A HERO IS IN THE EYE OF THE BEHOLDER

On Sunday morning our Kitah Dalet students shared their rough draft Hero Papers, and we scratched the surface on who really is a hero.  Students chose sports figures, TV personalities, and entertainment celebrities.  Many of these people certainly did fit some of our criteria, but with some digging, we began to recognize our standards were quite low.  We talked about suicide bombers being heroes to some, and the problem with our original definition of a hero.  We then expanded our definition to include responsibility to make the world a better place, and incorporated Jewish values into our discussion. 

On Tuesday, students were asked to think about the heroes in their lives.  Students were challenged to think about the people who they interact with on a daily basis, and find the hero like qualities that make these people modern day heroes.   Students were then asked to be introspective, and look deep into their own personality characteristics for the qualities that could make them a hero one day, because of these role models.  Students were asked to think about the everyday heroes who fill their world, and reflect on the qualities of these very real super heroes.  

Next week we take a spring break, and we look forward to introducing our Passport to Passover Unit when we return.  Until then, enjoy the beautiful spring weather, and we hope to see everyone back in class on Tuesday, April, 12, 2016.  

A HERO IN MY EYES

This week we unpacked the Purim story with a different slant, and we gave our students a new way to look at a very old story. After retelling the story and reviewing the setting, the plot, and the laws associated with this joyous festival, we spent some time delving into the personality traits of the main characters.  We talked about the hidden attributes of each of the characters, and compared these personality traits to our own strengths and weaknesses.  

We talked about the absence of  GOD in the story of Esther, but of course we know GOD is always watching over us, acting as a puppeteer when needed.  Purim is a story with many twists and turns, and things are not always as they seem.  Although GOD is never mentioned in the megillah, GOD sets things in motion, and intends for each of us to be mindful in a situation, stepping up to the plate when necessary.  Such was the case of Esther and Mordechai, hiding their identities until the future of all Jews was in jeopardy, and then coming forward. We see King Ahashverous, often in a drunken stupor, hiding behind  Haman, a descendant of Amalek, the most evil of all human beings, being defeated only after Esther comes out from hiding, and opens the king's eyes. Unfortunately, we still see the descendants of Haman who continue to plague us even today with acts of terror around the world. 

Finally, we talked about bullies and heroes, and what it means to stand up for what is right. We talked about being honest with ourselves and others, and how we can't hide from the bad choices we make.  We talked about taking action when things are wrong, admitting our mistakes, and coming forward to defend the weak.  From here, students spent some time brainstorming, and described a hero as someone who works hard, is honest, brave, kind, helpful, thoughtful, unselfish, and strong-minded.  A hero is awesome, stands up for themselves and others, makes mistakes, and puts others before themselves.  

To end the week, students were asked to describe their hero,and wrote position papers on why they chose their subject.   We hope to share these stories on Sunday morning at 10:30am.  If you are available, please feel free to join us for these presentations. 

DO AS I SAY, FOLLOW IN MY WAYS

This week, we talked about the many lessons presented in each Torah portion, and how GOD gave the Torah to the Jewish People with the expectation that we turn the words over and over again, learning new and different things every time we read a passage. We talked about finding meaning in the words of Torah at different stages in our lives, and how even as adults, there are new things to learn, and different ways to interpret the words of Torah to meet our needs.

As we conclude the first two chapters of the Torah, we learn GOD spent a tremendous amount of time teaching us about creation, and how to live a Jewish life. We have the ability to think and make individual choices, and we are expected to take responsibility for the choices we make. We are partners and rulers, and we are the caretakers for all living things. In the first two chapters of the the Torah, GOD fails to create moral and ethical leaders able to carry on the traditions of Torah, and so we begin to see a new wave of leadership, this time through Abraham and Sarah.

In our Taste of Torah, we began to explore the journey of Abraham and Sarah, and we talked about what it means to carry the future of Judaism on our shoulders.  Abraham was chosen by GOD to be the leader of the Jewish people. GOD told Abraham to pack his bags and move to a place he did not know, and with this commandment, Abraham was promised that he would become a great nation.  

Our students talked about moving and how difficult it would be to leave all that was familiar and start life anew.  We talked about what it would be like to move to a new state, a new neighborhood, and a new school, and trusting our parents to make the right choices for us.  We also talked about having faith in our parents just as Abraham had faith in GOD.  

Please take a few minutes and ask your children what it means to follow in GOD's footsteps, and the importance of challenging those that make decisions that are not fair or just.

MANY VOICES ONE RESPONSIBILITY

For those of you wanting a one word description of what we do in our class every week, I would have to say TORAH.  The Torah teaches us the skills we need to be a partner with GOD.    We learn Jewish values to help us live a Jewish life from the Torah, and most importantly, the Jewish people live for the Torah.  In our core class, we spend quite a bit of time turning and twisting the words in the Torah to help us understand the importance of living a Jewish life in a non-Jewish world.   The Torah challenges us to think and to take responsibility for our actions, and  no matter how often we study, speak, teach, say, learn, or live Torah, there is always more to explore.  We are teaching our students to turn the Torah over and over, in order to better understand the words passed on from generation to generation.  The take away every week, is we are created in GOD’s image, and we are here as GOD’s partner.   The stories are great, the imagery even better, but most importantly, it is the values we learn from the Torah that really stick with us.

This week we explored the last passage in Noah, and we talked about the Tower of Babel.  Students learned the first commandment in the Torah, and the importance of following GOD's commands. The generations after Noah lived a sedentary life in a small area of earth, speaking one language and pitting one against the other.  They tried to build a Tower to GOD, showing GOD their power, strength, and wisdom, and GOD quickly recognized their bloated egos and lack of commitment to bettering the world.  He confounds their speech and scatters the people to the four corners of the land. It is here we see the last of  Creation narrative, and begin to examine the lives of our forefathers.   

Finally, we talked about what we need to do to build a relationship with GOD even if our plate is quite full.  GOD understands we have many responsibilities, but also demands we work to make ourselves better so we can serve GOD through mitzvot.  We had an interesting discussion about how much we can do, and even though we are busy, we can always push ourselves to help others. It is these little things that really make a difference in our lives and the lives of others.   

Please ask your children the first commandment in the Torah, or better yet, let them ask you.  

ON YOUR HONOR

On Sunday morning, our students talked about the power of words.  We talked about strengthening relationships with others by keeping our word.  Students learned the importance of trust when building relationships, and honoring a commitment once we make a promise.  We talked about Noah and GOD and the relationship they built through the ark, and learned GOD made a covenant with the world through the rainbow. Students created a rainbow of promises and thought about commitments they could make and honor.   It was really quite difficult for some of our students to go out on a limb, and make a promise, knowing they may be help accountable.  Please ask your students to share their promises with you, you may be pleasantly surprised.

Unfortunately, school was cancelled on Tuesday afternoon, but we hope to conclude our conversations about Noah in the coming week, and look forward to learning about heroes, the strength of a community, and leaving a place we know as home, and moving to a new land filled with hopes and dreams.