ATTITUDE, GRATITUDE AND TAKING RISKS

When studying Torah we always take one step backward to review the prior lessons, and one step forward to tackle the next lesson. These discussions often bring new questions to light, and our students are often left to work through some internal struggles as our week comes to an end. Such was the case with this week’s discussion. Our discussion started out with the basic question of failure. Why did GOD put the Tree of Knowledge within reach of Adam and Eve, tempting them to break the rules? Our students offered some wonderful insights into breaking rules, and doing the right thing. We talked about wanting something, working towards something, and ultimately failing to achieve success, or hitting obstacles along the way. To push our students to collaborate and to critically think about the effect their actions have on others, we talked about ways to problem solve. Is it OK to fail, or is it better to achieve success at all costs? Do our parents push us to be the best we can be at all costs? Are we responsible for our failures, and is it OK to fail if we learn from our mistakes. Our students seem to know the right thing to do in many instances, but are often confronted with temptation, I guess we all can relate. 

On Tuesday afternoon, we talked about Thanksgiving. We talked about religious freedom, (which will again surface next week when we begin our Hanukkah story) and how Thanksgiving is truly about giving thanks and appreciating the many gifts we have. We talked about blessings, and as Jews, our responsibility to say 100 blessings everyday. We had a lively discussion about fleeing a country for the right to be free, and immigrants and refugees living in our communities today.  Interestingly, many of our students shared stories of relatives fleeing a homeland for America, much like the Pilgrims of long ago.  Finally, we shared our feelings about having too much of everything, and taking time to show gratitude by doing mitzvot, and thinking about others, rather than worrying about what we want or what we don't have. Students shared their thoughts about gratitude, and how so much of what we do as Jews is about attitude. 

Please enjoy the Thanksgiving break, and ask you children to share their Jewish interpretation of Thanksgiving with your family. See you next Tuesday!