“Listen!”
That is not only a critical word in the central prayer of our Jewish faith (shema means listen), it has been the critical skill for my role as Director of Youth Engagement. I’ve spent most of the last 3 months in my new job listening – listening to parents, children, teens, clergy, staff, board of director members and congregants. I’ve been listening to learn how best to do my job – what works well, what needs tweaking, what needs an overhaul, and how my abilities and strengths will best serve the Temple’s youth program.
Sometimes listening leads to a mind swirling with ideas and thoughts, which has certainly been the case with me! It is an exciting state of mind; however, that comes from the dynamic environment surrounding our children and teens. Building on past successes will determine the way forward to empower our youth leaders, build lively and fun programs, and provide meaningful Jewish experiences for all our children.
We are in the midst of Passover where listening is again a critical component of our observance. When it comes to Passover, listening to the stories of our ancestors and listening to the voices of the voiceless in the world can inspire us to create a brighter future. When it comes to our Youth, listening to the voice of our community who cares about them can enable us to continue to nurture and build the strongest youth leaders and youth program in the country. When it comes to our personal lives, listening can more deeply connect us with one another and strengthen our sense of purpose.
From what I hear, we are well on our way!
