Our first "during the week" Hebrew School lesson occured on Wednesday night, and what a night it proved to be. We began by reviewing our class pledge and going over our Hebrew words for different colors... but, our topic for the night was Reflection.
We began our night by taking a fun quiz that I found online that asked the kids what they would do in different situations -- the different answers varied in terms of whether they would respond to the different situations with words and artistically (Kaleidoscope), by responding through thinking of their own personal experiences (Mirror), or whether they tend to think of the natural universe (binoculars) and where the event falls within the greater context of life. I talked about the difference in what we would see if looking into a mirror, kaleidoscope, or binoculars and explained that all Jewish prayer could fall within one of these three categories.
Tonight, however, we were focusing on reflection. Both boys then got up and spent some time (as I suggested) looking at themselves in a mirror. We then began to discuss and collectively define reflection. Nathan said: a mirror is an exact copy but a lake lets you see a beautiful picture of you if you look into it, but the sun has to be shining.
They both drew on their wipe boards how they would define reflection and Nathan proceeded to draw a picture of someone looking at themself in the water (the reflection, interestingly, was much more detailed and beautiful than the person looking into the water-- need Bruce Gilberg or some other amazing guru in child development to analyze that for me!!!), Charlie drew a sun and a diamond with sparkles reflecting and radiating off the edge of the wipe board and right onto the table (yikes!).
We discussed the importance of reflection and then talked about other types of reflection and the boys knew that 'to reflect' meant to think about things. I helped guide the conversation to self reflection and why this might be important. Charlie then said: when we act, the way other people act back to us can reflect us. EXACTLY!!! So, we talked about ways our behaviors and moods are often reflected in the ways others interact or respond to us.
Buillding off of this theme of reflection, we cut out the Modeh Ani prayer that one is to recite upon first waking in the morning. Luckily, both boys sort of knew the prayer which made teaching it that much easier. We had a discussion about why we need sleep: to rejuvinate ourselves, to get the most out of the next day, to rest, to give our eyes a break. We then talked about how each night, we believe a portion of our soul goes to "be with hashem" and we awake and sing Modeh Ani, to say thank for you giving us that part of our soul back to us and ready for a brand new day.
Though this doesn't sound like "much", the conversation was incredible and watching the boys think on this type of level was truly wonderful for me, as a mother (and as a teacher).
Perhaps the best part of all of this, was this morning at 4am when Phil awoke to catch a flight to DC and Nathan must have heard him, Nathan comes running into my room singing at the top of his lungs "modeh Ani"-- I said "Nathan, it is still the middle of the night, go back to bed" and he said "Mom, you told me that I am supposed to sing this RIGHT when I wake up and my eyes open in the morning." So, in my half awake state, I tried to sing it with him, he proceeded to fall right back to sleep, as did I but not before a huge smile came across my face.
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