Back To School and Shul?

As the summer still beats on, the anal retentive side of me sees August in the horizon. Back to School time, hooray! Time to start getting school supply lists together and checking to see how much of last year's uniforms will make it through another year. Giddy, I read fliers for Open House events, Back to School Nights and First Day Coffee clutches. This gets me excited. A fresh slate, a new year with possibilities, for my kids and for me. So much to learn and to do. Not just for the secular learning, but for Jewish learning as well. A new year of Jewish education, learning about the holidays, traditions, values and teachings. Many parents choose a Jewish education for their children at a local synagogue or Chabad. I know of some who choose to "home-shul" their children, making everyday an enriching Jewish experience to learn from. Some enroll their children in a Jewish Day School. Kudos to all of those efforts. But, what about us, the parents? Sure, we probably went to religious school and Hebrew school ages ago, did the bar/bat Mitzvah thing. Maybe some of us were confirmed, went to a Hebrew High School or High School in Israel program or, maybe not. This has gotten me thinking, what about me? What am I learning? When do I have time to learn? Does helping my daughter with her Hebrew homework count? Is there more out their that I can learn from my religion? More that will help me in my life, as a professional, as a wife, a friend, a mom? The answer is probably a very big YES! And, this fall I am committed, not just to my children's Jewish education, but to my own. And, I challenge other moms and dads to do the same. For me, I will seek out the offerings at my spiritual home (my synagogue) and here at the Commission for Jewish Education where adult education is being revitalized. I hope to share some of what I learn with you in the months ahead. So, happy Back To School time and don't forget to put yourself on the syllabus of life.