JRF Educator's Day
Torah School Director, February 2002
Dear Friends,
The Jewish Reconstructionist Federation (JRF) Educator's Day has become a
highlight of my professional life -- and it appears that I'm not alone!
Our first Regional Ed Day was held four years ago, on January 17, 1999, at
Oseh Shalom in Laurel. There were approximately thirty people in attendance,
almost half of whom were presenters, ed directors, or rabbis from the (then)
five area congregations and the JRF National Office. Planned by Jackie Land
and Moshe Ben-Lev (who were then the Principals at Oseh Shalom and Adat
Shalom, respectively), it was optimistically billed as the "1st Annual
Reconstructionist Professional Day." Our theme for the day was "Empowering
our Families to Life Jewish Lives."
Our 4th Annual Educator's Day was held on January 20, 2002, at Adat Shalom.
We had sixty-five in attendance, representing all seven congregations in the
area: Adat Shalom, Oseh Shalom, Columbia Jewish Congregation, Beit Tikvah
(Baltimore), Mishkan Torah (Greenbelt), and Northern Virginia (which is just
beginning its one-room school in February!). The theme of the day was
"Hiddur Mitzvah"; Jackie Land coordinated the program in her role as
Chesapeake Regional Coordinator.
I was struck by some marked similarities between the first session four years
ago and the one we held a few of weeks ago. There were also some very clear
differences.
Differences first…
- In 1999, three of our presenters from the greater Washington area were
not affiliated with the Recon movement; this time, all presenters were
Recon-affiliated.
- This year, we had two network meetings: one for principals, and another
for rabbis and presidents. Although the rabbis and presidents have had
previous network meetings, this was a first for the principals. It provided
an all-important opportunity for us to get to know each other. We had the
opportunity to share concerns, suggestions, and alternate ways of grappling
with issues that we each face.
- At the beginning of the first conference, there was little interaction
between people who didn’t know each other. There was much hesitancy, as well
as shy smiles and hushed voices. Eager eyes turned to the door as the next
new person walked in, and participants waited to be told where to go and what
to do next. This time, there was much milling around -- delighted cries of,
"Hi! How good to see you again! How ARE you?" "The coffee's not ready
yet?" "Has anyone seen so-and-so?" "It's so good to finally meet you!" The
buzz was constant as people registered, checked folders, compared workshop
choices, and helped themselves to a nosh. When it was time, groups moved
purposefully towards classrooms. This year, we were able to begin more
quickly than at any of the previous educators' days. In addition, sessions
were longer -- an hour and a quarter instead of fifty minutes. These longer
sessions allowed extra time for ample give-and-take.
- At lunchtime, people clustered by school at the first conference.
Dialogue between colleagues was hushed, and stilted between groups from
different communities. This year, lunchtime seating was mixed, sometimes
based on who had taken workshops together. Conversation flowed freely and the
noise level rose accordingly. Jackie actually needed the microphone to get
everyone's attention!
And similarities…
- Both weekends began with "weather, Washington-style." Four years ago,
the area was hit by an ice storm on Friday that knocked out electricity in
much of the area. For many, it wasn't restored until Sunday or Monday. Our
family was providing home hospitality to Meryl Wassner from the National JRF
office - and found ourselves without heat, light, or the ability to cook a
Shabbat meal! We toughed it out until Saturday morning and then headed to a
hotel with two vacant rooms in the Laurel area, which still had power. Since
Oseh Shalom had electricity, the Educator's Day went forward, with
participants driving through an ice-encrusted landscape to learn together and
share their encounters with the storm. This year it was snow, but the
forecast came early. Snow plans were made well in advance; cell phones
started ringing immediately after Shabbat, and participants were notified on
Saturday night of the one-hour delay in our schedule. I drove to Adat Shalom
early Sunday morning and was struck by the beauty of the snow-covered
branches overhanging Persimmon Tree Road.
- On both occasions, the program called for a keynote, two workshops, a
luncheon, and an endnote address. This year, due to illness and delayed
beginning, the schedule was tweaked at the last minute: one workshop was
canceled, lunch was shortened, and the keynote was moved to the end of the
day. Everyone rolled with the changes.
- Three of us have had the honor of presenting workshops at both the first
and the fourth sessions: Rabbi Fred, Rabbi Gary Fink (Oseh Shalom), and I.
- And the biggest similarity is this one: the sense of joy we experience in
being able to study together, eat together, sing together, talk together, and
laugh together. For many of us who are involved in our respective
communities' educational networks, there is often a feeling of being somewhat
disconnected from our colleagues. Our theology and practice are frequently
different from those of the other movements, and our numbers are small enough
that our voices are not always clearly heard. To spend the day with
colleagues who struggle with the same issues, experience the same peaks, and
who truly live the belief that there are multiple paths to the same goal is
to come away renewed and rejuvenated.
I am both -- renewed and rejuvenated -- and grateful to each individual who
took the time on January 20th to be part of our larger community!
L'shalom,
Mary Meyerson