Sunday, September 6, 2009
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Wednesday, September 2, 2009
A Problematic Blessing
Wednesday, September 02, 2009
The classroom I passed on the school terrace after dropping Coby off at gan this morning:
25 or 30 boys standing and chanting Birchot Hashachar (Blessings of the Morning) in a monotone Mizrachi (Eastern) nusach (melody). Tzitzit (ritual fringes on garment) swaying to and fro. Their teacher, a woman, at the front of the classroom, lightly directing the prayers like a conductor.
“Baruch ata adonai elohaynu melech ha’olam shelo asanee eesha.” (Blessed be the Lord, our God, King of the universe, who did not make me a woman).
It just does not make sense. THERE CAN BE NO EXCUSES FOR THIS “BLESSING.” NONE. Thank God Masorti (Conservative) Judaism has thrown the “blessing” into the dustbin of history, where it belongs. I would go as far as to say that is a chilul hashem (disgrace of God) to utter this “blessing,”
How do we teach our boys to respect girls, men to respect women, girls and women to respect themselves – when we say this abomination each morning?
And what do those boys in class think about their teacher, if happen to be thinking about the what they’re saying that morning?
The classroom I passed on the school terrace after dropping Coby off at gan this morning:
25 or 30 boys standing and chanting Birchot Hashachar (Blessings of the Morning) in a monotone Mizrachi (Eastern) nusach (melody). Tzitzit (ritual fringes on garment) swaying to and fro. Their teacher, a woman, at the front of the classroom, lightly directing the prayers like a conductor.
“Baruch ata adonai elohaynu melech ha’olam shelo asanee eesha.” (Blessed be the Lord, our God, King of the universe, who did not make me a woman).
It just does not make sense. THERE CAN BE NO EXCUSES FOR THIS “BLESSING.” NONE. Thank God Masorti (Conservative) Judaism has thrown the “blessing” into the dustbin of history, where it belongs. I would go as far as to say that is a chilul hashem (disgrace of God) to utter this “blessing,”
How do we teach our boys to respect girls, men to respect women, girls and women to respect themselves – when we say this abomination each morning?
And what do those boys in class think about their teacher, if happen to be thinking about the what they’re saying that morning?
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
September 1 -- Adina Meets the Prime Minister
Only in Israel.
Adina Noga Robbins. Olah of one month. First day of school. Prime Minister’s there to inaugurate the year. Adina in front row. Adina shakes the Prime Minister’s hand, exchanges “shalom” with him.
Only in Israel.
This girl of almost 7 has seen the Prime Minister live, up close, twice -- in the first month of her life in Israel. Now, she probably won’t see a Prime Minister again for a decade or so, but it does say something about the country – and its intimacy – that’s she’s already buddies with Bibi.
Today, my worst fears….were NOT realized. Ha-hefech (the opposite), in fact. Coby, who I had to carry literally kicking and screaming to a playdate yesterday, walked shyly into his gan, but then quickly settled down to play with new friends at a table nicely decorated with a Lego-type game. A truly universal language. Words not needed.
Coby’s ganenet (kindergarten teacher), Ofra, and her seeyat (assistant), Yardena, truly set him at ease. They clearly love young children, and (they probably say this about all the kids, but it’s wonderful to hear it about your child anyway, particularly in the beautiful Hebrew words) and said he was madheem (amazing) and makseem (no translation necessary!), blowing kisses via their fingers in a quintessential, endearing Israeli way. He had a great day, and walked confidently out of the school at 1:30. “This is my place.”
Adina is clearly thrilled to be at school, and absolutely exhilarated at the number of children, the Hebrew spoken, and her backpack full of grown-up first grade books. A particular child she is, wanting things just her way. That, I guess, doesn’t make her very particular as a young child!
It was a thrilling day for me too. This was the day that real life began for the Robbins in Israel. And it was good. Very good.
BTW, I lost my keys – car, home, everything – schlepping the kids all around town. Thank God my in-laws were driving with their rent-a-car. But truly small potatoes the deficit was. And typically, for this 6-footer, the keys rested on top of the kindergarten refrigerator between 8 am and the time I returned to pick up Coby 5 hours later. I leave everything everywhere – but up high, not low. Some things don’t change.
Adina Noga Robbins. Olah of one month. First day of school. Prime Minister’s there to inaugurate the year. Adina in front row. Adina shakes the Prime Minister’s hand, exchanges “shalom” with him.
Only in Israel.
This girl of almost 7 has seen the Prime Minister live, up close, twice -- in the first month of her life in Israel. Now, she probably won’t see a Prime Minister again for a decade or so, but it does say something about the country – and its intimacy – that’s she’s already buddies with Bibi.
Today, my worst fears….were NOT realized. Ha-hefech (the opposite), in fact. Coby, who I had to carry literally kicking and screaming to a playdate yesterday, walked shyly into his gan, but then quickly settled down to play with new friends at a table nicely decorated with a Lego-type game. A truly universal language. Words not needed.
Coby’s ganenet (kindergarten teacher), Ofra, and her seeyat (assistant), Yardena, truly set him at ease. They clearly love young children, and (they probably say this about all the kids, but it’s wonderful to hear it about your child anyway, particularly in the beautiful Hebrew words) and said he was madheem (amazing) and makseem (no translation necessary!), blowing kisses via their fingers in a quintessential, endearing Israeli way. He had a great day, and walked confidently out of the school at 1:30. “This is my place.”
Adina is clearly thrilled to be at school, and absolutely exhilarated at the number of children, the Hebrew spoken, and her backpack full of grown-up first grade books. A particular child she is, wanting things just her way. That, I guess, doesn’t make her very particular as a young child!
It was a thrilling day for me too. This was the day that real life began for the Robbins in Israel. And it was good. Very good.
BTW, I lost my keys – car, home, everything – schlepping the kids all around town. Thank God my in-laws were driving with their rent-a-car. But truly small potatoes the deficit was. And typically, for this 6-footer, the keys rested on top of the kindergarten refrigerator between 8 am and the time I returned to pick up Coby 5 hours later. I leave everything everywhere – but up high, not low. Some things don’t change.
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