Be Like God: God's To-Do List for Kids

by Ron Wolfson

Overview

Become a real superhero! Learn how to use the powers God gave you to continue the work of creation and repair the world.

"We don't have to pretend to use the powers God has given us. These powers are real and they are super! Our God shares God's powers with us so we can make our lives better and the lives of others better. When we learn how to use God’s superpowers, we become God’s partners— God’s superheroes—on earth."
—from the Introduction

This inspirational guide for kids ages eight to twelve is a marvel, showing them (and their families) that it’s easy to become God’s partner on earth: figure out what God does in the Bible, then do it!

God creates, blesses, rests, calls, comforts, cares, repairs, wrestles, gives and forgives. For each of God’s superpowers, Dr. Ron Wolfson gives kids stories and suggestions for what might be on their own God’s to-do list— the many ways they can use their superpowers to make a difference in the lives of others, and find meaning and purpose for their own.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781580235105
Publisher:	Turner Publishing Company
Publication date:	06/15/2012
Pages:	144
Product dimensions:	6.90(w) x 8.80(h) x 0.40(d)
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

Dr. Ron Wolfson, visionary educator and inspirational speaker, is Fingerhut Professor of Education at American Jewish Universityin Los Angeles and a cofounder of Synagogue 3000. He is author of Relational Judaism: Using the Power of Relationships to Transform the Jewish Community; The Seven Questions You're Asked in Heaven: Reviewing and Renewing Your Life on Earth; Be Like God: God's To-Do List for Kids; God's To-Do List: 103 Ways to Be an Angel and Do God's Work on Earth; Hanukkah, Passover and Shabbat, all Federation of Jewish Men's Clubs Art of Jewish Living family guides to spiritual celebrations; The Spirituality of Welcoming: How to Transform Your Congregation into a Sacred Community; A Time to Mourn, a Time to Comfort: A Guide to Jewish Bereavement and Comfort and, with Rabbi Lawrence A. Hoffman, What You Will See Inside a Synagogue (all Jewish Lights), a book for children ages 6 and up. He contributed to May God Remember: Memory and Memorializing in Judaism—Yizkor, Who by Fire, Who by Water—Un'taneh Tokef, All These Vows—Kol Nidre and We Have Sinned: Sin and Confession in Judaism—Ashamnu and Al Chet (all Jewish Lights).

Table of Contents

Introduction 7

Superpower #1 Create 25
Superpower #2 Bless 33
Superpower #3 Rest 43
Superpower #4 Call 51
Superpower #5 Comfort 61
Superpower #6 Care 69
Superpower #7 Repair 79
Superpower #8 Wrestle 89
Superpower #9 Give 103
Superpower #10 Forgive 115

In Conclusion: Just Do It! 126
Three More Ways to Be a Superhero and Do God's Work on Earth 129
Welcome, Superhero Angels! 131
My God's To-Do List 134
Notes 135
Suggestions for Further Reading 136
Acknowledgments 138

Editorial Reviews

In this highly readable and inspiring volume that teaches what it means to be a partner with God, Wolfson describes 10 actions, which he terms “superpowers,” that turn individuals into divine helpers. Each chapter introduces a superpower (create, bless, comfort, forgive, etc.) and shows its basis in the Torah. In a kid-friendly conversational tone, he asks his readers to write down examples they’ve encountered of each capability. He uses delightful stories to illustrate what the superpowers are about and concludes with to-do lists to help young readers turn concepts into reality. To clarify what it means, for example, to “give,” Wolfson tells the story of Olivia’s decision to have her friends bring frozen turkeys as her birthday gifts, which she then donates to a food shelter. Brief and engaging, this book makes it easy for kids (and grownups, too) to make themselves, and the world, better. Ages 8–12. (July)

Publishers Weekly

Dr. Ron Wolfson's inspirational book for kids from 8-12 is based on the Jewish and Christian response to the ancient question, "What does God require of us?" The answer given is the Latin phrase imitatio dei, "imitating God": just as God is portrayed in the Bible clothing the naked (Adam and Eve), visiting the sick (Abraham), feeding the hungry (the Israelites in the dessert), helping the needy (the Israelites again) and burying the dead (Moses), among other acts, so we should imitate His behavior, which is obviously good since God is doing them. The concept in Judaism is based on Leviticus 19:2 and in Christianity on Matthew 5:48.

The book is composed in a clever manner so as to attract and stimulate youngsters to act. Each chapter, for example, has an entertaining story. Young people are encouraged to read each of the ten chapters, consider the behavior that the chapter discusses and the thirteen ways that Wolfson suggests that young people can do them. These are think about God calling you to do them, create your own to-do list, perform your to-dos, keep track, think about how this is changing your life, share your to-do list with others, read the list daily and decide to do at least one to-do item daily.

Wolfson's ten chapters discuss how God and the youngsters create, bless, rest, call, comfort, care, repair, wrestle, give and forgive. The book also has spaces where the youngsters are encouraged to write their ideas.

The Jewish Eye - Israel Drazin

"Brings [a] unique blend of acute insight, down-to-earth wisdom and warm humor to the world of Jewish children's books…. Jewish values come alive in the stories, the questions and the suggestions for ways to do good and to feel better about oneself in doing so. A book not just to be read, but to be done."
—Dr. Jonathan S. Woocher, chief ideas officer and director, Lippman Kanfer Institute, JESNA

“An extraordinary combination of Jewish teaching, folk stories, practical exercises and?reflections that lets a child build internal power and call out for greater strength…. A must for every teacher and every parent [who] wishes that our children grow up able to turn within and to God to know joy and face challenge.”
—Cyd B. Weissman, director, Innovation in Congregational Learning, The Jewish Education Project, New York

“Ron Wolfson has inspired generations of adults and children to learn. Here is his inspiration on the page: Give this book to a child and watch his or her eyes light up with the excitement of spiritual growth.”
—Rabbi David J. Wolpe, rabbi, Sinai Temple, Los Angeles, California; author, Teaching Your Children about God

“It’s hard to say what delighted me more: reading this book as a rabbi or as a mother. Written with a passion and sensitivity that can only flow from a teacher who truly believes that good books can change people’s lives, that the eyes are the windows to the soul … and that we are all—every one of us—angels with important things to do in this world.”
—Rabbi Sharon Brous, founding rabbi, IKAR, Los Angeles, California

“Amazing. Every kid who wants to talk to their parents about God but can’t must read it.”
—Emet Hirsch, age 9

“Like no other book for Jewish families today—thought provoking, engaging and rich with meaning. Invites children and their parents to think, talk, reflect and act in ways certain to enrich their spiritual lives.”
—Dr. Marc N. Kramer, executive director, RAVSAK: The Jewish Community Day School Network

“Wonderful. Each chapter presents an opportunity for meaningful conversation and connection with each other, along with the understanding that each of us truly has the 'superpower’ to make this world a better place.”
—Nancy Parkes, director of congregational learning, Temple Israel Center, White Plains, New York

“By page 13, I could tell that this book is awesome. It’s different from any other book I personally have ever read.”
—Eva Brous-Light, age 8

“Warm, wise and wonderful. This is the book that will energize young people to be God’s hands to heal the world. (And it might even motivate the parents reading over their shoulders, too!)”
—Rabbi Bradley Shavit Artson, dean, Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies; vice president, American Jewish University

“By challenging young people to act God-like, Ron Wolfson—a superhero in Jewish education— is fostering the partnership between humanity and the Divine! I am looking forward to using [this book] with our b’nai mitzvah students at Beth El Congregation.”
—Eyal Bor, PhD, director of education, Beth El Schools, Rabbi Mark G. Loeb Center for Lifelong Learning; director, Beth El Congregation, Baltimore, Maryland

From the Publisher