YeshivaThe torah world Gateway
Beit Midrash
- Family and Society
- Education
- The Education of Children and Students
I recently read an article in a Hebrew journal about Rabbi Aryeh Levin, the great holy man of Jerusalem whose thirtieth yahrzeit was just recently duly noted. The writer of the article, currently an upper echelon administrator in one of the Israeli school systems streams, recounted his experience as a dormitory child in one of Jerusalem’s institutions many decades ago. The food served in the institution was fairly meager and the young boy was always hungry. One day the institution served chocolate pudding and the boy took his portion and wolfed it down and then got back in line and asked for another portion. The server refused his request with a nasty remark. Frustrated and angered the boy then turned over the entire chocolate pudding pot and spilled its contents on the ground. The boy was beaten for the act and the head of the institution publicly reprimanded and humiliated the child. He was told that his eventual fate as to whether he would be expelled from the institution would be decided on the morrow by Rabbi Aryeh, the spiritual mentor of the institution. The child spent a sleepless night weeping over his fate. Next morning he met Rabbi Aryeh who asked him to sit next to him. He asked him "Did you spill over the pot as they said that you did?" The child admitted his guilt. "Will you do such a thing again in the future?" Rabbi Aryeh asked. "No, never again," said the child. Rabbi Aryeh asked him then, "Do you really like chocolate pudding?" "Yes," he answered. Rabbi Aryeh said, "I too love chocolate pudding so I have here two containers of chocolate pudding so let us sit down here together and eat chocolate pudding." At that moment, the educator said, I realized what it means to be a Torah Jew.
School systems the world over answer to governmental standards, teacher unions, parent unions and other assorted groups and personages. All of this layered bureaucracy rarely takes the welfare of the individual student into much consideration. There is no room for chocolate pudding in our school systems. Because of this schools measure their success on the basis of test scores and other objective criteria. But the individual student does not fit neatly into any objective form of criteria. How to reach the individual student and build self-esteem should be the main purpose of education. If that is achieved all of the objective accomplishments of knowledge will also follow. Keep your eye on the ball - on the main purpose that education should achieve.
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
fast navigation
Shlach Lecha "Why So Many Don't Make Aliya?" - Parshat Shlach
This short article deals with the weird phenomena that every single time Am Yisrael is meant to enter the Land of Israel, throughout the Tanach, 2nd Temple and until today, they "chicken out" and look for excuses. What's the problem with this mitzvah that proves so challenging. The article, based on sources, suggests that the difficulties of Eretz Yisrael is precisely her secret and beauty!
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 4
The class deals with Islam and how the Muslim tries convincing the King of the Khazars, and why he was also rejected.
Beha'alotcha JEWISH STATE= GUIDE TO G-DLINESS & SELFLESSNESS
A Jewish State not only is a good idea, but educates us towards selflessness, altruism and G-dliness in our daily lives.
Ein Aya In Zion Even the Smoke of the Bark is Sweet
Just as Jewish nationalism is different from others, so too our capitol of Jerusalem is totally different than other national capitols. Rav Kook beautifully explains the passage in the Talmud that the trees of Yerushalayim were cinnamon trees.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 3
The second speaker invited to convince the Khazar King is the Christian, who presents their beliefs. Even before the questions of the King, "between the lines", the author R. Yehuda HaLevi already begins disproving them.
Ein Aya "Intimacy: Love, Life & Giving or Egocentric Taking & Expiration"
Today, many confuse between intimacy in marriage, based on love, giving and life which are diametrically opposed to empty "sex", pornography and prostitution which destroyed the Beit HaMikdash. The practical importance of clarifying this topic in today's western society is obvious, especially for young adults.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 2
The King of the Kazars, in his search for truth, starts by inviting the philosopher. This is a "crash-course" on Aristotelian philosophy and the reasons why the king is not convinced. Through this dialogue, R. Yehuda HaLevi already foreshadows some of his central ideas that will appear later.
Shavuot "Love of Torah = Love of Israel"- for Shavuot
People often identify Judaism as just a religion, but upon examination, we see, even halachically and explicitly in the siddur, that the Torah is dependent upon Am Yisrael, Jewish nationalism.
Ein Aya The Middle-Child & Anti-Tzni'ut Syndrome- Negative Attention
Although tzni'ut is for men just like women, Rav Kook deals here with the sources in Yishayahu and the Talmud which deals with the special problem of lack of tzni'ut in women's dress and actions, where it's not just a problem of midot and character traits, but also can include practical, social and national ramifications, as well, which caused the destruction of the Beit HaMikdash and exile from Israel. The class continues the previous one (Ayn Aya Shabbat vi, 29), and is a must for all educators and parents of high-school aged and young adults.
P'ninat Mishpat P'NINAT MISHPAT: A Mess of Loans, Repayments and Grievances – part II
based on ruling 83033 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts
based on ruling 83033 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts
