The Seed is Wisdom, But the Real Flower is in Our Actions

Dear ShalomLearning Friends,

Now up to our fourth enduring understanding, it is no accident that our Jewish Studies program starts the secular new year off with the Jewish value of “Achrayut.”  While Achrayut translates to “responsibility,” we strive to bring this literal meaning into heartfelt actions by asking our students “What can YOU do to make the world a better place?”

This concept ties in so well to the recent American holiday, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, and the approaching Jewish holiday, Tu Bishvat.  In our curriculum, Achrayut means both standing up for injustices in the world as well as taking care of the earth. As parents of two children, my wife and I have brought this idea home by asking, “ how we can make our home a better place?”

For us, there is no time more challenging than getting the kids off to school in the morning and getting through the dinner/ bed-time rituals, so we started a morning and an evening checklist. The kids really got into it, and it adds a profound level of responsibility to share the things that need to get done together.

This journey through life is not a solo act, but indeed a chorus of harmony when we are at our best.

Here at ShalomLearning, our achrayut encourages us to constantly improve. We’re listening to your feedback and using it to set our goals for this calendar year: we’re updating our curriculum, expanding to second grade, and adding another Hebrew option.

Most importantly, we’re setting a goal to connect with more of our supporters including the parents, teachers and students.  Looking forward to, “ sing to the Lord a new song. Sing to the Lord, All the earth” (Psalms 96:1)

I fully believe that each of us has the power to make the world a better place. Whether it is in your home or fighting for social justice. We are powerful as a community. And of course, to be a true agent of change, it begins with you. I look forward to hearing your stories of Achrayut in your lives.

Please send them in and share.

Gratefully yours,

Josh

About Josh Troderman

Joshua Troderman, President of ShalomLearning has been a passionate innovator of Jewish education for 20 years. Josh has held teaching and administrative positions at a number of Jewish day schools, synagogues, and summer camps, including The Rashi School, The Rodeph Shalom Day School, The Kesher Community Hebrew School, The Rebecca and Israel Ivry Prozdor High School, Congregation Kehillath Israel, Camp Ramah, Camp Edward Isaacs, and Storahtelling. Since 2009, Josh has also directed JChoice.org, a giving platform that empowers Jewish youth to learn about and experience the mitzvah of Tzedakah. Josh holds a master’s degree in Jewish Education (2005) from The William Davidson Graduate School of Jewish Education. He lives in Brookline, MA with his wife and two children, and can be seen playing keyboards and singing on Thursdays with his soul and funk band called The New Mother Earth.