This last week has been filled with special celebrations. You know about our amazingly wonderful Color War on Tu B’Shvat. And that was just the beginning!!!
Two 2nd grade classes celebrated their completion of chapter 12 of Lech L’cha with a siyyum at which they dramatized the story. They also showed us how skilled they are becoming in Hebrew. One of the highlights for me was watching them at their seats following along in their chumashim (which they received earlier in the year) while a parent leyned the text. This was unrehearsed and almost every child not only followed along with his/her fingers, but also mouthed the words. Another Kodak moment engraved in my heart!
Last Thursday, the fourth graders each received a Tanach. Each year, as we give the students this “book,” it always amazes me at how our students have such agility with the text. For them, the Tanach is a guidebook, a reference book that quickly becomes a friend. (Did I mention it is Hebrew only??). Watching them leaf through it, looking for their favorite “stories,” marveling at its maps, showing each other what they have located is a thrill in itself.
My week of “gifting” continued this week as our first graders had their Siddur parties. Each year as I watch the children perform with such excitement, anticipating the big moment (!), I am reminded of how extraordinary this event really is. I feel that I am more in awe than ever before at the prodigious amount of knowledge our students acquire and at how this is such a momentous occasion for us all. That we are privileged to teach and learn and celebrate in such an open environment – and take it for granted - is in itself phenomenal and a beautiful bracha. The looks of awe, pride, and happiness on the children’s faces are always a joy to behold. The reverence with which they hold their siddur is something that I am afraid does not last forever; if only we could capture it! But what we hope will last is the respect and love that are engendered.
Something else wonderful happened on the stage at one Siddur party. Watching all the students, you would never have known that one of the students, who is part of the Sulam She’arim program, only joins her Academy class for parts of the day. Watching all the students, you would never have known that there’s anything different about her. During the dances and all the various portions of the presentation, there she was – part of the group. If she needed help, her neighbors were right there, lending a hand. I have had many occasions to watch the interactions in class and other parts of the day; she is accepted as a classmate and - just simply included. The same as I do not take our privilege of education for granted, I do not take this acceptance for granted – but I am so very pleased!! We teach our kids about middot and the importance of derech eretz; we talk about the importance of kindness and accepting people for who they are; we know that everyone has different talents and skills and that we don’t make fun of people; we model appropriate behavior and treatment of others. But when we see it displayed day after day; when we know that our lessons are being learned; when we see 6 year olds acting like menchen (the plural of mench ?? ), we feel such pleasure – such nachas. When we can – and do – appreciate others and include everyone, we know that there is hope for this world! We know that, as important as book learning is, there is more to our education and the proof is in the actions and interactions.
Our children have already received so many extraordinary gifts in their lives. The Tanach and the Siddur will hopefully remain among their all time favorites. Our children have also given us a gift – reminding us how precious everyone is and how beautiful life can be. Shabbat Shalom
