Now that I'm finally unjet-lagged, I'm getting back into the swing of things in this time zone. For one thing, I've been overwhelmed--and very gratified--by the interest the Siddur is garnering in the world out there. We haven't even really begun advertising the books to other congregations, but I've already gotten about fifty-five requests from rabbis all over the world asking to see copies. (Well, not really all over the world--but two from France, two from England, four from Canada, and the rest from the States.) The initial reviews have been very favorable--not printed reviews yet, but comments on various e-mail discussion groups by individuals who have seen the books--and that's helped stimulate interest. All in all, it's been a very satisfying week since I've been back!

Now that the Siddur is out, we are beginning a new project that also promises to be very interesting. For all long time, I've felt the real lack of a children's book pitched at pre-bar- and bat-mitzvah aged children that would set out a theory of religion and religious observance that would suit the clientele in a Conservative congregation. There isn't much out there to start with. But when you eliminate books that either presuppose a fundamentalist mindset or that shy away from speaking clearly about the mitzvot as commandments...then there's almost nothing at all. And our kids need something like that, something that will propose--in kids' terms and in language children will understand--a kind of philosophy of mitzvot that they can consider and debate and, perhaps, even embrace.

To that end, I've been working on a manuscript that will address exactly this gap in the literature. It's not a long book, but the idea we've had lately that makes it even more exciting is that we are going to ask the children of Shelter Rock to become our illustrators. Ronit Azulay, our Educational Director, has agreed to work with me on this project, which we hope will eventually involve all, or at least most, of our Shelter Rock kids in creating the drawings and illustrations for the book. If we do this well, I think we are likely to create something of real use and major significance. And I couldn't have better partners in the art department!

So far, we're working on the text. But shortly after Pesach, we will begin to work on the artwork and see where that takes us. It's an exciting project! And, of course, I'll keep you all informed as we move forward.

In the meantime, have you noticed that Pesach is in less than four weeks? (I didn't believe it either. But it's really true!) More about that next week..

Sincerely,

Rabbi Martin S. Cohen