Dear 7th grade families,
Last week, as a fitting conclusion to our unit on Shomrei Adamah, Guardians of the Earth,we learned the history of Sukkot and the traditions associated with this holiday. We decorated sheets to hang inside the Sukkah in order to fulfill the mitzvah of beautifying our Sukkah and learned how to bless and shake the Lulav and Etrog. David even made us cookies to fulfill the mitzvah of eating in the Sukkah!This week, we began a new unit called B’tzelem Elohim, or “in God’s image.” Through the creation story in Genesis 1, we learned that humans are created in the image of God. But if God has no physical image, then what does it mean to be created in God’s image? We talked about Godly qualities and seeing our actions as reflections of the Divine.
This conversation inspired a discussion of how we present ourselves to others, both online and in person. We all use social media to connect with our friends, express ourselves and stay up-to-date, but we need to remember the power of words and images and also that what we post online is permanent. Before we hit “send,” we should pause to consider if the information is actually a good representation of ourselves. Does this post or message reflect that I am created “in God’s image?”In addition to carefully considering our online presence, another way we can act B’tzelem Elohim is by caring for our bodies. With huge social pressure to look cool, wear certain clothes, or have the perfect body, it’s easy to lose sight of our unique and Godly qualities within. We talked about reflecting an outer image of ourselves that is consistent with what we feel on the inside, as well as being thoughtful about the way we present ourselves to others, both in physical appearance and in personality.
We look forward to upcoming classes in our B’tzelem Elohim unit including participation in the ADL’s No Place for Hate initiative and volunteering with CASS Community SocialServices.
Enjoy the beautiful fall weather and Chag Sameach!
Rachel and David
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