The renowned writer Ahad Ha-am wrote that a people trained for generations in the house of bondage cannot cast off in an instant the effects of that training and become truly free, even though the chains have been struck off. The people must be taught and trained, and the prophet who leads the people from bondage to freedom is the teacher.
Jewish tradition teaches us about the notion of Derech Eretz, which is usually translated as “the way of the world”. However, much more than that, Derech Eretz is the code of proper behavior that binds us to each other as human beings and as Jews. Derech Eretz is traditionally seen as even more important than Torah. Even before we live our lives in accordance with mitzvot, we must live in accordance with Derech Eretz.
Helping our children to learn to live with common decency and appropriate behavior is one of the most challenging parts of parenting and one that parents and teachers must work together to instill in our children.
Our Religious School teachers work hard to teach our children to behave as a mensch would behave, just as parents want their children to behave.
Please and Thank you, Do as I do, not as I say: If we behave politely, our children will learn to behave politely.
That Which is Hateful to You, Do Not Do To Others: Treat others as we would like to be treated.
Manners: Be polite to others. Treat people with respect, whether we know them or not.
We teach our children to behave as they should, and so we teach them Torah: Justice, justice shall you pursue – Do not side with the mighty to do wrong – You shall not wrong a stranger – You shall not mistreat any widow or orphan.
The teaching of these core Jewish values is at the root of what we do to educate our children in our Religious School.
To our devoted teachers Jen Warriner, Corey Gilman, Judy Belford, Diane Graul: Thank You, Thank You, Thank You.
B’Shalom
Rabbi Stanley Halpern