Hello 7th Grade Families,
This week our class discussed the difference between chesed
(kindness) and tzedakah (charity). We looked at textual sources examining how
to perform these distinct Jewish values, and we also explored the reasons for
doing so. The Torah states that we should not abandon the stranger because we
were strangers in the land of Egypt. We talked about how important it is to be
kind and welcoming to people even if we don’t know them, and further, if we see
someone that is a stranger (for example a new kid in school) we should
introduce ourselves and try and make them feel comfortable. We ended by
watching a video on the kindertransport during WW2 that resettled Jewish
children from Eastern Europe to England where they knew no one, as they tried
really hard to integrate into a new society. The stories of English families
welcoming in these Jewish children should serve as an example for us to be
welcoming and inviting to the vulnerable strangers we encounter today.
Next Sunday we will explore the Jewish value of respecting
the elderly with a guest speaker from Jewish Senior Life who is also a CSZ
congregant, Barbara Giles. She will be doing an interactive program with the
students on how we can relate to the elders in our lives.
We forward to our continuing Jewish journey
with your learners. Have a peaceful Shabbat.
David and Erin
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