Elul Reflection - 9.6.23 - Amanda Campbell

Aryeh Ben David, author of Becoming a Soulful Educator, reminds us that Jewish education “isn’t about learning; it’s about becoming.” I can learn about love and not become a loving person. I can learn about jealousy and remain jealous.” I can learn about Shabbat, yet never experience the joy of lighting Shabbat candles in my home. I can learn to decode Hebrew letters but never understand the beauty and depth of the Hebrew language. At Temple Chai Religious School, we believe if learning in and of itself is the extent of our educational goals, we are failing our students.

As I think about who I was this past year and who I would like to be in the new one ahead, I am reminded that just as we encourage our students to go beyond the text in order to become the Jewish person they want to be, as adults we must strive not only to reflect upon and learn about who we are and who we want to be, but also to take the necessary and sometimes difficult steps required to actually become that person.
May your new year be filled with both learning and becoming.

Shanah tovah,
Amanda Campbell