with Rabbi Micah Ellenson,
Director of Congregational Learning
On Sunday, March 29th I had the pleasure of leading two practice
seders for our students. One of the big themes that emerged in our reading of the
Haggadah (the special book we read out of for the Passover dinner) was the importance Judaism places on asking good questions.
We discussed with the students that the focus in Judaism is not in the answer but in the recognizing opportunities to ask good questions.
During the seder we read the following story: Isidor I. Rabi, the Nobel laureate in physics was once asked, ''Why did you become a scientist, rather than a doctor or lawyer or businessman, like the other immigrant kids in your neighborhood?'' ''My mother made me a scientist without ever intending it. Every other Jewish mother in Brooklyn would ask her child after school: 'So? Did you learn anything today?' But not my mother. She always asked me a different question. 'Izzy,' she would say, 'did you ask a good question today?' That difference - asking good questions - made me become a scientist!'' Based on this idea of asking good questions here are some things to discuss with your children this year at the seder table or over Spring Break:
- Are all questions "good" questions? Why or why not?
- What are ways to ask good questions?
- What does it mean to ask a "good" question? Why did Dr. Rabi's mom feel it was important to qualify her statement with the word good?
- Why is it that Judaism puts the emphasis on questions rather than answers?
As with most things in Judaism it is not the answers to these questions that matters as much as it is the conversation that emerges. There is a teaching that when two people engage in the study of
Torah [or matters of the spirit] that God is present. Therefore, it is important to recognize that when you engage in a conversation and/or argument that stems from the asking of a "good" question, that you and your child allow God to enter the world.
I wish you all a wonderful Passover and look forward to seeing you back at Temple on April 19th. Chag Sameach. |
Get ideas for Spring Break reading from our Pathfinder lists
Right before I attended the L'Taken seminar in Washington D.C. with other TDHS and TBT sophomores a few weeks ago, I wasn't sure of what to expect. That is, until I had the opportunity to experience it myself. L'Taken is a seminar held in Washington D.C. and organized by the RAC, or Religious Action Center, the legislative branch of the URJ. It is open to Jewish high school students from across the country, giving each student a chance to discuss and learn about current social justice issues. One of my many highlights of the trip was getting the opportunity to write a speech on an issue that I was interested in and actually present that speech with my group to representatives of Sen. Maria Cantwell, Sen. Patty Murray, as well as my district's representative: Adam Smith. The current issue that I selected was the peace-agreement and foreign aid package for Israel from the United States. I was paired with two other people from my group, Ben Siroka and Liam Geisser, and together as a group, we wrote a speech on why this issue matters to our country, why it matters to us as individuals, and finally, why it mattered to Judaism. 
