Rachamim, Minhag, Music!

This week in Shira, we learned about rachamim, or compassion. During the High Holy Days, we ask God to show us compassion because, hey, nobody's perfect. How do we act with compassion in our own lives? 

We also learned about minhag. What is minhag? Let's see what the people of Anatevka have to say about it:

[TEVYE]
Tradition, tradition! Tradition!
Tradition, tradition! Tradition!

[TEVYE & PAPAS]
Who, day and night, must scramble for a living,
Feed a wife and children, say his daily prayers?
And who has the right, as master of the house,
To have the final word at home?

The Papa, the Papa! Tradition.
The Papa, the Papa! Tradition.

[GOLDE & MAMAS]
Who must know the way to make a proper home,
A quiet home, a kosher home?
Who must raise the family and run the home,
So Papa's free to read the holy book?

The Mama, the Mama! Tradition!
The Mama, the Mama! Tradition!

[SONS]
At three, I started Hebrew school. At ten, I learned a trade.
I hear they've picked a bride for me. I hope she's pretty.

The sons, the sons! Tradition!
The sons, the sons! Tradition!

[DAUGHTERS]
And who does Mama teach to mend and tend and fix,
Preparing me to marry whoever Papa picks?

The daughters, the daughters! Tradition!
The daughters, the daughters! Tradition!

Tradition

"Because of our traditions, we've kept our balance for many, many years. Here in Anatevka we have traditions for everything... how to eat, how to sleep, even how to wear clothes. For instance, we always keep our heads covered and always wear a little prayer shawl... This shows our constant devotion to God. You may ask, how did this tradition start? I'll tell you - I don't know. But it's a tradition... Because of our traditions, everyone knows who he is and what God expects him to do."
      --Tevye, Fiddler on the Roof

Today we watched the opening of Fiddler on the Roof and discussed the ways in which life in our time and place differs from life in a turn-of-the-century Russian shtetl. While our world is certainly different from that of Fiddler on the Roof, we still practice many of the same traditions that have supported Jewish identity for thousands of years.

Why is tradition important to you? What are some of your favorite traditions? How do you feel when you practice traditions as a family? Discuss this together at home. Students, be prepared to share your favorite traditions next week when we sing the "Tradition" chorus.

It was great meeting everyone on Sunday!

I had a great time getting to know everybody yesterday and I was impressed with how well you all sang that tongue-twisting round! I'm excited to be working with so many creative and talented young people. Here's a teaser for Wednesday's class (again, I encourage anyone who has never seen Fiddler on the Roof to do so):

Extra! Extra! Read all about it!

Shira! The Musical has arrived. Welcome, bokhers (boys) and meydls (girls)!