Teaching As Worship

D'Var Chinuch, January 14, 2002
Allen Perper

Shabbat Shalom. It is wonderful to be here in this beautiful sanctuary and to see all of you. And congratulations to Jared and the Perlmutter family on this great day.

Here’s the answer to the most frequently asked question I get when I’m at the oneg.

"Nope….well, maybe a little."

The title of my talk today is Teaching As Worship.

Because of the question that I get from so many Adat Shalomers, I decided to take a look at my answer. Guess I should let you in on the question. "So, now that you’re teaching on Shabbat, do you miss coming to services?"

My response is usually very quick. "Nope….well, maybe a little." Sometimes I add in a whisper "Teaching is the highlight of my week." Now, for those that may not know me, I’ve been a regular at Adat Shalom services for the last 10 years. So, I think, how can I so easily give up this wonderful experience; something I’ve come to depend on for so long? Something I’ve looked forward to each week?

So then I asked myself a question. "Nu, self, so what is so special about coming to services at Adat Shalom on Shabbat?" When I finished answering that question, I discovered that I was teaching as worship.

So what did I discover? I come to services because I love:

• Being with Community
• Look at this wondrous congregation - so vibrant, alive and diverse. So caring and sharing.
• Look at my classroom - Vibrant, alive and absolutely diverse. The kids come from so many places. Sometimes, it may be outer space. Now they’re working on sharing, but it’s coming. When I was away on a recent Shabbat and woke up on Saturday morning in another town, I missed my little community
• Looking for and finding Spirituality
• When I’m in this room, it is not hard to be transported by Rachel’s voice into a beautiful and spiritual space. When I’m in this room I can find that place inside me that is filled with spirit and joy. That space that has no material body. That space of peace.
• When I’m in my classroom, I can also find that same space. Now it’s a little noisier, but the space exists. And what takes me there? Moments like this:
• After an early lesson on the Adam and Eve story, I asked, "where do you think the Garden of Eden exists today?" I got some great answers, but the one that put me aside was a very quiet voice (read female) saying, "I think it’s in my heart."
• Engaging in an Intellectual Challenge
• Obviously Adat Shalom provides a fabulous environment for stretching not only our souls, but also our minds. To me, Rabbi Fred’s d’vrei Torah sessions have always been a highlight of the service. This congregation, often so shy, really puts on its thinking hat during these precious few moments.
• Obviously my class has great intellect and is always up for the challenge. Let me read a bit from a response to a challenge I gave them.
• I’m not a big fan of the Noah story. You know, 2-by-2, cubits, rain, etc. I have a difficult time with a vengeful God that gets disappointed by the actions of the people and so decides to destroy them. I challenged the kids to come up with a new Noah story, one that takes a different approach to dealing with disappointment.
• One of my students wrote how God came to Noah, told him that there was a big flood coming, 2-by-2, cubits, destroying everyone, you’re good so you’ll be saved, etc. So Noah follows the plan and he and his crew set off and float for a while. One day Noah looks out the window and what does he see? Another ark. So he pulls up alongside the other ark and asks the captain what is he doing. The other ark captain says that God came to him and said, "build an ark, cubits, 2-by-2, big flood, destroy, etc. Soon they both look out and see hundreds of arks all gathered in the same place.
• God showed that He could destroy the world at anytime, but He didn’t, and that people should act better.
• Singing and praying
• This room – soaring voices, so powerful in unison, so beautiful in the harmonies, like Aytz Hayim He.
• My room – Just drop by and hear the way we do our blessings over the juice and challah. We even have a designated Motzee-boy
• Looking inside
• Here – it is the opportunity to discover who we are and how we act
• There – it is these great kids constructing posters describing a point where the world is broken, how it will look when it is fixed, and what we can do to fix it.
• Being surprised and stretching
• At services – It is Fred and Rachel asking me to leave the comfort of a familiar prayer tune, try a new one, and teaching me again, that change is good
• At school – It is seeing each child as a unique being. As people that constantly defy my lame attempts to categorize and homogenize them. To learn to be compassionate.
• Praising a wondrous and wonderful creator
• In the sanctuary – Through prayer and meditation I find the words and the place to give thanks
• In room 6 – I’m looking at, and into many of those creations. And sometimes I pray there also, but for the strength to keep them moving in the same direction.
• Getting tangible rewards
• Services - not so sure
• Teaching – Well I’m makin’ the big bucks?!

When I decided to become Moreh Allen last fall, I was pretty apprehensive. I thought, what the heck do I know about teaching kids? My Judaic knowledge is not that great. Could I do it? What happens if I fail? Well guess what, we’re all surviving the school year. And I thank the parents for trusting me with their kids.

And being so much closer to the school, I‘ve discovered that there are a lot of needs that must be filled. About this time, you should be asking, "How can I get involved?" Glad you asked.

• Curriculum development
• Torah School Board
• Fund raising
• Room parent
• Tikkun Olam project
• Hosting a potluck
• And finally, being a Teacher

Being active in the school is not just for parents of kids in the school. The whole congregation must take ownership/leadership of the Torah School. This is your opportunity to answer the questions, "What have I done to further the next generation of Jews? How can I incite a love for Reconstructionist Judaism in these kids? How can I make this experience different and better for those little ones? How can I give them what these services give me?"

So, it’s time for me to get back to room 6 and my community. Thanks to Dara Feldman for covering for me this morning. Remember, you don’t need to wear a cape to been considered a super-hero in the eyes of some great kids.

Oh, it’s a beautiful day in the neighborhood, a beautiful day. . .