“You are not obligated to complete the work, but neither are you free to desist from it.” ~Pirkei Avot 2:21 I enter this weekend filled with mixed emotions. On the one hand, I look forward to celebrating with our community as our fifth graders graduate and embark on new... read more →
Jun
05
Mar
06
The word mitzvah means commandment. This is a reference to the commandments in the Torah. Many people think of the Ten Commandments when they hear the word commandment, but there are more than 600 mitzvot (plural for of mitzvah) in the Torah. According to Maimonides, there are 613 commandments in... read more →
Dec
20
As we approach the Festival of Lights, Hanukkah, we often talk about the miracle of the oil that lasted for eight days and nights. This story is not part of the Torah, and some parts might be exaggerated, but the story of Hanukkah fits the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy’s definition... read more →
Dec
12
Light is an important and beautiful symbol in Judaism. When G-d created the world, He declared, “Let there be light!” (Genesis 1:3) In the generations since then, we have taken light as a key symbol featured in many of our holidays, celebrations and rituals. On Friday night, we light candles.... read more →
Nov
15
In Hebrew, the word for life is chai. It is the root word of a common Jewish toast, L’Chaim, which means “To life!” Judaism puts very big emphasis on life and the importance of living a good life, but how does someone lead a good life? In the words of... read more →
Nov
08
What exactly it is that makes Lerner Lerner? To paraphrase another long-time Lerner community member, Lerner is a school, a community, a place of learning and discovery. It is a home, a playground, a testing ground, and an ideal. It is warm, compassionate, open and inviting. It is diverse, challenging... read more →
Nov
01
Everything has an appointed season, and there is a time for every matter under the heaven. ~Ecclesiastes 3:1 As I looked out my office window this morning, I noticed the leaves on the trees changing color (finally). Here in North Carolina, I still have trouble synchronizing time and the... read more →
Oct
16
by Nathan Somers We are only at school during Sukkot for two days this year so I began our study of Sukkot this week before it officially began. My fifth grade students and I were in our school’s garden watching the sun rise above the building’s roof. Students held in... read more →
Sep
26
Every year as Rosh Hashanah approaches, I try to take stock of where I am in my life. During this time of introspection, I look for the areas where I need to improve and make changes; I also look at the outcomes of my past decisions. As a parent, part... read more →
Sep
20
The word “emunah” is often translated as faith, but that translation does not quite capture the essence of emunah. Chabbad.org describes emunah as an innate conviction, “a perception of truth that transcends…reason.” Emunah is a way to describe a strong personal relationship with G-d. It does not need to look... read more →