PARTNERS THROUGH TRUST

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 a 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 make

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. Please ask 

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

JEWISH AND AMERICAN

Our Torah is a timeless resource for Jews around the world  and GOD had infinite wisdom when passing down this sacred text.  In no uncertain terms, we are commanded to unconditionally care for mankind, by doing all we can to make the world just and fair.  

On Sunday morning, we talked about Holocaust Rememberance Day, and reviewed the importance of telling stories, teaching history, and most importantly remembering our past so as not to repeat previous mistakes.  In very basic terms, we talked  about the rise of Hitler, anti-Semitism, and World War II.  We learned about policies in America, and talked about the 900 Jews on the SS St.Louis who tried to enter America and were turned away at our border, sent back to Germany, and ultimately to their death.  

This message hit home for some our students as we talked about the people trying to enter America from Muslim countries, and what we must do as Jews and Americans.  While we didn't hit upon an all or nothing answer, we did share some thoughts and ideas about saving a life, rescuing a captive, and treating everyone with basic dignity and respect, regardless of their race or religion. You would have been very proud of the dialogue between our students, and it was truly heartwarming  to hear their questions and thoughts.  

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. Take some time to share your ideas with your children, and ask them which of their behaviors are good, and which are good enough.

On Tuesday afternoon our students re-examined Noah, and 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.  

WHAT'S JEWISH ABOUT MLK?

This month we completed our discussion of  Bereshit, and students shared a list of the many themes culled from the pages of our sacred text.  The recurring thread which continues to reveal itself throughout our lives is the idea of Betzelim Elokim, we are all created in the image of GOD, and we all have certain responsibilities with this gift.  Other themes which continue to appear in our weekly discussions include the importance of taking responsibility for our actions, having free will, and doing the right thing.

On Tuesday afternoon,  we had a lively discussion about Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  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 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 our short 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.  

This week many of our students made beautiful Shabbat candlesticks on Sunday morning.  If you were unable to participate, please call Allison and make arrangements for another oppprtunity.