Just two weeks ago, we began reading the book of Deuteronomy. The majority of Deuteronomy is a summary of past events and reiteration of laws, concluding with Moses’ farewell address to the Israelites. Why retell the same events and laws over again?
In the first line of Devarim, we read:
אֵ֣לֶּה הַדְּבָרִ֗ים אֲשֶׁ֨ר דִּבֶּ֤ר מֹשֶׁה֙ אֶל־כׇּל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל בְּעֵ֖בֶר הַיַּרְדֵּ֑ן
“These are the words that Moses spoke to all Israel on the other side of the Jordan” (Deuteronomy 1:1).
What Moses offers may be the same narrative as before, but he tells it from a new perspective. The word עֵ֖בֶר (beyond/on the other side) does not mean that Moses literally crossed the Jordan River to the Promised Land, but he is telling the story from the perspective of one who has crossed over. Moses looks back on the events that unfolded over the last 40 years and shares a new meaning with a people who also now have a new perspective. The story that the Israelites need to hear on the brink of freedom is different from the one that was told as they traveled, even though the content of the message is the same.
Summer is the perfect time to look back on the distance we have traveled and reflect on how the year unfolded. Much like Moses and the people of Israel gained new insight into their story, I attended the New Directors’ Institute (NDI) this summer and gained new perspectives about myself, our education program, and the role of the Education Director.
At NDI, I discovered new approaches to Hebrew, supervision, and hiring. These concepts have existed in synagogue schools for decades but are being examined from new angles with the latest research in mind. Hebrew, one of the oldest and most important pillars of a Jewish education, continues to both remain the same in its content and evolve in its practice and application as the world changes around us. I learned about an approach called Onward Hebrew, which uses sound-to-print learning combined with Hebrew through movement and consistent exposure to tefilotand everyday Jewish vocabulary. I am excited to continue learning about the best approaches to Hebrew and bring them into our programs.
Some of the topics from the conference were familiar to me, such as Social Emotional and Spiritual Learning (SESL) and Curriculum Design, which I learned about in my education classes at Hebrew College. Examining these old ideas with new colleagues allowed me to gain a new perspective. I explored these ideas with Beth Am Israel in mind and thought about how I will bring these concepts into our educational spaces. New curriculum writing is already happening this summer with our amazing Curriculum Development Consultant, Aya Baron, and I am excited to share the fruits of our labor with you soon.
Much like the book of Deuteronomy reminds us of what we have heard before, NDI was a good reminder of the things I already know. The most important reminder I received was NDI’s theme: lead together. For a school to succeed, it needs everyone to be working together toward its success. Shorashim has grown tremendously this past year AND there is still so much to do. Though Moses was not able to join the Israelites in the Promised Land, I am excited as the new Education Director to lead our education program together with all of you into the future. I welcome your unique perspectives and hope to grow as a leader from the wisdom that is shared among this community. Let’s continue leading together, and together we will cross over to an even better future.
