GOOD, OR JUST GOOD ENOUGH

The Torah is a never ending scroll of life lessons that keeps on giving. Thousands of years ago on the edge of Mt. Sinai, Moses received the Torah and shared it with us, the Jews of past, present and future. The object of this gift is to use it over and over again, and allow it to permeate our minds, bodies, and souls. The students in our 4th grade core class are slowly learning the many lessons shared by generations before us. Each week we deconstruct another phrase from the Torah and turn it and twist it to better understand the world around us and bring us closer to GOD, our community, and ourselves.  The lessons we study each week help us understand we have infinite control over the decisions we make and the Torah teaches us to always work towards doing the right thing no matter how difficult it may be.

This week we began studying the complex nature of  Noah, and what it truly means to be righteous. Was Noah truly righteous, or was he just better than anyone else. In class our students have been turning this phrase over and over again…is it OK to just be better than someone else, or does GOD ask more of us? We are beginning to learn that we must set the bar higher than just someone else, and reach to be the best we can be. We tried to understand why Noah followed GOD's demands without questioning GOD's actions.  We talked about building relationships and trust, and the importance of communication in a partnership.  We talked about the difference between faith and obedience, and continue to struggle with the idea that Noah did not try to save the people of the world.  Take some time to share your ideas with your children, and ask them which of their behaviors are good, and which are good enough.

To approach our discussion from a different perspective, on Tuesday afternoon, we introduced our students to Jewish Law, the Bet Din, and the idea of being judged by a group of our peers.  We talked about finding money, what Jewish law says about finding and keeping things, and our responsibility to family, community, and doing the right thing.  We had a lively discussion about a child finding $100, and the "right thing" to do with the money.  Ask you children to share their thoughts with you.

 

Sunday morning is our Shabbat Workshop.  Please plan on joining your student in making this beautiful Shabbat keepsake.  

WHAT'S JEWISH ABOUT MLK?

This week we welcomed back many of our students from Winter Break, and it was nice to see so many smiling faces. Of course we talked about our Winter Break, and we shared some of the Jewish things we did while on vacation. In was interesting to hear our friends talk about ordinary experiences that definitely had a Jewish spin. We talked about the importance of taking everyday moments and making them Jewish experiences, and our students thought long and hard when I suggested that almost everything we do can have a Jewish spin. 

On Sunday morning, our Torah Topic discussion continued with a small review of Noah. We talked about what it is like to work hard creating or building something, only to have it ruined by someone else. Such was the case with GOD. We talked about GOD creating the world and everything in it, and how the people of the time were rude and disrespectful. So much so, GOD found it necessary to destroy the world. Our discussion led us in many different directions, landing us with an open discussion about communication and partnerships. Stay tuned. 

On Tuesday afternoon, we talked about Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr, and shared our thoughts and ideas about the Jewish concept of accepting everyone as created in the image of GOD. We learned about Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel, a Jewish peace activist who joined together with Dr. King marching for freedom for all. We compared the ideas of racism and anti-antisemitism, and talked about the Jewish values of Tikkun Olam, our responsibility to care for the world. We talked about community and how Jewish law demands we seek justice for all, quite similar to the words in the Pledge of Allegiance many students recite each morning before beginning their day at school.

In just thirty minutes, we shared stories about standing up and doing the right thing, and the basic Jewish value that we are all created Betzelem Elokim, in GOD's image. We talked about Jewish law demanding that we care for others through acts of kindness and the importance of helping those in need. We talked about our responsibility to make the world better by building a relationship to GOD through doing kind things for one's self and for others. What perfect lessons for all of us to remember when thinking about making the world a better place. 

Finally, thank you for the very generous Hanukkah gifts, I truly appreciate your kindness. Please plan on joining us for our Day of Learning on Sunday, January 28, 2018, as we come together to create a beautiful Shabbat Set.