Rachel Judaica Lesson 4/21
Dear Daled families,
I am writing to invite all of the Daled students to a Shabbat Breakfast Zoom on Saturday April 25th from 9-10:15 in the morning. This will be more like a party than a class (your lessons will still be posted on the website as usual), so that we can all come together and share our stories, complaints, and breakfasts as a community. Parents are invited to the B’yachad text study with Cantor Eric at the same time, and then we can join together for a Shabbat morning service at 10:15.
I hope to see you all there!
Adult Torah study with Cantor Eric 9-10:15 AM
Daled Shabbat Breakfast Zoom 9-10:15AM
Shabbat Morning Service for parents and children 10:15-11AM
Best wishes, stay healthy and safe, and I look forward to seeing you all soon!
Morah Rachel
Dear Daled-ites,
First off, I want to remind you that you are all invited to a Daled Shabbat Breakfast on Zoom this Saturday, April 25th, at 9 AM. This is for all of Daled, not just the kids who usually go to Shabbat school, because I miss you all and I think you might be missing each other too. (insert link for zoom 2 here)
Now, on to the lesson for today:
Today’s lesson is from Parashat Kedoshim, in the book of Leviticus, and the subject is Tochecha or Rebuke. The bible tells us that we are required to rebuke someone for wrongdoing, whether they have sinned against us or against someone else. The word Rebuke means to criticize severely, to express strong disapproval, to scold or reprimand someone for their actions.
In Leviticus 19 it says: “You shall not hate your kinsfolk in your heart. Reprove your kinsman, but incur no guilt because of him.” And we learn from this that we are required to tell someone when she or he has done something wrong, but we are not allowed to hurt or embarrass the other person in the process. Is that even possible?
We are going to watch a video with some ideas for how to give criticism and then we’ll discuss it:
Now let’s talk about how we receive criticism: We are often defensive in the face of criticism, maybe because the delivery feels harsh or unfair, or because we are afraid of potential consequences.
First we’ll watch a video with some ideas for how to accept criticism:
Everyone makes mistakes: Our ancestors made enough mistakes to fill the Tanach (the first five books of the Torah, the prophets, and the writings altogether). Sometimes we may bend the truth, or make excuses for our bad behavior, or avoid our responsibilities. No one is perfect, but acknowledging our mistakes allows us to grow.
Doing Teshuva: Remember, if it can be broken, it can be fixed. So much of the book of Leviticus focuses on the fact that we will do things wrong. Some things will be mistakes, and some will be intentional. Regardless, the Torah teaches us that we can repair the damage and seek forgiveness. In Hebrew we call this Teshuva. Teshuva is a way to return to your path and can be done any time, not just at the high holidays. Another way to think of doing Teshuva is as fixing mistakes.
Maimonides (A 12th century Rabbi and philosopher) set out four steps for doing Teshuva:
Step one: Stop the wrong action.
Step two: Feel regret for your error, and feel sorry for the harm you’ve done.
Step three: Tell the person you have wronged, tell God, that you are sorry for doing wrong, and ask for forgiveness.
Step four: Make a plan to prevent yourself from making that same mistake again.
Coloring pages: Here are a few coloring pages on today’s topic. Which picture do you think you’d like to work with today, either because it fits how you feel, or will support you in making a necessary change?
And remember to come to our Daled Shabbat Breakfast on Zoom, this Saturday, April 25th at 9AM! Here's the link: https://zoom.us/j/9548108216
See you soon,
Morah Rachel