WALKING WITH GOD OR GOD'S PARTNER

The Torah provides us many opportunities to explore our relationship with GOD. Our Kitah Dalet students have been looking at the story of Noah and we have been talking about what it means to be a partner with GOD.  We shared our ideas of what a partner is, and what responsibilities we have to make the partnership work.  We talked about trust, and how the best partnerships are based on mutual trust and communication. We examined the relationship between Noah and GOD, and decided Noah walked with GOD, but was not GOD'S partner.  

In our classroom discussions, we talked about building relationships through trust, and what we have to do to earn the trust of our parents, friends, family, and teachers.  We talked about standing up and doing the right thing when we feel someone is being wronged, and how this helps makes us a trusted member of our community.  We talked about Noah working for GOD, but never having the strength to challenge GOD when GOD wanted to destroy the world.  To bring our point home, we found partners and traveled around the synagogue on a Trust Walk.  On our first attempt, most of us opened our eyes, failing to totally trust our partners or build a relationship.  As we continued our travels, we began to communicate with our partners and became more secure in our relationships. We shared our feelings about trusting others, and challenged our partners when we felt they were not cooperating or treating us fairly.  

To end the week, we talked about Noah not arguing with GOD because Noah's family was being taken care of, thus the flood wasn't his problem.  Unfortunately this was not the case, and the Torah teaches us over and over again, that not everything is about us.  We are commanded to step up and help others when they are in need,  Finally we talked a little about the water contamination in Flint, and how even though it's not in our backyard, it is still our responsibility to step up and help those in need.  

Please ask your students to share their ideas about trust and partnerships, and what they have to do to earn your trust.