Akiva Gersh, Israel Studies Educator, Alexander Muss High School in Israel
Shavuot, in addition to being an ancient Jewish agricultural holiday, is called “the time of the giving of our Torah”.
To me, there is something a bit strange about the wording of that phrase.
Transfer of ownership is not completed until the giving is actually done, not while the giving is still happening. So, while the Torah was still being given, how can we say that it was already ours? (I know, it’s a very Jewish question!)
Ready for the answer?
The Torah was always ours. Even before it was physically given to us.
How is that possible??
The Torah is called the spiritual DNA of the Jewish people. It’s a compilation of the ethics, values, morals, dreams, hopes, and visions of the Jewish people. It represents who we are as a people and what we are in this world to accomplish. So even before that magical moment at Mt. Sinai, the Torah was already ours, even if we didn’t have it in our hands yet, because it was our destiny. Without it, we don’t exist as a nation. Without its vision, we lack our purpose.
The same can be said about Jewish education. When a Jewish educator teaches Jewish children about Jewish history or tradition, they are giving them something that was already and always theirs. The educator’s main role, then, is to open the students’ eyes to that fact and help them to develop their own personal connection with it all.
We also see this idea come to life shortly after the creation of the State of Israel. In his address to the Knesset on the occasion of the passing of the Law of Return in 1950, David Ben-Gurion said, “The Law of Return does not confer on any Jew the right to settle in Israel; this right is inherent in his very Jewishness…It is not the State that confers on Diaspora Jews the right to return. This right is older than the State of Israel, in fact it is this right that built the State.”
Before there was even a State of Israel, every Jew in the world had a connection with it. It was already theirs. To move to and call home or to learn about and visit and gain inspiration and pride to be part of the Jewish people.
Hag Shavuot Sameach
JNF’s Alexander Muss High School in Israel held a virtual Torah-Thon on Sunday in celebration of Shavuot. The event included six hours of inspiring and insightful lectures on the Torah, taught by AMHSI-JNF’s wonderful Israel Educators. If you missed it you can watch it here.
Hosted by Leor Sinai of JNF’s Alexander Muss High School in Israel, this celebration of Israel for kids, teens and families, included music, on-the-spot site visits from locations around Israel, a virtual hike, and more. If you missed it you can watch it here: Israel's 72nd Birthday Bash
The 5th grade class of Tifereth Israel Congregation in Washington, DC culminated their year with presenting their slide shows on Israel to their parents over Zoom. Starting in January, students worked diligently researching modern Israel and creating their presentation. Each slide show included information about cultural heritage, holy places, Israeli technology, and organizations that promotes peace, as well as highlighting the activities of JNF. Their teacher, Stephen Berer, was inspired to add the JNF piece after participating in the 2019 JNF Summer Educators Mission.
Virtual lessons about Israel and Judaism live, every day Monday-Thursday at 1pm ET. Israel Education Online provides students and adults with engaging Israel-related content on various topics, taught by our knowledgeable and passionate AMHSI teachers. Click here for our playlist of past videos.
Upcoming Webinar:
Monday, June 1 1PM ET
Did the Israelites Leave Egypt, or Did Egypt Leave the Israelites?
With Jacob Leibowitz
Just click on the ZOOM link for every call to join us! We can’t wait to see you!
https://jnf.zoom.us/j/769961741
or by phone:
Dial +1(646)876-9923 and enter Meeting ID 769 961 741 # US (New York)
Dial +1(312)626-6799 and enter Meeting ID 769 961 741 # US (Chicago)
Applications are open for AMHSI-JNF Fall sessions.
Choose from one of our many sessions available this fall: 16-week Semester, eight-week October and December Mini-mesters, and the National Impact Fellowship.
For more information, please visit: https://www.amhsi.org/programs/sessions/fall-2020