Rabbi Matzkin's Message
Shevach and Bakashot- End-of-the-Year Lessons from the Amidah
The Amidah is often called “HaTefillah” – the prayer. Our rabbis compiled 18 pearls of prayer, strung together into a necklace of standing contemplation. We are encouraged to offer an Amidah three times a day, connecting past, present and future by uttering both the words of the prayerbook and the murmurings of our own hearts. The weekday Amidah is divided into three sections: praise, request and thanks (in Hebrew, shevach, bakashah, and hoda’ah). I love that Judaism gives us a structure for how to approach the Holy One, and therefore how to approach each other, human beings made in the Image of the Holy One. In reflecting on this first school year as the leader of Kol Emeth’s youth education programs, I want to use the paradigm of the Amidah to share some thoughts with you.
Shevach- praise. The students of Kol Emeth are smart, sensitive, articulate, energetic, and honest. They have opened themselves to the joys of learning Hebrew, Jewish history, the origins of the State of Israel, Torah values and the cycle of the Jewish calendar. I loved watching students run back to class after hafsakah (recess), eager to find out what riches would be unveiled by their teachers in the second half of the day. I loved hearing them grow musically, singing new melodies and rhythms during Thursday Tefillah-Kehillah time, Friday Making Room for Shabbat services, and Saturday junior congregation.
Bakashah- request. We have made great strides in shifting away from “drop-off culture” on Tuesdays and Thursdays and the “crossing the courtyard” syndrome on Shabbat mornings. I want to request that congregants of all ages get involved in supporting our youth education programs. You are most welcome in Junior Congregation to learn and daven with us, to offer a word of Torah or share a timely story. We are always excited to invite guest speakers into the classrooms, and to have adult chaperones on youth group outings. I would love to compile a list of special skills, talents and interests of our community so we can call upon you as experts for a host of questions. We are starting a Wish List for the educational programs if you would like to give directly. Finally, we need you to spread the good word- please tell your friends and family members of all generations about our wonderful educational programs, so we can grow our school and our impact on the community.
Hoda’ah- thanks. I appreciate the dedication of all our parent volunteers, from simply pulling together a carpool (not so simple!) to organizing snack, contributing to the NESS process, or leading incredible programmatic efforts around the holidays. I am grateful to everyone who acted as my institutional memory and said to me, “Here is how it used to be done,” or “Here is what needs to happen this week.” I am thankful to the students and parents who shared their happiness at the changes we made this year, and equally thankful to those who expressed concern over these shifts. Our teaching faculty truly embodied the light of Torah and commitment to education that is the key ingredient in every educational endeavor. The Kol Emeth staff supported the program in so many ways “behind the scenes”, and are truly responsible for our educational offerings actually happening. I look forward to continuing to reflect over the summer with many of you, and learning more Torah together in 5771!
Rabbi Laurie Matzkin has been Kol Emeth's Director of Lifelong Learning since 2009.