When I was in either first or second grade, my parents began sending me to Hebrew School every Sunday, a weekly activity I despised both for waking me up early on a weekend and cutting into the time I intended to spend watching my favorite football team. By third grade they started sending me to Hebrew classes on Wednesdays as well, something I equally despised because, after six hours of sitting at my elementary school, the last thing I wanted to do was go to another school.
I remember very vividly, sitting in the back seat of my parents mini-van, being driven to a place I had no interest in going, yet also being very aware that for some reason my eight-year-old brain couldn't comprehend, was very important to both of my parents.
Looking back now, and with kids of my own, I now fully understand my parents mentality (while still appreciating and respecting the opinion my eight-year-old-self held as well). The Jewish people are perhaps more spread out across the world than we have ever been in our history. There are a series of benefits and advantages to this, unquestionably. However, one result that has altered the priorities of Jewish leaders is the increase in assimilation as well as intermarriage. This result has been a stronger focus on understanding our history, our language, our rituals and our traditions. And of course the best place to start is at a Jewish Day School.
Unfortunately, for some families in the Diaspora, sending their children to Hebrew School is impossible. For example, I have many cousins whose parents had military careers, and as a result some were constantly moving, switching schools and friends every couple of years or so. I remember hearing my Aunt and Uncle mentioning at a Passover Seder how they so wished they could send my cousins to Hebrew School but with all the change in their lives that they were constantly being forced to face, the idea of MORE new classes and MORE lost friends didn't seem worth it.
My oldest cousin, now with children of her own, also chose a military career. But she no longer has to deal with the same dilemma that her parents did. There are options available now that provide Hebrew school classes in online classrooms, a perfect solution for military families and other Jewish families that might live in an area that doesn't have many Jewish Day School options. These days you can even get bar mitzvah lessons online.
I remember very vividly, sitting in the back seat of my parents mini-van, being driven to a place I had no interest in going, yet also being very aware that for some reason my eight-year-old brain couldn't comprehend, was very important to both of my parents.
Looking back now, and with kids of my own, I now fully understand my parents mentality (while still appreciating and respecting the opinion my eight-year-old-self held as well). The Jewish people are perhaps more spread out across the world than we have ever been in our history. There are a series of benefits and advantages to this, unquestionably. However, one result that has altered the priorities of Jewish leaders is the increase in assimilation as well as intermarriage. This result has been a stronger focus on understanding our history, our language, our rituals and our traditions. And of course the best place to start is at a Jewish Day School.
Unfortunately, for some families in the Diaspora, sending their children to Hebrew School is impossible. For example, I have many cousins whose parents had military careers, and as a result some were constantly moving, switching schools and friends every couple of years or so. I remember hearing my Aunt and Uncle mentioning at a Passover Seder how they so wished they could send my cousins to Hebrew School but with all the change in their lives that they were constantly being forced to face, the idea of MORE new classes and MORE lost friends didn't seem worth it.
My oldest cousin, now with children of her own, also chose a military career. But she no longer has to deal with the same dilemma that her parents did. There are options available now that provide Hebrew school classes in online classrooms, a perfect solution for military families and other Jewish families that might live in an area that doesn't have many Jewish Day School options. These days you can even get bar mitzvah lessons online.