Lessons I’ve Learned from Our Youth By Rabbi Judith Schindler

In the Talmud, Rabbi Chanina remarked, “I have learned much from my teachers, more from my colleagues, and the most from my students” (Tractate Ta’anit 7a). I echo his sentiments. Our Beth El Youth inspire me each and every day.
Our Teen Band has taught me that when each congregant brings their gifts to Temple we can make the most beautiful prayers possible. When a musician joins our band, Cantor Bernard writes a new part which adds even more dimension and beauty to the service. In the same way, when a congregant brings his/her gifts to Beth El such as baked goods to the oneg, business knowledge to the Board, or a smile and warmth to the front desk, our synagogue becomes more sacred.
Our vocal ensemble has taught me that every voice matters. There is nothing more inspiring than hearing our youth’s voices in our sanctuary. We likewise love hearing your adult voices in committee meetings, in our Gift Shop, in conversation with us about all things Jewish, all things Israel, about all things surrounding kindness, compassion, Torah and equality.
Our Senior Youth Group has taught me that Beth El needs to be our home. When I stopped by the LIBERTY lock in last month, I felt as if I were visiting our teens’ very own living room and they were family to each other. They enjoyed simply hanging out and savoring their strong and lasting connections in our Beth El home that they have claimed as their own.
Our B’nei Mitzvah madrichim have taught me that our youth are our greatest teachers – they teach prayers, they teach chanting, they instill confidence and make coming to tutoring cool and fun for our soon-to-be B’nei Mitzvah.
Our Religious School madrichim have taught me that we need not worry about Jewish continuity. With more than one hundred 8th through 12th graders crawling out of bed on Sunday mornings to inspire our younger students with their Jewish pride, we, who are older, can one day retire from our Jewish leadership without guilt.
The 55 kids who have attended our Reform Jewish camps and the dozens who attend regional Kallot on weekends such as MLK or attend Camp Jenny helping inner city kids from Atlanta on Memorial Day Weekend have taught me that Judaism is an everyday, year round, fun and deeply meaningful activity (not to mention that the hours given make a really good addition to a college application).
All our teens have taught me about friendship. They have built strong and steadfast relationships that will last a lifetime. They share photos and life experiences on Instagram, and on Snapchat, and always stay connected.
Our teens have taught me about fashion and creativity. They are unafraid to wear and try new things.
They have taught me about inclusion as they have grown up in a diverse world. To our teens, a person matters not for what they have but for who they are.
Our Beth El teens have taught me about ambition. They audition for parts, strive to attend the best colleges, run for elections at school or Temple or for our URJ Regional Youth Boards. They rejoice when they succeed and pick themselves up when they don’t and try again.
Our teens make me smile, make me laugh, move me to live in the present, and give me the strongest reason for faith in our future.