November 2007 Bulletin Message

Hillel, one of the most prominent rabbis of all time, shared some of his wisdom in Perkei Avot (the teaching of our sages) in saying, ”A timid person cannot learn”. Jewish education is based on inquisitiveness. The question-and-answer method is the foundation of Jewish study, and the more students ask, the more they learn. For years, hundreds of scholars investigated the bible text by asking the why and how questions that motivated them to learn more. This traditional learning technique is still the wheel that propels our Hebrew school teachers. 

In the same chapter of Perkei Avot, Hillel said: “More study with colleagues, more wisdom”. This statement captures the essence of the old learning method of Chavruta. This learning-teaching technique is based on using your chaver’s (mate, friend, colleague) talents, skills and wisdom in order to learn and increase your knowledge. The combined method of questioning and answering in Chavruta has been used for generations and is even utilized today in rabbinical schools.

As educators, one of our greatest challenges is to stimulate our student’s minds. Today this challenge is extreme as children would like to acquire their education at the same speed at which they can download and watch a music video clip or obtain and play a PlayStation video game. The internet and the most technologically advanced music devices are just a couple of measures to which the average American child’s pace of life is set – they get more in an increasingly faster amount of time. These new technologies fortify individualism and weaken one’s social interaction. Even if a child finds a way to expand his/her circle of friends, it is done in a virtual way. Be that as it may, today the educational system is still the central setting for a child to create new friendships and maintain old ones. 

This month we will open and introduce our new computer room to our students as an exciting educational tool in our Hebrew school. This new and exciting program will help us to accomplish a number of goals; Our teachers will be able to provide an appealing educational tool for their students, and use this stimulus to employ the traditional educational methods of questioning and working with peers. The students will have the opportunity to work individually and explore new information on Jewish history and heritage. Additionally, students will learn with their classmates, and work together to create a group project about Israeli leaders or Jewish heroes. By logging onto the internet, the students will have the opportunity to find information that will answer their questions regarding any subject matter taught in Hebrew school. Basic computer software such as PowerPoint will enable the students to create an interactive presentation and share their findings with the rest of the class.

The Hebrew school staff and I look forward to beginning a new educational journey with our students in the Temple Beth El Hebrew School computer room.