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Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the first female Jewish member of the U.S. Supreme Court, died on one of the holiest days in Judaism, Rosh Hashana. Some say this makes her a tzadik—a righteous person. A Jewish teaching says those who die just before the Jewish New Year are the ones God has held back until the last moment because they were needed most and were the most righteous.

Whether or not you share this belief, there are certainly some valuable life lessons that we can learn from RBG, and it’s never too early to start those conversations and model for our very youngest children:

Rosh Hashana is a time of renewal and reflection. May RBG rest in peace and may we all be our best selves in the year to come. L’Shana Tova.

Broadway Backstage

Thursday, October 1 — 7:30pm

The Cyclical-Linear Time Paradox of the Torah—and

Challah Cardamom-Cinnamon Rolls

Thursday, October 8 — 7:30pm

One of my favorite films about this noble profession has just come out, available on many platforms. It is John Leguizamo’s Critical Thinking. It is a true story of a tough Miami neighborhood, circa 1998. With the guidance and charisma from an unconventional teacher (Leguizamo, who also directs) they find their passion for chess. Leguizamo told me “these kids are like me. I call them ghetto nerds, interested in learning and the joy of the intellect.” The actual people were on the set during the filmmaking, and appear at the end. Terrific and a good way to get out of yourself!

Music of the Heart (1999) stars Meryl Streep as Roberta Guaspari, a determined musician who eventually cofounded the Opus 118 Harlem School of Music. Despite school cutbacks and disappointments, this innovative. determined teacher gains support from both students and their skeptical parents. Look for Isaac Stern and Itzhak Perlman!

One of the strongest films about the difference a teacher can make is 1988’s Stand and Deliver. High school math teacher Jaime Escalante, brilliantly portrayed by Edward James Olmos, inspires his group of young gang members and kids with little hope. They learn calculus and more, following him to an advanced placement exam. Olmos was nominated for Best Actor at the Oscars, but lost to Dustin Hoffman’s Rainman. This is an unforgettable movie about the power of teaching.

Mr. Holland’s Opus (1995) gives us a personal perspective on a teacher who has his own dreams of writing a memorable piece of music to leave the world when he passes on. For financial reasons, he begins to teach music. His years become filled with helping students find their own passion for playing music. He finds creative ways to inspire them, telling one troubled girl to “play the sunset.” Richard Dreyfuss leads a strong cast, with one of those endings that will make your day.

It is not real, often silly, could never happen. But 2003’s School of Rock is so much fun, I had to include it. Jack Black is perfectly cast as a struggling rock guitarist who disguises himself as a substitute teacher at a prep school. He finds a way to inspire bored kids, also outraging their parents with his highly unorthodox methods. For an escapist good time and an appreciation for the undervalued Jack Black, this is one to see.

Movies about teachers are everywhere and a perfect idea for an uplifting film festival. Add Good Will Hunting, The Dead Poet’s Society, Lean on Me, The Great Debaters and Goodbye, Mr. Chips and you’ll move ahead, inspired by great teachers that stay with us our entire lives.