|
REACH Winter 2002
CONTENTS
ADMINISTRATION
ADULT RE
CURRICULUM
RESOURCES
WORSHIP
YOUTH
|
By Sandy Sasso, Illustrated by Joani Rothenberg (Jewish Lights Publishing, 2001) Reviewed by Rev. Patricia Hoertdoerfer Children, Family, and Intergenerational Programs Director Religious Education Department, UUA, Boston, MA We know the biblical story: "A very long time ago, when the world was new two children walked in God's garden called Earth. One was named Cain, the other, Abel. They were the first children, the first brothers." Yet author and rabbi Sandy Sasso takes this story and moves it beyond the timeless theme of anger and violence innate in humans to a new imagery that invites us to find the seeds of peace in ourselves and envision a different ending. This timely tale retold to families in a world after 9/11 gives us a starting point for discussing anger and for harnessing the power we have to deal with our emotions in positive ways. In the early pages of the book, Sasso imagined a peaceful, abundant world where trees grew with amazing fruits: "Orapples, plumelons, and bananagerines ripen on a single branch." The world was beautiful and wonderful, and there was love between the brothers. One had curly hair, like the wool of the sheep he tended. The other had hair straight as the wheat he harvested in the fields. They loved what made them different. But then jealousy caused Cain to hate Abel. Filled with rage, Cain took a single rock and smashed his brother's head. And happiness came to an end and, with it, "one killing became two, two became four and. It is here that the author asks us to identify with the feelings of Cain-jealousy, anger, rage, and regret and try to understand this dimension of our humanity. It is here that we can begin to work for peace. In this time of war and terrorism, hatred and fear, we need ways to find hope. We need to wrestle with these powerful questions of our human nature and find ways to save ourselves and our Earth. It is reassuring that God is present with us always, but/and we need to nurture love and justice in our world to find the fruits of peace. How can we offer our children hope for the future? Get Cain & Abel Finding the Fruits of Peace and read it. Read it again with the children in your life. Reflect on the words and pictures. Ask questions: Which character do you identify with? What do you do when you're angry? What else could they have done? Talk about the anger and conflict in your family or school or community. (800) 215-9076 www.uua.org/bookstore
|
Page last updated February 23, 2002
All material copyright © 2002 Unitarian Universalist Association