Passive Learning vs. Active Learning

This morning 2 of my kids said the following in reference to an experience in Hebrew School.

11 year old son - "I feel like I have to do things to make the whole world happy."

8 year old daughter (very matter of factly) - "Trust me I've been there!"

I was such a good student (I thought).  I sat at my desk, took notes and spewed back those notes during tests.  I didn't interrupt or ask questions, even though we were asked if we had questions.  Those kids who did have questions were the trouble makers because the goal was to be done.   As an adult I look back at my school years; I had some good times and some bad times.  I learned.  I learned to think passively.  I was trained, whether it was by certain teachers or by the presence of students and peer pressure to think passively.

Everyone has a different learning style.  However,  one thing that should remain constant is the ability to ask questions.  If you are asking questions, then you are actively thinking about what you are being taught.  How many times did we want to ask a question, even as an adult, and didn't because we thought it may sound stupid?  I can raise my hand on that one!  It is thought that the student who asks the most questions is learning the least because he doesn't understand.  However, the student who is asking questions is probably learning the most.  His/ her brain is engaged, they are wrapping their mind around the subject and looking at it from different angles. 

When students study Talmud, it is all about asking questions.  Ideally, 2 students are paired together who think differently.  These students can go back and forth on a topic for hours, asking each other questions and defending their position, or changing their minds.  Iron sharpens iron!

I tried to put this into practice today when I went to Chabad for Torah study.  I asked at least 3 questions, and the answers were helpful.

Regardless of where we are learning, it is so important to engage our brains and ask questions, I would even say make ourselves ask at least one question during a study session or class.  It will change the way we learn and think.

Everything Has To Do With Everything

The Torah portion this week is Shmini (Leviticus 9-11).   It means the 8th day.  What is so special about the 8th day?  Seven days represents nature, the Talmud compares the first seven days of celebrating the construction of the Tabernacle to the seven days of Creation.  The first seven days is an element or component in and of itself, the eighth day starts us over at a new level, it is above nature.  A bris milah (circumcision) is done on the eighth day.  Even if a bris milah falls on Shabbos, it is performed because this act is above nature, above logic.  We must connect the eighth day to the previous seven days.  Everything we do now means something for the future.

The Tabernacle was built for the sin of the golden calf.  Each day for seven days the Tabernacle was erected, and the Israelites waited for G-d's fire to come down.  For seven days His fire did not come down so the Israelites dismantled the Tabernacle, made sure their repentance for the golden calf was sincere and complete, and tried again the following day.  On the eighth day G-d's fire came down. 

All revelations of the future depend on what we do now.  In other words, the future depends on what we do now.  Are we learning Torah, fulfilling commandments?   The holiness of Shabbos is connected to creation, we make it happen. 

Here is a wonderful story, this can definitely be shared with our families over the Shabbos table, or anytime.

A king went out hunting in his hunting clothes.  He got lost just outside of the forest but he saw a light.  He followed the light to a hut and knocked on the door to ask for help, however, the peasant told him he could not help him.  He then goes to the next hut where a man named Moshe answers the door.  Moshe says he does not have much but he is welcome to what he has.  Moshe gave the king (not knowing he was the king), some straw to sleep on and some goats milk to drink.  The next day the king was able to leave and find his way home.  Three days later the king sent his royal carriage to Moshe's hut and Moshe is told the king wants to see him.  Moshe cant figure out what he has done wrong that the king should want to see him.  The king thanks Moshe for his help, for the straw and goats milk, and tells him he will build him a beautiful home right next to the palace and give him money so he should not want.  Moshe meets another man and this man asks him how this happened.  Moshe said he gave the king straw and goats milk.  So.....this man knocks on the castle door with straw and goats milk and tries to give it to the king.  The man is kicked out.  The king doesn't need straw and goats milk now. 

We are in exile, and G-d is in exile with us.  Anything we do for Him now, G-d will give us back a gift so much greater than what we gave to Him. 

Can you see how we are connecting the 7 days of Creation with the 8th day?  Creation represents our effort, we start from darkness and make it light (there was evening and then morning-all of our days on the Hebrew calendar start at night), G-d starts with light and penetrates the dark. 

Good Shabbos!

The Maccabeats - Purim Song

But the Food is Kosher!

When we hear the word kosher, we immediately think of food.  However, the definition of kosher is proper or fit, not just for food but for everything in our life.  Kosher is such a well known word that you don't have to be Jewish to use it. 

We celebrate Purim in a couple of days, it is such an exciting holiday, especially with children.  Costumes, groggers, food, drink....some say it is holier than Yom Kippur.   How can this be?  Because on Purim we are to have such a good time that we don't recognize the difference between Haman and Mordecai.  What does this mean?  This means there is no appearance of evil, this means we are back in Gan Eden (paradise). 

However, let's talk about a party that led up to the events of Purim.  King Achashverosh threw a huge party and promised there would be kosher food.  The Jews would have no excuse not to come, right?  Mordecai explained that we should not attend such a party, that even though the food may be kosher, the party was not.  In the end Acheshverosh made a mockery of the Jews, he wore priestly garments, and he ate from the Temple vessels,  The king also wanted his queen to show up with only her crown so people could see how beautiful she was.  She refused, but this tells us what kind of king this was and that this was not a kosher party!

Where do we spend our time today, where are our kids, what are we/they involved with?  Is it kosher?  We don't live in a kosher world,  it is up to us to bring G-d's light into the world through our actions, what we read, what we watch, who we hang out with, where we go.  It all counts.   Let's hold onto our principles, to our Torah.  One thing is for sure, the world is watching and will respect a person who stands up for their values, and their convictions.   Let's keep it kosher!

We All Bounce On A Little Trampoline

To the tune of We All Live In A Yellow Submarine:  We all bounce on a little trampoline, a little trampoline, a little trampoline.

Now try and get that out of your head today!  lol.

We were given a little trampoline years ago, and it has sat in the garage and then in the shed.  I often thought of getting rid of it but (and don't laugh), it was just cute and I felt I may need it some day. 

Since then my neighbor called and asked if we would like their big trampoline, its 14 feet across, and her kids have outgrown it now.  I said yes.  Her husband, daughter, my son and I, all rolled this trampoline down the street to our backyard-yes we almost lost it a few times.  My kids have been enjoying it, literally spending hours on it.  Imagine being told to go jump on the trampoline between math and science?  Another great benefit to homeschooling.   I decided to join in the fun and after 5-10 minutes I got off.  Wow, how do they do this for hours?  They flip and run and jump all over the place.  I basically bounced, not jumped, my feet stayed in tact with the surface below me.  I came in to lie down-why was jumping, or bouncing, so exhausting? 

I have done some research and it turns out jumping, or bouncing, is one of the healthiest exercises around.  You can google it and its out there.  Here is a list of some of the health benefits of trampoline jumping:

~ helps combat depression
~ normalizes blood pressure
~ helps prevent cardiovascular disease
~ improves coordination
~ enhances digestion
~ gives relief from neck and back pain
~ strenghtens the immune system
~ better mental performance
~ good for the lymphatic system

The last one really intrigued me:  the lymphatic system.  The lymphatic system is responsible for carrying nutrients to the cells and waste away from the cells.  It doesn't move on its own, it relies on us to move to get it going.  If we don't exercise, our cells will just sit in their own waste and be starved of nutrients.   This of course contributes to aging and diseases.  So why is jumping up and down one of the best ways to get it moving?  The fluid in our vessels moves in one direction-up; up the arms, legs and torso.  This is why jumping up and down is so effective, especially on a trampoline, a trampoline gives where the ground does not; less chance for injury to the bones etc... 

I am not a doctor by any means, these are things I read on the internet on several sites.  It makes sense to me and I wanted to share it.  I am enjoying bouncing with my kids but I am also glad I kept my little trampoline, which will be moving from the shed to the house!   

We all bounce on a little trampoline, a little trampoline, a little trampoline......

There's No Place Like Home

I am a big fan of the 1990's TV show Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman.  I love the west, the outdoors, and times gone by.   My kids have also seen this show many times with me and know when to get the box of tissues, I tend to cry at everything since hitting my 40's.  I notice watching this show and others like it, that the people spent a lot of time outdoors, they did their living outside more than inside-gardens, livestock, fishing, playing, laundry, even bathing.  People could travel for days by horse and get used to the sights and sounds of the great outdoors.  However, at the end of the day or the end of the trip, everyone would say the same thing - its great to be home! 

It may seem like a strange thought or perplexing question but if we like the outdoors and can do so much living away from home then why do we need a home, a permanent place to hang our hat and call our own, a place with 4 walls?   Its more than familiarity, although that is part of it.  Its comfort, love, a haven, a place we can be ourselves, even an extension of who we are.

We just finished 4 parshas regarding the Mishkan, or Tabernacle.  G-d is everywhere,  yet He desires a place to call home.    It is amazing to think that the Creator of the Universe wants to be with us and share our home.   Since we do not have the Tabernacle right now, we are His home.   We've heard that before but when we think what this means, what a home represents and how important a home is, its quite amazing.   This means the Creator of the universe uses us as His haven and we become an extension of Him.   What an awesome thought!

Bei Mir Bistu Shein - Traditional Yiddish Folk Song