Just as dancing for me has been at times fun, challenging, hard,
overwhelming, and worthwhile, I know that following the teachings of the Torah
and being a Jew is not just simple and easy. But, just as dancing ended
up being something that I can learn and grow with, and keep striving to become
better and better, the lessons of the Torah are also not things that you just
learn once and then move on.
- Jeremy Young
These historical and geographical lessons teach us, then, to be sensitive
to those who are suffering, as well as to appreciate the bounty of a good
harvest with enough water to survive.
That’s why the farmers made that presentation when bringing their first
fruits. You can learn a lot about a
nation from its particular history and geography.
Jake Rosner
In order to structure my time to get things done, like the
Nazerite, I have chosen to give up certain things, like social media with my
friends on most weekdays and, believe it or not, television. Yes it’s true. On most weekdays and even weekends when I
have games or meets or, yes, services, I watch almost no TV. For instance, I’m still on the second season
of Grey’s Anatomy, which came out twelve years ago!
Sophie Blomberg
As I believe most of you know, I broke my elbow and was required
to have surgery. But one positive thing came out of it. I was able to pick all
of the colors of my casts. Of my 6 different colored casts, I think the purple
one was my favorite. Just my personal recommendation. MAYBE MY ACCIDENT HAS GIVEN
ME THE CHANCE TO TAKE A STEP BACK AND APPRECIATE ALL I HAVE, MUCH AS THE
SHABBAT AND SABBATICAL YEAR ARE INTENDED TO ACCOMPLISH.
- Julia Giventer
OK, I think you might get the message that I was born on Groundhog
Day. It’s not really a holiday (not the
kind of day where I would get presents anyway), but I think of it as holiday
and it’s kind of cool to have it as a birthday. So, in the spirit of Groundhog
Day and the Exodus, become bat mitzvah means to stand on a bridge between my
past and my future. But even as I cross
to the other side, my past stays with me.
I will always look back on this day, even as I relive it over and over
again.
Charlie Schwartz
I guess I’m a bit of a dreamer.
I’ve always been that way. By the
time I was 8, I already knew which colleges I will apply to, and I even have a
backup plan if I don’t get into those. Which brings me to my portion and to
Joseph. From day 1, Joseph was a dreamer.
Everyone thought he was crazy. An old Apple commercial that I watched,
says, “Here’s to the crazy ones,” and shows people who have changed the world,
people like Einstein, Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr., and John Lennon Who were
Crazy Enough To think they could change the world! Joseph was a “crazy one.” He was able to Plan
And Understand The Things No One Could, and he was also able to overcome anger
and resentment in doing it.
Danny Segal
Finally, Abraham’s last trial was to bind Isaac. Even though he was following what he thought
were God’s orders, he learned that sometimes blind obedience is not the best
thing. The same thing happens in
“Anastasia,” where a Russian official is ordered to kill Anya, who claims to be
the princess Anastasia. In the end he
realizes that killing her would be wrong, so he reports back that she was never
Anastasia. With Abraham, in the end, God
makes it clear that he never wanted Isaac to be killed. So what’s the most
important lesson to learn from all this?
The Torah is the inspiration for all Broadway shows and it’s important
to take your kids to lots of them!
Julia Marrinan
Working so much with people who are different has taught me a lot.
People who are less able to walk might be able to swim better. People who might
not see as well may be able to hear. We are all unique- we are all special. We
are our own person, each of us with very special needs. And like I’ve always
said “be yourself because everyone else is taken”. Which means don’t try to be
what you are not BE YOURSELF!!
Mollie Herz
I mean, if I were to tell you that this is a story about two men who
are bitter rivals and one becomes insanely jealous of the other and wants to
kill him, you can answer either “Toldot” or “Hamilton” and you would be right!
Emily Goodman
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