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March 16, 2001/Adar 21, 5761, Vol. 53, No.24
Phoenix native pens book for Jewish parents
BETH OLSON
Editorial Assistant
Allan Gonsher's philosophy about raising children is straightforward -"Focus on the inside."
Gonsher, author of "An Allowance is Not a Bribe: And other helpful hints for raising responsible Jewish children" (Jason Aronson, Inc., $25 hardcover) uses his experience as a child therapist and parent and his training as a rabbi to look at how people can "parent Jewishly."
"I think there is a connection between being a committed Jew and being a good therapist and raising a healthy family," he explains.
The book focuses on standard parenting issues such as allowance, chores, discipline and sibling relationships, and uses a practical approach to deal with them, utilizing the tenets of Judaism.
Currently Gonsher and his wife, Rini, reside in Omaha, Neb., where he practices child therapy at Kids, Inc. They have raised three sons - all committed to Judaism. The oldest, Josh, is a student at Queens College in New York and is completing his yeshiva studies; the second son, Ben, is in his third year of study at a yeshiva in Israel; and the youngest, Zack, is in his second year studying at an Israeli yeshiva.
Gonsher was raised in Phoenix and attended Beth El Congregation as a child. He attributes his upbringing with making him who he is as an adult.
"My family and specifically Beth El (Congregation) helped me become what I am. ... There are not a lot of Jews who were born in Phoenix 51 years ago," he says. "It was a very small, nice, warm community."
Gonsher will visit the Valley this month and will speak at 10 a.m. Sunday, March 25, at Temple Chai, 4645 E. Marilyn Road, Phoenix. Call 602-971-1234.
He will also speak 2 p.m. Sunday, March 25 at Beth El Congregation, 1118 W. Glendale Ave., Phoenix. Call 602-944-3359.
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