At Hillel, we celebrate and learn from our Jewish tradition. We draw upon our rich history to learn its lessons, and to transmit it to the next generation. We study the Torah, and our rabbinic tradition, and understand how it was traced down through the ages. And we continually strive to connect this tradition to our own modern day lives, where it breathes and remains relevant and timeless even as time evolves.
For example, our tradition shows us how to forge a loving and personal relationship with God (v’Ahavta). This can be a difficult concept to grasp, but our tradition shows us the way. In the Bible God described himself to Moses using 13 attributes, ones that we can relate to, such as merciful, forgiving, sympathetic, slow to anger, kind, and gracious. We learn from the way God described himself that all human beings, even Moses, wanted to know God and feel his presence in the world, and to understand the spiritual nature of something that is not physical.
Our relationship with God is further strengthened by study and prayer - when we study, God speaks to us; when we pray, we speak to God.
Learning one’s tradition also helps students internalize the importance of passing on their own traditions; at Hillel, we have deep conversations about the way tradition brings comfort, closeness, and connection with others. Tradition provides us with role models, and a roadmap to celebrate milestones that really matter. Tradition helps us to create lasting memories that enrich our friendships and families.
Tradition also reinforces values such as faith, personal responsibility, community, and gratitude. In fact, we spend much time discussing gratitude; we call it “a sign of noble souls.” The very first prayer in the daily morning service of Shacharit is “Modeh Ani,” which means “grateful am I.” Why doesn’t the prayer begin “Ani Modeh,” “I am grateful?” Because Judaism emphasizes gratitude, not the self.
In the month leading up to Thanksgiving, we concentrate on the value of gratitude. In homeroom, we journal a list of items we have, and looking at the page, students see that they have plenty for which to be thankful. We conclude that when we adopt a genuinely thankful mindset, every day is Thanksgiving.
