Parents empowered with Jewish wisdom
I have been eager to write in and share with the community a great class I am attending and enjoy very much. Edna Levy teaches Foundations of Jewish Family Living at the JCC, and I have to say, if you like to learn practical new things, appreciate Jewish traditions and like to share your opinions, this class is for you.
One of the best things about the class is that I am meeting a wonderful group of people from all over the spectrum of Jewish Kansas City, so the class discussion is interesting and lively, with opinions that can run the gamut. I want our community to be aware that this class can benefit those raising young children, older children or even grandchildren.
Some of the topics discussed thus far are: Words that Hurt (Lashon Ha’ra), and The Healing Process (bikur cholim). We learn from a few sources and the discussion begins. We have learned about when to visit people in the hospital, and about the challenges that come with visiting someone who is ill. We learned about when words hurt and when they can help.
We get together once weekly, there is no homework or grades, and Hebrew knowledge isn’t necessary as the text is all in English. I really like that it’s comfortable to ask questions, share experiences and ideas in a safe environment based on mutual respect, and that differences in attitude are welcome. We challenge each other, including the text, and the collaborative exploration makes for an enjoyable environment.
The idea of this class is to learn practical things that empower parents with wisdom from Jewish heritage and to actually affect our youngest population and bring the conversation home to our own families. Kol Hakavod. Edna and all those that signed on for this course. Thanks for taking time out of your busy schedules so that we can all learn together.
Cara Ernstein
Overland Park, Kan.
