Rabbi's Desk

This week, I attended the 1st Grade Siddur Ceremony at the Berman Hebrew Academy. It was inspiring to watch the the students receive their first "real" prayerbook and demonstrate their newly acquired Hebrew language skills with enthusiasm. While proud of their personal achievements, the students nevertheless confessed that their new siddur, which contains no English and no pictures, is a bit overwhelming. Teachers and family members in attendance did not seem worried. This group of seven year-olds is building a strong foundation of Jewish knowledge and values that will serve as a rock to ground them and a compass to navigate them throughout their lives.

In the Torah portion this week, we begin to read about the construction of the Mishkan =the Tabernacle where the tablets of law were kept. The famous verse that adorns synagogue archways the world over finds its source in the reading: Veasu Li Mikdash Veshachanti Betocham - "Make for Me a sanctuary and I will dwell among them" (Ex. 25:8). The rabbis explain that when we build a house for God, He does not takes up residence within the walls. Rather, God's holy presence rests INSIDE & AROUND US. Similarly, when we engage in Torah study and acts of righteousness, kindness, and mercy, the fruits of our efforts are infused with holiness, while we become Godly.

Jewish day school plays an important role in grounding children in our shared values, rituals, and customs. Together with parents, the synagogue, and the community, they are raising the next generation of Jewish scholars, thinkers, philanthropists, and leaders.

Our young congregant, James Sohl, was one of the participants in the Siddur Ceremony. He reflects on his experience below.

Shabbat Shalom,

Rabbi Suson

-by James Sohl, age 7

On Wednesday my 1st grade class and I had our Siddur party. It took us weeks and weeks to prepare for it. It was very exciting! At my Siddur party we sang songs, danced and told our family and friends what is inside a Siddur. I made a nice Siddur cover. I felted fabric with many different colors and made a Torah with brown, yellow and black felt. 

My Siddur is very helpful and heavy. It is helpful because it has benching and davening in it. In the Siddur are the words to daven, the words to speak to Hashem and the words to say thank you to Hashem for giving us food. 

It was awesome the feeling I had to get my Siddur. I am excited to use my Siddur every day at school, home and Shul.