This past week I had the honor of spending some time with the entire sixth-grade of New Hope Middle School. The sixth-grade has been studying the Holocaust this semester, and their studies have included learning from a guest speaker who is a Holocaust survivor. My role was to teach them more about Judaism. It was even more fun than I could have imagined.
Some of the major points from my presentation were about how diverse the Jewish people are. I showed the students that Jewish people live all over the world, are many different races and cultures, and that Judaism itself is more than a religion. I also made sure to drive home the fact that the Jewish people are only 0.2% of the global population.
The students were attentive and engaged. They asked questions that delighted me. Here are some of the questions that were asked:
Why do Jewish people wear kippahs? Is the Torah the same as the "Old Testament?" If you drop the Torah, do you really have to fast 40 days? How many people are allowed to hold the Torah?
We live in a time when it’s much easier (and much more popular) to make big, generalizing statements about different generations (especially about the younger ones). It's much harder to engage in meaningful ways with them. Sharing this time with the New Hope Middle School sixth grade reminded me that there is a lot of learning, sharing, and relationship building still to do with the next generation.
Gd willing, we can help grow the next generation to create a better, more tolerant world than the one we are living today.
I’m also thinking about our wonderful office administrator, Joe Lewin and wishing him a refuah shleimah. We miss you, Joe!
There is so much happening this weekend. I hope you will join us:
Tots & Kids Family Shabbat, Friday, March 28th, 5:30 p.m. KHN Join us for songs, prayer, and all kinds of Shabbat fun for the family! Pizza dinner, challah, and other Shabbat goodies will be served.
Kabbalat Shabbat Services, Friday, March 28th, 7 p.m. KHN and Zoom Shabbat at Home: Seudah Shlisheet, Saturday, March 29th, various times, please check with your host
(Re)Introduction to the Passover Seder with Rabbi Janine, Sunday, March 30th,12 p.m. at KHN Join Rabbi Janine in-person for a fun and lively discussion on the fundamentals of the Passover seder. Whether this year you will be attending your first seder or your 100th, this class will be an opportunity to learn more about the haggadah and bring more meaning to your own Passover seder.
Bring your own lunch, (non-Passover) desserts and snacks will be provided!
Bucks County Night of Jewish Learning, Sunday, March 30th, 7 p.m. on Zoom Join Rabbi Janine and the Bucks County Jewish clergy for a special online night of learning. During the first hour we will welcome and learn from keynote speaker Dr. Ora Horn Prouser, the CEP and Academic Dean at the Academy for Jewish Religion. Dr. Horn Prouser will speak on “The Hillel Sandwich: Processing the Bitter and the Sweet at Our Passover Seders.”
In the second hour there will be opportunities to learn from several Bucks County clergy, including Rabbi Janine, on the topic of Passover. Rabbi Janine will be teaching on the Greek origins and influences of the Passover seder. Register here for the link.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Janine Jankovitz
Kehilat HaNahar 85 West Mechanic St. New Hope, PA 18938
