OT - kvelling! (that wouldbe outpouring of pride!)
I am so wide awake.....UGH!!!!! 3:40 AM...gonna make for a LONG day.....I am absolutely reeling in the evening I had last night. I was at services for Erev Shavuot. I had eaten dinner with the parents and my tenth graders. It started off with my seeing these 29 young adults as I walked into the foyer of the synagogue looking so grown-up and beautiful and so HAPPY. It was all I could do to keep it together. we had a wonderful dinner together - the parents - whom I have known for MANYyears, thanked me for giving their kids something to look forward to each and every week. I really was amazed....I know that I love these kids, and I love my community, and the kids and I have such a great time in class, but I really don't think that I do anything over and above what I hope the average teacher does.
In any event, the service started, my beautiful and ACTUALLY poised 6th grade daughter was invited to the bima with her class to receive a certificate of completion and a fun judaism book. The class chanted a prayer and I was so proud. a few moments later, my 9th grade son was invited to the bima with HIS class to recieve the Torah from the 10th grade. They passed the torah, the one that my family, including my mom, helped write several years ago, a story for another time, from the tenth grade to the ninth grade asking them to keep the tradition going.....wow! What a moment. And then, when I thought that as a parent, all was good, the next part of my evening, the part that I did NOT expect, started. Each tenth grade student gets a personal blessing from a rabbi. I vividly remember my blessing from my rabbi when I was in tenth grade, anyway....once they received their personal blessing, they walked over to me to receive their Tanakh, their inscrbed bible, and a certificate of confirmation. I was able to speak to each and everyone of them. I got to hug them, tell them how proud I was of them how amazing I think they are and how much fun I had with them over the last AT LEAST five years. Many of them I have known since they were three. Two of them I knew their parents before they were born..talk about special!
It was such an honor to be able to speak to them each individually - with the Rabbis looking over, their parents watching and my family seeing my pride as I do what I do. I was totally taken aback. There was pure joy and pride as I hugged each beautiful young adult. They had learned so much and had grown so beautifully. I am still so blessed to be part of the lives of so many wonderful young adults. I spent the evening recalling MANY MANY fun, serious, stupid conversations that I had with these kids over the years. I thought back to their Bar and Bat Mitzvah ceremonies and how they have changed since then. It was such an honor to be up there with these kids in particular. After the ceremony and the service - I thanked so many parents for trusting me with their kids over the years. I am so looking forward to the service this morning. I didn't know I could feel this much pride in kids that I did not parent.
It is times like this when I am so greatful for the opportunity to have so many amazing people in my life and was able to fulfil a dream of becoming a teacher. I truly believe that good teachers come from GREAT kids. I learn from them every day and am so appreciative of having been given the opportunity to do so. And this has ABSOLUTELY nothing to do with my weight loss, my surgery or anything weight related.....this is just my kids being teenagers and my good fortune to be their mentor, educator and trusted friend. This is what makes a teacher a teacher.
Thanks for letting me kvell, show unending pride, here - sometimes the words need to come out and I am thrilled that I am able to share these wonderful experiences with amazing people! I am going to try to get some sleep now as it is going to be a long and beautiful day!
In any event, the service started, my beautiful and ACTUALLY poised 6th grade daughter was invited to the bima with her class to receive a certificate of completion and a fun judaism book. The class chanted a prayer and I was so proud. a few moments later, my 9th grade son was invited to the bima with HIS class to recieve the Torah from the 10th grade. They passed the torah, the one that my family, including my mom, helped write several years ago, a story for another time, from the tenth grade to the ninth grade asking them to keep the tradition going.....wow! What a moment. And then, when I thought that as a parent, all was good, the next part of my evening, the part that I did NOT expect, started. Each tenth grade student gets a personal blessing from a rabbi. I vividly remember my blessing from my rabbi when I was in tenth grade, anyway....once they received their personal blessing, they walked over to me to receive their Tanakh, their inscrbed bible, and a certificate of confirmation. I was able to speak to each and everyone of them. I got to hug them, tell them how proud I was of them how amazing I think they are and how much fun I had with them over the last AT LEAST five years. Many of them I have known since they were three. Two of them I knew their parents before they were born..talk about special!
It was such an honor to be able to speak to them each individually - with the Rabbis looking over, their parents watching and my family seeing my pride as I do what I do. I was totally taken aback. There was pure joy and pride as I hugged each beautiful young adult. They had learned so much and had grown so beautifully. I am still so blessed to be part of the lives of so many wonderful young adults. I spent the evening recalling MANY MANY fun, serious, stupid conversations that I had with these kids over the years. I thought back to their Bar and Bat Mitzvah ceremonies and how they have changed since then. It was such an honor to be up there with these kids in particular. After the ceremony and the service - I thanked so many parents for trusting me with their kids over the years. I am so looking forward to the service this morning. I didn't know I could feel this much pride in kids that I did not parent.
It is times like this when I am so greatful for the opportunity to have so many amazing people in my life and was able to fulfil a dream of becoming a teacher. I truly believe that good teachers come from GREAT kids. I learn from them every day and am so appreciative of having been given the opportunity to do so. And this has ABSOLUTELY nothing to do with my weight loss, my surgery or anything weight related.....this is just my kids being teenagers and my good fortune to be their mentor, educator and trusted friend. This is what makes a teacher a teacher.
Thanks for letting me kvell, show unending pride, here - sometimes the words need to come out and I am thrilled that I am able to share these wonderful experiences with amazing people! I am going to try to get some sleep now as it is going to be a long and beautiful day!
I really am glad you had such a good night - despite my ribbings on FB.
This post is just AWESOME.
Thanks for being there for all the kids - I'm sure you DO go above and beyond what is expected...you just don't realize it because it's just part of "you"
Enjoy the services!
This post is just AWESOME.
Thanks for being there for all the kids - I'm sure you DO go above and beyond what is expected...you just don't realize it because it's just part of "you"
Enjoy the services!
Instead of complaining that the rosebush has thorns, be happy that the thorn bush has roses. 
What an amazing story, Stef.. you are an awesome teacher and inspiration to each and every kid you touch. As much as I love my synagogue, we do not have these types of events because we just don't have the numbers to do it. We are small and have few children. I do, however, watch the Hebrew teacher whenever one of "her kids" steps up on the bima for any reason and I do see the smile on her face.
I'll quickly share a little story about myself that falls into the same category of a teacher kvelling over her student. A few years ago, when I first started getting up on the bima to do the Haftorah, I would step down when I was done and walk down one aisle in particular to get to my seat. I chose to walk down this aisle because that is where my Hebrew teacher from my youth always sat. Every time I stepped off the bima, she would be kvelling.. and I mean KVELLING; big smile, tears, hugs, compliments.. she was so proud that I chose to go back up to the bima and chant after all those years. Unfortunately, she is up in age now and her family moved her to Harrisburg to be closer to them. Her husband just passed away last month and she is up in age, as well (she is in her late 80's or early 90's.
When I had her as a student, honestly, I did NOT like her very much. She was tough, she was mean, she was strict and she didn't take any crap from anyone. NOW, looking back, I am so glad that I had her. No, I did not retain the vocabulary she taught me. BUT, YES, I did retain the desire to READ, CHANT, and continue my Jewish life.
THANK YOU STEFFI for being a LOVED teacher of the future generations to continue their Jewish heritage.
I'll quickly share a little story about myself that falls into the same category of a teacher kvelling over her student. A few years ago, when I first started getting up on the bima to do the Haftorah, I would step down when I was done and walk down one aisle in particular to get to my seat. I chose to walk down this aisle because that is where my Hebrew teacher from my youth always sat. Every time I stepped off the bima, she would be kvelling.. and I mean KVELLING; big smile, tears, hugs, compliments.. she was so proud that I chose to go back up to the bima and chant after all those years. Unfortunately, she is up in age now and her family moved her to Harrisburg to be closer to them. Her husband just passed away last month and she is up in age, as well (she is in her late 80's or early 90's.
When I had her as a student, honestly, I did NOT like her very much. She was tough, she was mean, she was strict and she didn't take any crap from anyone. NOW, looking back, I am so glad that I had her. No, I did not retain the vocabulary she taught me. BUT, YES, I did retain the desire to READ, CHANT, and continue my Jewish life.
THANK YOU STEFFI for being a LOVED teacher of the future generations to continue their Jewish heritage.
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