This week the students in Kitah Dalet began to talk about our responsibility to care for everything GOD created. We talked about GOD commanding us to rule over everything and to also be a partner with GOD. Students were asked to identify ways they ruled over all living things, and how they were also servants. We talked about planting trees and flowers for our enjoyment, and our commitment to care for these living things once they are planted. Our discussion about nature and creation brought us to the holiday of Tu B'Shevat and the importance of trees.. We compared trees to the Torah, and students were asked to find ways to support the idea that the Torah was a Tree of Life. Students compared trees to people, as trees and people need the same things to live. They also suggested that people can't live without trees, and Jews can't live without the Torah. To illustrate their ideas, we created torn paper collage trees and have them displayed in our classroom. Stop in a take a look if you are in the neighborhood.
Our Values and Ethics rotation took this discussion in another direction, and we began to explore the differences between nature and nurture. We talked about nature and all living things, and looked at what responsibilities we have when caring for animals. We talked about treating animals with respect, and what we have to do to care for these creatures who cannot care for themselves. We again looked at the story of Noah, and talked about what GOD expects us to do when caring for his creations. We will continue our discussions after our winter break, and explore the laws of kashrut animal testing, and the ethical treatment of animals.
Enjoy your mid winter break, and we will see you on Sunday, February 22, 2015.
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