Page 36 - Jewish News_January 2020

36A January 2020 FOCUS ON YOUTH

How do we stay warm?

do we impart to our youth the joy of stressed-out moods over financial pres- need to show them not to be afraid to ecently, a group of Hershorin
our heritage and the important values sures, or do they see our excitement ask. We don’t need to have all the an- Schiff Community Day School
Education that Judaism brings to the table? How in preparing a Shabbat dinner? What swers. We can study together with our Rmiddle school students, in part-
do we instill in our children to remain
children. This not only creates a won-nership with the Women’s Interfaith
messages are we giving them about
Corner enthusiastic and passionate about what what is truly important to us? derful bonding time, it also brings the Network (WIN), visited the Islamic
What an opportunity we have dur-
By Chaya Rivka is really important in life? ing this small pocket of time. When the entire family together. Society of Sarasota and Bradenton to
In the olden days, a home had a
As the temperature cools down, let tour its school and mosque, and view
Schmerling furnace in the center room that would children are young, it is so important us take the time to reflect on how we an afternoon prayer. It was a day of
provide warmth to the whole house. to take the time to instill in them the can keep the flame of Judaism alive sharing – faith, traditions and food – as
Obviously, the closer a room was to important values that Judaism teaches and burning strongly. well as an opportunity to experience
y family members up north the furnace, the warmer it would be. us. We need to encourage our youth to Chaya Rivka Schmerling is the Hebrew new perspectives.
pretend they don’t like me In order to ensure that the outer rooms be spiritual, and discuss their concerns School Director at Chabad of Venice & WIN is a group of women rep-
Mwhen I send them pictures of of the house would be warm, the fur- and take their questions seriously. We North Port.
my kids relaxing at the pool. It’s during nace in the inner room had to be stoked
this time of year when the temperatures to a very high temperature. If the fur- Sarasota BBYO
drop quite low in the northeast, causing nace would only be warm, then the
people to experience a numbing cold outer rooms would be cold. But if the This program is sponsored by
that literally brings them to a standstill. furnace was fiery hot, then the outer The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee
Here in beautiful Florida, it is not that rooms would at least be warm. By Jessica Zimmerman, Associate Regional Dir., North Florida Region hanksgiving is a wonderful
bad, but we do get to taste some of that The furnace and the inner room n November, Sarasota BBYO teens participate in the fun? Well, lucky for time of the year to gather with
cool weather. On these types of days, represent the period of education and came together with teens from all you, NFR’s next regional convention, Tfriends and family – and enjoy
it brings everyone to a numbing state youth. It is symbolic of the time when a Iover North Florida Region (NFR) MIT/AIT LTI (Member in Training/ some delicious food at the same time!
of inaction. We like to stay home, stay child is carefree and young, and free to for FallCon (Fall Convention) in El- Aleph in Training Leadership Training The preschoolers of the Susan Schwaid
warm, and not go out and get things absorb all of life’s important messages. lenton. FallCon included teen-led Institute) takes place the weekend of Early Learning Center at Temple Ema-
done. We are sort of frozen into a state The outer rooms represent the period Jewish education January 17-19. MIT/AIT LTI not only nu-El pulled this off very successfully
of nothingness. of adulthood, when our responsibilities and identity pro- provides leadership training to all teens with their annual Thanksgiving Feast
This experience can give us an ap- in life distract us from learning new gramming over in attendance, it also specifically looks on Friday, November 8.
preciation for why coldness is a good things or taking the time to study the the course of three to welcome new members to the fold A much-loved tradition, the
description for a state of disconnect Torah and its wisdom. days. We celebrat- with designated programming to intro- Thanksgiving Feast is a special day
from G-d and holiness. G-dliness is If the furnace is steaming hot – ed Shabbat, gath- duce them to BBYO. Reach out to me for children, families and staff of the
warmth and light, as the verse states meaning, if our time of youth and ered around the directly if you are interested in joining Susan Schwaid Early Learning Center.
(Deuteronomy 4:24), “for the L-rd education is fiery and steaming – then bonfire for smores, Sarasota BBYO at the convention. The Feast opens with a performance
your G-d is a consuming fire.” Cold- some of that warmth will be retained in learned about Jew- The Sarasota BBYO board is in the by each class of a song and dance.
ness reflects the notion of apathy and our later years. Jessica Zimmerman ish identity and process of preparing its Spring Term The children also wear T-shirts and
indifference along with a lack of moti- A famous rabbi once said, “Your culture globally, participated in AZAA Calendar. To be added to our email costumes that they created just for the
vation to get anything done. child will care about the things that and BBGG sports programming, and list and receive updates, email me at Thanksgiving Feast.
One of the biggest challenges that you are truly passionate about.” In oth- so much more. What truly made the jesszimmerman@bbyo.org. I hope to “The children worked extremely
faces the Jewish world today is apa- er words, whatever our children see us convention so unique was the diver- hear from you and welcome you to hard to perform for parents and grand-
thy – not ignorance, misconceptions getting excited about, that will be the sity of teens represented throughout BBYO Sarasota. parents alike,” stated Susan Schwaid
or even misguidance. When someone message to them about what is impor- our region and their mu- Early Learning Center staffer Tammy
is misguided but still passionate about tant in life. We may want to ask our- tual passion for exploring Libera. “They practiced their songs and
his or her Judaism, their searching will selves: Do our children see our anger what Judaism means to spoke about what Thanksgiving is all
lead them to the right conclusions. But over the glass cup that they broke at the them. about and what they are thankful for.
if we are apathetic to our Jewishness, dinner table, or our outrage at the guy With all this talk “To kick off the performance they
then we don’t even care to investigate who just cut us off through a red light? about the convention, sang ‘Buenos Dias,’ followed by ‘Pavo
how this can apply in our lives. We Or do they see us beam with pride and you might be thinking, Pavito Pavo,’ a Spanish song about
simply don’t care. joy over the kindness that they had when is the next con- a turkey,” she added. “‘The Turkey
So how do we stay warm? How just performed? Do they witness our vention and how can I BBGs (B’Nai Brith Girls) of NFR at FallCon Hokey-Pokey,’ ‘Do the Turkey Hop’
and ‘All You Turkeys Dance Around’
concluded the performance.”
Following the show, a potluck
lunch featuring Thanksgiving foods as
APPLY NOW well as the favorite foods of preschool
families was served, along with an
abundance of beautiful homemade des-
PRE-KINDERGARTEN – GRADE 12

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or 941.706.0034 The Larry & Mary Greenspon Family Campus for Jewish LIfe
580 McIntosh Rd., Sarasota, FL 34232