KINDNESS...

Beginning with the first chapters of the Torah, Judaism establishes a fundamental connection between human beings and animals. Animals, created on the fifth day of the biblical story of creation, can be understood as prototypes of the first human beings--Adam and Eve, created on the sixth day. One of Adam's first responsibilities as a human being is to name the animals. As evidenced by the episode in which a serpent tempts Eve to eat a forbidden fruit, humans and animals originally speak one another's language (Genesis 1-3).  

The story of Noah's ark represents a turning point in the relationship between human beings and animals. Furious about human misbehavior, God decides to destroy the world by flood, saving only the righteous Noah and his family and enough animals to sustain all of the species. When the waters recede, God gives Noah seven laws--now known as the Noahide laws--aimed at establishing a just society. On Tuesday afternoon, we talked about these laws, and the importance of maintaining civility and kindness for the good of society.  

Perhaps as a concession to the violent tendencies that God now recognizes within human nature, God also permits humans to eat animals. At the same time, God protects animals against unduly cruel slaughter by banning the practice of cutting a limb off a living animal (Genesis 9:3-4). This balance between simultaneously permitting the use of animals for human need and prohibiting unnecessary cruelty to animals becomes the overarching principle of later Jewish law regarding the treatment of animals.  

In class this week, we began to look at why GOD commanded Noah to save the animals and seeds, over the lives of all living beings. We talked about kindness and accepting people's faults, and just how badly the population must have been behaving to warrant the destruction of all mankind. We talked about the laws of kashrut and how these laws emerged. Students were introduced to the concept of T'zar Ba'lei Chaim, the commandment to care for animals in a humane way.  

Finally, we applied these concepts to our everyday lives, and students were asked to look at how they treat others as well as their pets. We talked about respect, kindness, and acceptance and shared our thoughts about living in a just and fair world.

A PROMISE IS A PROMISE

Our Kitah Dalet students continue to study the text of Noah, and we were quite surprised to find so many basic mitzvot hidden in the Torah. We talked about the commandment to care for all of GOD's creations, and we see first hand Noah caring for all of the animals, seeds, and plants, as well as for his family. We also learn GOD holds us accountable for all that happens to his creations, and even today we are responsible for the natural resources GOD created that cannot be replaced. As we read through the text, we found the promise GOD made with man, and we talked about the importance of keeping our word. We talked about GOD being remorseful when destroying the world, and questioning his decision to destroy all of his creations. Finally, we talked about GOD'S promise to never destroy the world again through a flood. We talked about the Hebrew word for promise, Brit, and how we will see this word again when we talk about the first Jewish men, Abraham and Isaac. 

When talking about GOD's promise, students were asked to think about agreeing to do something, and then changing their minds. We also talked about trust, and honoring their commitments. We had a very interesting discussion about promises they had made and failed to follow through with, and more importantly, how disappointed they were when people promised to do something for them, and failed to hold up their own end of the bargain. Students shared their ideas about building trust through honoring commitments, and the importance of keeping their word. We shared our own personal stories about building relationships and earning trust, and how hard it is to maintain these commitments and do the right thing even when everyone is doing the wrong thing.   Students then created their own personal rainbow promises, and many of our students really thought about the work they needed to do to honor their commitments. Stop in and read their Brit, and remind them of their commitments. 

NO SCHOOL 
Sunday, February 19, 2017 and Tuesday, February 21, 2017.  Enjoy the winter break.   

TORAH IS A TREE OF LIFE

This week we began talking about our responsibility to care for everything GOD created. We talked about GOD commanding us to rule over everything and to also be a partner with GOD. Students were asked to identify ways they ruled over all living things, and how they were also servants. We talked about planting trees and flowers for our enjoyment, and our commitment to care for these living things once they are planted. 

Our discussion about nature and creation brought us to the holiday of Tu B'Shevat and the importance of trees.  We compared trees to the Torah, and students were asked to find ways to support the idea that the Torah was a Tree of Life. Students compared trees to people, as trees and people need the same things to live. They also suggested that people can't live without trees, and Jews can't live without the Torah. 

Our Values and Ethics rotation took this discussion in another direction, and we began to explore

the differences between nature and nurture. We talked about the moral and ethical dilemmas we face in our everyday life. A student presented a question in class about the right of the government to interfere with our private property rights. We had a lively discussion about laws to protect personal property and the laws created for the good of the community. Then we took out our T'nach and students reviewed their navigation skills. They were instructed to find Leviticus 19:23-25, and came upon the following passage....

When you come to the Land and you plant any food tree, you shall surely block its fruit [from use]; it shall be blocked from you for three years, not to be eaten. And in the fourth year, all its fruit shall be holy, a praise to the L-rd. And in the fifth year, you may eat its fruit.  

We twisted and turned the text, and after sharing our thoughts and ideas, we learned GOD intended for us to care for trees much like a parent cares for a child. We talked about what is expected of us as babies, and our responsibilities as children and young adults. Specifically, we learned that not everything we want is ours to do with as we please, and we often do things for the good of the greater community.

To end the week, we celebrated Tu B'Shevat as a community, and participated in a Tu B'Shevat seder. Please ask your students to compare the different types of fruits to the different types of people in the world, and the importance of the seasons of a trees life.  

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.