- HOME
- Table of Contents
- Resume
- Philosophy Statement
- 1. History of Jewish/General Education
- 2. Assessment
- 3. Curriculum
- 4. Language Development/Hebrew
- 5. Personal Development of Teachers
- 6. Collaboration/Community
- 7. Technology
- 8. Learning and Cognition
- 9. Evidence-Based Practice
- 10. Child Development
- 11. Content Knowledge
- 12. Ethics and Values
- 13. Instructional Methods
- Inspiration/Chizuk
- Post-Observation Reflections
Reflections
I am grateful to work in a school which places above all having good middot, human decency and good character, based upon Torah values. I believe that the characters and lessons of Torah teach us how to be great individuals of great character, and that Rabbinic works of Mussar are an essential part of our tradition of self-improvement, a vital component of Torah learning as well. The great mission of the Jew is to make a Kiddush Hashem in this world, to have others say. “Wow, look at that Jew- s/he is a wonderful person”. Torah is meant to be kept by humans in a world of interaction with other humans, where no one is perfect, but each strives to be his/her best.
A Professor of Ethics, when criticized about his unethical behaviors, retorted, “If I was a Professor of Geometry, does that mean I have to be a Triangle?” Conversely, the great Chazon Ish said, “A Talmid Chacham is a living Sefer Torah”. As teachers of Torah, we BECOME the Torah- or, at least, our students see us as living, breathing, points of access to the world of religion, spirituality, G-dliness, and all the goodness that should entail. We must recognize that responsibility and live up to those high standards.
I am grateful to work in a school which places above all having good middot, human decency and good character, based upon Torah values. I believe that the characters and lessons of Torah teach us how to be great individuals of great character, and that Rabbinic works of Mussar are an essential part of our tradition of self-improvement, a vital component of Torah learning as well. The great mission of the Jew is to make a Kiddush Hashem in this world, to have others say. “Wow, look at that Jew- s/he is a wonderful person”. Torah is meant to be kept by humans in a world of interaction with other humans, where no one is perfect, but each strives to be his/her best.
A Professor of Ethics, when criticized about his unethical behaviors, retorted, “If I was a Professor of Geometry, does that mean I have to be a Triangle?” Conversely, the great Chazon Ish said, “A Talmid Chacham is a living Sefer Torah”. As teachers of Torah, we BECOME the Torah- or, at least, our students see us as living, breathing, points of access to the world of religion, spirituality, G-dliness, and all the goodness that should entail. We must recognize that responsibility and live up to those high standards.