Newspapers / The Charlotte Jewish News … / Jan. 1, 1985, edition 1 / Page 3
Part of The Charlotte Jewish News (Charlotte, N.C.) / About this page
This page has errors
The date, title, or page description is wrong
This page has harmful content
This page contains sensitive or offensive material
Page 3-THE NEWS-January, 1985 Ecology In Judaism By Eleanor Weinglass Director, Hebrew Academy The combining of Judaica and secular subjects is known as integration, and we do this at the Hebrew Academy when the subject matter is con ducive and appropriate to cross-study. We like children to see that their life need not be separated into two sep£irate £ireas, but that both make a contribution to the wholeness of the individual, and that secular information £dso has Judaic reference and concerns. Ecology is a particularly ap propriate subject to handle in this manner. Children have been learning about animals and plant life as a part of their science studies. The Judaic area has been looking at ecology from a different angle, the value our traditions place on the world around us. Third and fourth graders have been learning about the various laws for taking care of trees and the land. They have studied commentaries from different periods of time about the law which forbids cutting down trees in war, and they have discussed reasons why people would want to destroy trees. They have considered how people can prevent destruction of the environment. Children studied the laws that stress the importance of taking care of the land and/its products, such as the law re quiring that the land rest after six years of use. In lesirning about the obligation land owners have to leave a section of their produce for the poor. The pupils learned how giving Tzedakah is also a way of tak ing care of nature, and that helping people is a way of help ing G-d’s creation. The students investigated the saying that compares a person to a “tree of the field.” Their analysis, in short, is as follows: Just as a seed has the potential to become a tree, so each human has potential for development. As the tree needs water and food, we need knowledge and Torah. As the tree has roots, we have roots that connect us; our leaves £ire the deeds we perform. Children then summed up their study by writing an eleventh commandment about ecological responsibility. Their commgindments include the following: Don’t be mad or angry at nature because it gives you life. Don’t destroy nature because it’s G-d’s beautiful work. Don’t take what you want. Wanton destruction is not allowed. Humanities, Education Are Enhanced At Jewish Day School By Saul Brenner Recently the National En dowment for the Humanities reported that many college graduates lack “even the most rudimentary knowledge about the history, literature, art, eind philosophic£il foundations of their nation and civilization.” A 42-page report, written by William J. Bennett, chairman of the Nationed Endowment for the Hum£inities, urged that the colleges teach: 1. An underst£inding of the origin and development of Western civilization from its roots in antiquity to the pre sent. This understanding should include a grasp of the major trends in society, religion, art, literature and politics. 2. A careful reading of several masterworks of English, American and Euro pean literature, as well as the Bible, which is the basis for so much subsequent history, literature and philosophy. 3. An understanding of the most significant ideas and debates in the history of philosophy. 4. Demonstrable proficiency in a foreign language (see Chronicle of Higher Education, November 28, 1984.) It occurred to me that children who attend Hebrew day schools may obtain a head-start in achieving some of these goals. First, the day school children gain some under standing of the religious and cultural roots of Western civilization by studying about the ancient Hebrews. It is ad mittedly a partial understan ding, but one that can be enhanced in later stages of their education. Second, they are given the opportunity of reading the Bible, one of the masterworks of Western civilization. They read this source in the origin^ Hebrew. Thirji, the students in the Hebrew day schools are in troduced to some of the philo- (Continued on Page 17) Havdallah Service For the second year, the Hebrew Academy children have led a Havdallah service, preceded by a Shabbat Maariv service, at the school. On November 17, children im pressed their families with ex cellent competency in leading and participating in these services. Visit By Rabbi Rocklin What do we think of when we think of G-d? What does Judaism teach us about G-d? These important and difficult questions were discussed with the children by Rabbi Richard Rocklin. We appreciate his visit and listening to the children’s ideas and Jewish concepts of G-d. Visit By Rabbi Seigel Rabbi Robert Seigel has been bringing his computer and his VCR to the Hebrew Academy. Children had the opportunity to learn about blessings, to review the alphabet, to practice gram mar, and to learn about Chanukah through these media. The film “Lights” was also shown, both to the children and to the parents at a PTA meeting. Learning About Taste A taste dimension was add ed to the study of plant and animal life cycles. Children were told that they would be eating flowers. Preparing themselves for the not very ex citing experience of eating rose petals or dandelions, they experienced instead such culi nary pleasures as broccoli, cauliflower, alfalfa sprouts (ein example of seedlings), raw spinach (an exeunple of leaves), carrots and turnips (roots), celery (stems), pineapple (fruit). To everyone’s surprise, the children thoroughly en joyed these taste delights. reenspon F Associates I Inc. ■J 125 Cottage Place 376-7434 Providing a complete line of life insurance products, medical plans, disability plans, group-employee benefit plans. STANGREENSPON SCOTT SWIMMER HARRY SWIMMER DAVID SWIMMER EARN 16% ON YOUR MONEY 8 MOS. MIN. - 36 MOS. MAX 392-0161 MIN. $2,000 MAX. $10,000 INSURED Now, In Our 6th Year Financial Services, Inc. ANN LANGMAN *Servlng your reaJ egtmte need» tinee 1972** Mary Ryder Realty Office 364-3300 • Home 364-1691/1693 Havdallah Services at the Academy. Animal Rights and Jewish Law Third and fourth graders discussed the rabbinic rules that one should not eat before feeding one’s animals and the value of not killing animals needlessly. Joey Lambert and Shara Steiner, third graders, gave meaning to these rules in the following stories. Monologue oS a Pet By Joey Lambert One night my Mom was cooking something that smell ed good. I asked her, “Mom, what smells so good?” My Mom answered, “Oh, it’s stew.” “Mmmmmm, my favorite!” I said. Just then, my Dad came in. “Joey,” he said, “have you fed Fluffy yet?” (Fluffy is my cat.) I answered: “No, Dad, not yet.” “But I bet you don’t know why,” he said. Just then I heard Geoffrey Gartner and Sloane Muller lead Havdallah. something. “Joey! Joey!” It seemed to be coming from out side, so I went outside. “Joey! ” My cat was talking to me! “Joey, have you ever thought about the way you weird people are taking care of (Continued on Page 17) Ads Don’t Give Parties. We Do! Ads can’t show you how Marriott caters a wedding, bar mitzvah, holiday, anniversary or business party. But our banquet managers, maitre d’s, waiters and chefs can. Whether you want a ballroom picnic with peonies or black tie banquet with Beef Wellington and ice carvings, our staff will serve you with meticulous attention to details. Call our Director of Catering. Get all the facts you need to choose wisely. CHARLOnTE^CirriOtt ^ ^ RxncunvE park 5700 WesqMfk Drive. At 1-77 and lyvoto RiMd. Chirlocw. NC 28210 (704)527^50
The Charlotte Jewish News (Charlotte, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Jan. 1, 1985, edition 1
3
Click "Submit" to request a review of this page. NCDHC staff will check .
0 / 75