EDUCATION, GRADUATION, ETHICS OF THE FATHERS
Dear Family,
I hope everyone is well and had a wonderful Shavuos.
Wishing Mommy long life for her mother, Meme, whose yohrtzeit is today. We wish Meme's Neshamah to have an aliyah. It is with good memories that we remember her visits to London. I was given an aliyah in shul this morning because of her, and was happy to have had that re- connection.
Mazal Tov to Esther Miriam on her 7th birthday, also today! Esther was named after Meme. Wishing you much happiness and growth Esther Miriam, and it is so nice to have you near to us in Stamford Hill!
And another Mazal Tov to the Stamford Hill Davidoffs Shmuly and Devorah Leah, on the anniversary of their engagement this coming week.
And then we have some GRADUATIONS, very much connected with our theme this week.
Mazal Tov Rivky on her Valedictorian graduation ie with distinction! Well done Rivky, especially considering all your other commitments!
Mazal Tov Dovi on his graduation from School this coming week, and heading for Yeshiva next year. I believe this was also with much distinction BH! And you and Daddy are now heading off to a school trip to EYisrael. Mazal Tov Levys!
Every week on Shabbos since Pesach, we have been reading one chapter of Pirkei Avot.
The first 5 chapters are on morals and ethics, and the 6th chapter is about acquiring Torah, and is always read before Shavuos. And it was this Perek that we just read, and I heard a very nice shiur connected to CHINUCH (EDUCATION), based on one of the sayings in this chapter.
The verse was speaking about the 2 Tablets, where the writing was ENGRAVED into and through the stone...'do not read CHARUT (engraved) but CHEIRUT (FREEDOM), because you do not find freedom except through toiling in Torah...' (v2)
In a few conversations that the Rebbe had with some people, without going into details, the Rebbe points out that the goal of Education is for the child (or adult) to emerge INDEPENDENT and free from external and internal coercions, and with sound foundations.
Ie the graduate should emerge with 3 Cs:
1. Clarity
2. Conviction
3. Confidence.
And be able to resist external and internal pressures of the world, with their own strength, which clash with their clear understanding of what is right and what is wrong.
Rabbi Lipskier points out that that the above 3 qualities come about when the educational institution, together with the home, are both pointing in the same direction, ie clarifying what is right and wrong and making it clear for the child which team he belongs to.
To clarify, confusion comes about when there is a split, and the student is getting mixed messages from 2 worlds, the world around him and the world of truth, and trying to live in 2 worlds. Or when the school and home are giving different messages to the student, of which team he belongs to.
And in the process, the home should clarify what is allowed into the home and what is not. What belongs outside should stay there.
And this is what is meant by the verse in Pirkei Avot:
When the principles of what is right and wrong are engraved through and through into our and our children's being, (charut), we will find true freedom (cheirut). This will give us the clarity, conviction and confidence to act with Independence.
And this comes about through our toil and dedication to Torah and the Truth.
Gut Shabbos to all, and success in all areas of Education.