News from our Co-Deans
Joe Greenfield and Larry Hepner

Judaism has survived for four thousand years in large part because of Jewish education. Many hundreds of years ago, a Rabbi held a full time job to support himself and taught students in his spare time. Parents taught their own children and sent the more studious/gifted ones to study with a Rabbi. We're known as the "children of the book". But it isn't only the books - the Torah or the Tanakh - that define us, but also the education of our children that is our strength and accounts for our longevity.

Today, our parents send their children to Religious School to have others teach their children Judaism and Hebrew. Judaic Studies encompass the sum total of what a Jewish person is, what a Jewish person knows, and what a Jewish person believes. We teach the values, ethics, and morality of Judaism. Judaic Studies also include learning about all the Jewish holidays, not just how to celebrate, but why we celebrate. It's the why that is much more important than the how. Our children enjoy celebrating the holidays, but they also show a thirst for learning about why we celebrate them as well.

Hebrew was the language of the ancient Israelites and is the living language of the modern Israelis. Thousands of years ago, we didn't have to teach our children Hebrew, they spoke it fluently. Now we have to teach them to pronounce Hebrew consonants and vowels. With only 1 ? hours per week, for 30 weeks per year over 5 years (third through seventh grades), we are able to teach our children how to decode Hebrew, that is, they can pronounce the words. We do teach them what some of the words mean, but we don't have the luxury of the time to teach conversational Hebrew. They learn how to pronounce the words so they can read from the Torah and can participate in the B'nei Mitzvah service.

Which is more important: Judaic Studies or learning to read Hebrew? I believe that Rabbi Acrish, Nan Coulter, my co-dean, Larry Hepner, and all our Religious School teachers would agree with me that both are equally important. I find it distressing that some parents give the impression through their actions that it's the Hebrew that trumps all. I've overheard some parents talking about pulling their child out of Judaic Studies for a sports game or dance recital or a play without the slightest concern for the content their child would be missing in Judaic Studies. They say, "It's okay, because I'll bring my child to Hebrew make-up during the week." It is certainly not a majority of parents, but a large enough minority over the years to cause me angst.

Do we want our child to "have" a Bar/Bat Mitzvah? We spend thousands of dollars to throw a lavish party for a thirteen year old. We've spent thousands of dollars for a brief moment in time – 4 or 5 hours worth. Rather, I hope that we want a Jewish child to "become" a Bar/Bat Mitzvah – a young adult who can read from the Torah, but also knows the wisdom, history and goodness of Judaism. I hope we want a young adult who understands why people went to their deaths during the Spanish Inquisition and during the Nazi's Final Solution rather than give up their Judaism – give up their faith in God.

When we parents are long gone, from what will our children benefit more? When they are in their 30's, 40's, and 50's, will they remember how to read their Torah portion (without the vowels), or will they cherish the Jewish morals, ethics and values their Judaic Studies teachers taught them and you modeled for them? Will they remember the hundreds of people at a party when they were 13, or will they enjoy the Jewish holidays with their families? As the 2010 – 2011 school year ends, please think about the questions and ideas I've posed. Support both Judaic Studies as well as Hebrew Studies equally.

Shalom.
Joe Greenfield
Judaic Studies Dean and Confirmation Teacher

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