New Year and New Beginnings

This evening, in partnership with Temple Beth El of Hollywood, we had our first session of living room learning targeting parents of the Temple's Religious School's students.

We had a lovely time!

We used the Genesis story (the ultimate "beginning") as a metaphor for what the new school year is about.

"The earth was without form and empty, with darkness on the face of the depths, but God's spirit moved on the water's surface. God said, 'There shall be light,' and light came into existence."

After a summer of fun and less than regular Jewish experiences, children have a clean slate and are ready to be formed by the new ideas we will throw their way. If we can only give them the "light" they will be guided on a proper path as it is clear that the light is "good."

A Second beginning

When Cain and Abel have their encounter, we see the tremendously difficult urges Cain had to overcome. There is nothing quite as potent as when God warns him, "If you do not do good, sin is crouching at the door. It lusts after you, but you can dominate it."

We know he did not overcome: he faltered and succumbed to his evil inclination when he killed his brother. The problem with the whole episode though lies not in the protagonists as much as in the missing players.

Where were the parents?

Parents must be present. And even when they are not or can not be present, their influence must be present. Children have to be raised to know and believe that their parents' values are their values whether the parents are physically present or not.

And as Joseph Telushkin writes, the rest of the Bible is an affirmative response to the question Cain asks in his own defense, "Am I my brother's keeper?"

A Second Chance

Adam and Eve have another baby, whom they call Seth. After his son is born, it seems Adam can now praise God. His family will live on through his third son.

Chapter 5 begins "This is the book of the Generations of Mankind: On the day that God created man, He made him in the likeness of God."

Interestingly this verse is one of the sources utilized in a debate between Rabbi Akiva and ben Azai over which is a more important principle in the Torah. Rabbi Akiva says "V'ahavta L'reiakha Kamokha" (a.k.a. the Golden Rule of loving your neighbor as yourself) is an important principle, while Ben Azai says "This is the book of the Generations of Mankind" is an even greater principle.

It's all about humanity

What is Ben Azai talking about?

Ben Azai is talking about the human experience. He looks beyond the plight of just the neighbor. EVERY human being is created in God's image, therefore the greater principle appeals to the divine spirit that lives in each person...

V'shinantam

Finally we concluded with a recitation of the Shma, in English, in which we discovered that the commandment "Teach them to your children and speak of them when you are at home, when traveling on the road, when you lie down and when you get up" follows immediately after the commandment/suggestion: "Love God your Lord with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your might. These words which I am commanding you today must remain on your heart."

The way we can get our kids to do it, is if we do it. We model, they follow.

We have to make love of God and Judaism and values essential. When we do that, or even make efforts to do more than we do, it will inevitably rub off on our children.

Then we'll have accomplished our mission.

Tizku l'mitzvot. Thank you for coming and for participating in our chavruta session.