To Learn and To Teach

by Rabbanit Nomi Shachor 
Tanach Department, Orot Israel College
 

When the Education Ministry recently unveiled a brand new junior high school Tanach curriculum, many teachers felt unprepared to handle some of the more complicated topics in Breishit and Vayikra. In particular, they were unsure how to approach such daunting subjects as marriage, childbirth, and forbidden sexual relations.

With these teachers in mind, Orot Israel College decided to offer an advanced in-service training course to provide teachers and educators with a broad array of tools and skills for teaching Tanach to junior high school students. Some ninety teachers from across Israel participated in the three-day program.

Among the program’s highlights were talks by guidance counselor Mrs. Avital Ben-Hur and Orot Israel College’s own Rabbanit Nomi Shachor, who focused on appropriate pedagogic techniques, educational values, and how to decide which topics to emphasize and which topics to underplay.

The program proved to be a huge success, and the organizers received numerous letters from the grateful participants. For example, Talia Arad, a physical education teacher, wrote about Rabbanit Dr. Yael Zohar’s fascinating lecture on Megilat Esther:

“The idea behind the words, ‘Do not imagine to yourself.’ (Esther 4:13) With these extremely stirring and inspiring words – which speak to Esther’s very essence - Mordechai addresses Esther. ‘Who knows whether it was for a time like this that you attained the kingdom?’ (Esther 4:14)

“Do not think only of yourself. Have faith and confidence. You have the power to change history and your nation’s fate. And so, Mordechai tells her, you must be alert. HaKadosh Baruch Hu sends you signals, and you must pay attention and act. Do not waste this opportunity.

“Before going to the king, Esther prays and thus gets in touch with her inner essence. With great self-sacrifice, she accepts the mission of saving her brethren. ‘And if I perish, I perish.’ (Esther 4:16) It is true that ‘the dead cannot praise God.’ (Tehilim 115:17) However, self-sacrifice is necessary, and I will do everything in my power to save my people.

“These words are still relevant today. How many times have we found ourselves facing signs from Hashem Yitbarach? How many times have we planned on traveling to a certain place but instead arrived somewhere else, and by chance (and there is no such thing as chance), we met someone new?

“Although we choose our own paths, we are accompanied by endless signs. Sometimes we heed these signs, and sometimes we ‘scorn’ them. We often ask ourselves if this is the right time? For a wedding? To give birth? To go to work? And so on…

“On a personal note, I was able to relate to Rabbanit Zohar’s words, when she spoke about Esther and opportunities. I almost wasted the opportunity to marry a widower and his four children. After having been a single-parent with four children of my own for about seven years, I was presented with this opportunity. But when I felt that the relationship was going nowhere, I ended it. Two months later, HaKadosh Baruch Hu once again signaled that this was my life’s course. Today, we have been married for two years, and about half a year ago, a sweet baby girl joined our family. So yes, the signs and the questions always exist, and self-sacrifice is necessary…

“I pray that Esther will continue to inspire us with her self-sacrifice and her connection to her inner roots, and may we always remember where we came from.

As we begin the new year, we add our voices to her beautiful prayer.