Rabbi's Messages

What did you Learn?

on Thursday, 28 May 2015.

Every day, when my kids get home from school, I ask them two questions:

1. How was your day?
2. What did you learn today?

Mostly, they grunt at me on their way to the refrigerator. But once in a while, it's nice to hear that they're learning SOMETHING.

Learning is really important in Judaism. The Mishnah says, "Talmud Torah k'negged kulam – Study of Torah is equal to a life of mitzvot." Judaism teaches us that as human beings, we always have a lot to learn. It's our way of growing as Jews, making the world better, making ourselves better.

This month, as we bring the year to a close, we can reflect on the incredible learning that has gone on at Kol Ami since last September. Our Adult B'nai Mitzvah group has spent the year discussing and reflecting on beliefs and practice. At "Sushi & Study," we've completed Pirke Avot and moved on to Maimonides. Our Torah Study crowd has made their way almost to the end of the book of Kings! We've skyped with Israeli Reform Rabbis, learned about the Holocaust, and had an incredible Scholar-in-Residence weekend with Rabbi Steve Greenberg.

In Religious School, our children have been hard at work as well. We built important topics like Holocaust, Jewish history, and life cycle into the curriculum. We confirmed our largest Confirmation class in 5 years! We gathered to celebrate Chanukah and Israel, and to pray as a community. And our youth group once again was among the most active in the GTA.

Kol Ami is truly a community of learners. This is something that we can be proud of, and something we should continue to build on. In the coming year, look for more learning opportunities, an Adult B'nai Mitzvah service, the new Chai Mitzvah program, and so much more.

Thank you for spending this year learning with me.

L'shalom,

Rabbi Micah Streiffer