean and modern pages. And its content. This is something my parents would have loved.
The issue, the magazine’s first, opened with a moving story and inspiring thought from our Rebbe. In his first article, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Gluckowsky of Rechovot addressed changing times, changing needs. Where it was once appropriate to educate with harshness, he explained, today’s generation physically can’t handle it. That makes sense. I have seen that to be true with my own son, time and time again. Instead of negating the nefesh habahamis, he stressed, it should be uplifted and made to realize its potential.
I, for one, feel uplifted and empowered.
Then there was Mrs. Sara Kaplan’s piece about perfect parenting. I could actually feel myself relax as she described why that phrase just isn’t possible in any realm.
Which of us hasn’t kept their eyes glued to their phone a little more than necessary? I know I am to blame. In his enlightening piece, Rabbi Mordechai Lipskier addressed the topic of distraction by technology. That is an undeniable area in which I need to improve. For all of our sakes.
I am so uplifted to see that chinuch has taken such a central role in our community. Societal pressure, davening, pride in Yiddishkeit, expectations at different ages, and technology are only a few topics the magazine explored this issue. And it left the fluff on the printing press–though the articles were engaging and enjoyable, they were entirely substantive.
30 Minutes amazed me, by sending me such a quality magazine free of charge. And I know I wasn’t the only one to receive it: my sisters and friends on various WhatsApp groups have been chatting about it as well.
I want to make sure I receive all future issues, so I signed up at
gidulim.org/magazine. I also noticed that the magazine is looking to hire–a larger staff will mean more diverse content.
Lubavitch chinuch is what I’m looking for. And with 30 Minutes, I know I finally have the means to achieve that.
I signed up at gidulim.org/magazine
Is there a website/way to order it like other magazines and get it by mail? How do we order the first one?
Learnt so much for the first installment. Can’t wait to read more.
Hi looks great how can we get it in israel thank you
[email protected]
Amazing magazine! Thank you Gidulim staff!
“Chabad chinuch” used to mean something special. Sadly, many people today are turning to other sources (Jewish or not) for parenting advice.
We need to go back to our roots.
We have such tremendous wealth of chinuch professionals in chabad. The writers that contributed are true dugmah Chayos of what successful parents look like. I’m glad they did not focus on the opinions of the “professionals”. I feel like the best teachers are the ones who learn Chassidus and live it. You feel it in them and in their kids. From them, the best advise is shared!
The look of this magazine in clean and pretty. Really shows proper respect for this important topic. Parenting through the lense of chasidus is a wonderful. However for the success of this magazine, there needs to be branching out to other experts in the field. When facing difficulties in parenting, many parents from crown heights reach out to parenting experts outside of our community.
It looks fantastic, can we get some articles posted on colive?]
This magazine is ABSOLUTELY amazing! I loved it beginning to end!
A big thank you to all those involved. Keep up the good work!