Written by Rabbi Josh Spodek, Head of Judaic Studies and Hebrew Language
As parents and educators, we want nothing more than for our children and students to feel a sense of self-worth, to have the confidence and self esteem to take on life’s inevitable challenges and to rise up when they stumble and fall.
As our children grow, develop and mature, the mistakes and mess-ups that we all inevitably make can begin to pile up and diminish that sense of self-esteem. Confidence can begin to waiver and cause our children to doubt themselves and their abilities to succeed in school and in life. We, as parents and educators, are there during those moments of self-doubt and insecurity to remind our children and students how special they truly are.
Hashem, in this week’s Parsha, tells the Jewish people the same thing. After repeated mistakes, mess ups and errors in judgment, Hashem could have easily written off the Jewish people and found another nation to call his own. Instead, Hashem reminds His children, the Jewish people, that, “You are children to Hashem, your G-d…” He will never leave us or abandon us.
Hashem, in attempting to boost our own sense of self-worth reminds us, “You are a holy people to Hashem, your G-d, and Hashem has chosen you for Himself to be a treasured people…”
At Scheck Hillel Community School, our teachers remind our students daily how much Hashem loves them and how special they truly are. It is our job, in partnership with you, our parents, to continue to build confidence among all our children and to remind them that they are holy and belong to a holy nation.
May all of our children see themselves as “children of Hashem,” throughout their lives. Shabbat Shalom
