Ruth Karola Westheimer - Grandparenthood

Other Books by Dr. Ruth K. Westheimer

The Art of Arousal

All in a Lifetime

Dr. Ruths Encyclopedia of Sex

Dr. Ruths Guide to Good Sex

Dr. Ruths Guide for Married Lovers

Dr. Ruths Guide to Sensuous and Erotic Pleasures

Dr. Ruths Guide to Safer Sex

Dr. Ruth Talks About Grandparents

Dr. Ruth Talks to Kids

Heavenly Sex: Sex in the Jewish Tradition (with Jonathan Mark)

Sex and Morality: Who Is Teaching Our Sex Standards? (with Dr. Lou Lieberman)

Surviving Salvation: The Ethiopian Jewish Family in Transition (with Dr. Steven Kaplan)

Sex for Dummies

The Value of Family

Other Books by Steven Kaplan, Ph.D.

The Beta Israel (Falasha) in Ethiopia

Surviving Salvation: The Ethiopian Jewish Family in Transition (with Dr. Ruth K. Westheimer)

I dedicate this book to the memory of my beloved parents and grandparents, who in an indescribable sacrifice sent me, their only child and grandchild, to safety and who perished in concentration camps during World War II.

The set of values, the joie de vivre, and the positive outlook they instilled in me live on in my life and in the new family I have created to carry on their traditions. Sadly, I also dedicate this book to my late husband, Fred, who took so much pride in our family: Miriam Westheimer, Ed.D., and Joel Einleger; Joel Westheimer, Ph.D., and Barbara Leckie, Ph.D.; and the greatest grandchildren on earth, Ari, Leora, and Michal.

R.W.

To the memory of my grandparents, Simon and Tanya Horowitz and Abraham and Edith Kaplan. And to Albert Owens, my favorite grandmother, with love.

S.K.

Fortunately, my list of people to thank grows with each bookit would take an extra chapter to list them all. So to all of you, a warm thank you! In addition, the following people must be mentioned by name:

Pierre Lehu, my Minister of Communications, the best that any body could wish fora special toast to many more years of cooperation. All of the relatives, cousins, and their familiesa hug! I do want to thank the following people for adding so much to my life: Ruth Bachrach, Bill Baker, Rabbi and Mrs. Stephen Berkowitz, Susan Brown, Carlita de Chavez, Hersh Cohen, Esther Coopersmith, Mary Cuadrado, Ph.D., Martin Englisher, Cynthia and Howard Epstein, Gabe and Susie Eram, Steve Friedman, Ellen Goldberg, David Goslin, Ph.D., Vladimir Goussinsky, Michael Greenspan, Amos Grunebaum, M.D., David and Doreen Hermelin, Dennis and Brooke Holt, Elliot Horowitz, Fred Howard, John Jacobs, Richard Kandel, Alfred Kaplan, Helen Singer Kaplan, Michael and Ronnie Kassan, Bonnie Kaye, Richard and Barbara Kendall, Phill and Bonnie Kendall, Harold and Linda Koplewitz, Marga and Bill Kunreuther, Rabbi and Mrs. William LeBeau, Sasha Klein, Cantor and Mrs. Michael Kruk, Joanne Lehu, Esq., Lou Lieberman, Ph.D., John and Ginger Lollos, Sandy Lopater, Jonathan and Ruchy Mark, Dale Ordes, Marga and Michael Miller, Bobby and Vicky Nachamie, Michelle and Linden Nelson, Henry and Sydelle Ostberg, Robert Pinto, Fred and Ann Rosenberg, Colin Rosin, Cliff Rubin, Tim and Tami Satterfield, Simeon and Rose Schreiber, Gangadai (Cindy) Seepersaud, Romie and Blanche Shapiro, Amir Shaviv, John Silberman, John and Marianne Slade, Richard Stein, Rudi Steinbach, Robert Stewart, Hannah Strauss, Malcolm and Barbara Thomson, Gary Tinterow, Mike and Vicky Turek, Mildred Witkin, Ph.D., Greg Willenborg, and Ben Yogada.

A very special bravo, thank you, and gratitude to the superb professionals at Routledge: Colin Jones, Heidi Freund, Sarita Sahni, Shea Settimi, John McHale, and Laura-Ann RobbI add my voice to all the accolades that Steve heaped upon them. And what a terrific coauthor I have! Thank you!

R.W.

The subject matter and style of this book mark a significant departure from any of my previous books or articles. Its completion and publication could not have been accomplished without the support of numerous people. First and foremost, I would like to thank Ruth K. Westheimer for her friendship, her generosity, and the faith she demonstrated in choosing me as her collaborator on this book. Colin Jones, the president of Routledge, shared his confidence and took a chance when others in his position might have hesitated. Heidi Freund, our editor, provided much-needed advice and encouragement as the book first took shape, guided it through numerous rough drafts, and provided detailed comments for shaping it into its final form. Sarita Sahni, Shea Settimi, and Laura-Ann Robb dealt efficiently with a variety of technical issues that arose as the book moved toward completion.

The Harry S. Truman Research Institute of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem provided the infrastructure and working conditions necessary for my work, including Internet, e-mail, faxes, and computer facilities. I thank all my colleagues there.

My friends, David Satran, Mindy Milberg, Linda Aronson, Kay K. Shelemay, Hagar Salamon, Rafi Youngman, Rachel Melesa, and Monica Devens, were always enthusiastic in their support for this project and often provided me with insights on families and grand parents.

My mother, Ruth Kaplan, taught me most of what I know about families, both in her daily role as mother and through her own reading and teaching about family systems. My sisters Eva and Judy have repeatedly reminded me that I have their full support in whatever I do, wherever I do it.

During the period when this book was written, my household grew from three members to five, and we became an interfaith, interracial, blended family. That I was able to write this book during this period of change is a tribute to the patience and understanding of Booshun, Yona, Egypt (Denise), and Albert.

S.K.

The Lord bless thee out of Zion; and see thou
the good of Jerusalem all the days of thy life;
and see thy childrens children. Peace be upon Israel!

Psalm 128:6