Spirituality

7)RAH PORTION

from
outrage
to courage

global issues facing women

Jewish Women's Foundation of

Metropolitan Detroit

WOMEN LIGHTING
THE WAY
Keynote Speaker
Anne Firth Murray

Founder and Founding President of the
Global Fund for Women

March 17, 2011
9:30 a.m.
Community House
Birmingham, Michigan

Couvert - $25 per person

Includes light continental

breakfast, program,

complimentary valet parking,
book - Ft- o.a? Outt- age to 02./Aage:

Women Taking Action for

Health and Justice

Employees of non-profit

organizations, please register

through your organization

or agency for special

price consideration.

Special price consideration for-

students with valid I.D.

Call (248) 203-1483

PROGRAM
CO-CHAIRS

Stacy Brickman
Debbie Singer

JEWISH
WOMEN'S

FOUNDATION

REMBENEMUMBEISH
Enhancing the Lives of Jewish Women

JWF
CHAIRPERSON

Trudi Wineman

ASSOCIATE
CHAIRPERSON

Carolyn Tisdale

Online registration:
wwv ■ Ljewishdetroitorg/jwf

Speaker bio: www.stanford.edui–afmurray

SPONSORS: EDITH AND BENSON FORD FOUNDATION
SEYBURN, KAHN, GINN, BESS AND SERLIN, P.C.

38 January 27 • 2011

We Must Teach
The Children Well

Parshat Mishpatim: Exodus 21:1-24:18;
Jeremiah 34:8-22; 33:25-26.

p

arents, rabbis and teachers
educate the next generation;
we connect young people to
their Judaism in meaningful ways. We
mold successful Jewish American lives.
Parshat Mishpatim
begins with God's directive
to Moshe: "V'eleh hamish-
patim asher tasim lifnei-
hem (21:1); These are the
ordinances you shall place
before them." The first syl-
lable, a prefix means "and."
It puzzles Rashi. At the
beginning of a new section,
why use the conjunction?
Rashi, quoting
Tanchumah, indicates that
God is delineating parame-
ters for the newly freed slaves. Judaism
has ritual and holy writings, as do
other religions, as well as an outline
of the minutiae that lead to a moral
life. Judaism promotes a society where
the slaves, the poor, the widow and
orphan are all cared for.
The people of Israel are reminded
that the 10 Commandments and the
precepts in this portion are all divine
in origin. Torah law encompasses
every moment of our lives. Rabbinical
interpretation helps us acclimate as
societal norms change and technology
informs our lives, but basic tenets are
immutable. Culinary research may
allow us to have (soy- or vegetable-
based) cheese with OUT burgers but we
still know that milk and meat prod-
ucts may not be mixed.
The nation hears all the guidelines,
sees the wisdom in an ordered life
and cries in unison (24:7): Na'aseh
v'nishma; we will do and we will lis-
ten (obey)! The Jews commit to the
guidance of God no matter what the
demands and anticipate a life filled
with learning what that means.
Beginning early is important.
Children learn by repetition, immer-
sion, and modeling. Bedtime rituals,
which include reciting Shema Yisrael,
provide opportunities for more learn-
ing as the child grows. Eventually, a
child will ask what the prayer means;
perhaps later on, there will be a chal-
lenge: "Why do I have to say it?"

Jewish education at school needs
partnership at home: each Shabbat,
during Chanukah and at the Pesach
seder ... Ritual and modeling assure
our children Jewish roots as they grow.
With adolescent rebel-
liousness, sometimes young
people use religious prac-
tice as a punching bag. We,
as parents and educators,
have to continue to speak
our truth quietly, clearly
and patiently.
The Jewish people
will sin with the Golden
Calf when they despair
of Moshe returning in a
timely fashion from the
mountain. Next week in
Parshat Terumah, we hear God tell
Moshe: "V'asu li mikdash v'shachanti
b'tocham; Let them make me a sanctu-
ary that I may dwell among them."
Dr. Nechama Leibowitz explained
a midrash about the Tabernacle and
maintained this was God "knocking at
the door" of his people to "wake them
from their spiritual lethargy." Young
people may use the "I don't care" atti-
tude, and we don't know how to reach
them.
We can emulate God. Teach the
guidelines; do not give up. Keep tap-
ping at the door of their adolescent
lethargy, gently showing them the way.
The result? Our young people will dwell
Jewishly amongst us — in school, at
home, and in the wider world.

Chaye Kohl is the education director of

Akiva Hebrew Day School, Southfield.

Conversations

Why do the civil laws of the
Torah begin with the laws of
slaves/bondsmen? If a person
commits murder accidentally, he
does not get the death penalty.
What is his fate? What phrase,
found in this parshah, has been
called the motto or anthem of
the Jewish nation, showing its
unwavering commitment to God
and his Torah?