Grade 7-GESHER– A DAY OF AMAZING QUESTIONS!

I love this complaint:  “I don’t have enough time to finish the Amidah during TIRS tefilliahservice.”  What can you do if you have limited time for this prayer? There are many solutions.  One solution is to read the hatimot (signature statements) at the end of each paragraph.  The hatimah represents/summarizes the paragraph.  We looked at the Amidah, and we located and read each hatimah. Students agreed to try this next time we pray together.

Ezekiel is a very interesting prophet with wild images in his prophecies.  On Sunday we discussed the image of the dry bones, resurrection and God breathing life (neshama is both breath and soul) back into these humans.  Ezekiel lived about 2600 years ago during the destruction of Jerusalem and the exile to Babylon.  His book begins by admonishing the Israelites for their sins but ends with hopeful images of return and rebuilding of the Beit HaMikdash.

Another wonderful question:  We’re only 13, why are we learning about Jewish marriage? Our life cycle curriculum begins with life cycle events that they have personally experienced and now has moved into life stages that they have yet to experience.  Why study it? One answer is to develop Jewish cultural literacy and awareness.  And life cycle events are interesting and fun!

We have begun to ponder some soul-searching questions:  What are your plans for nourishing your Jewish neshama after you complete the Gesher year?  What is your signature mitzvah? Moving forward, these are essential questions…