Today was the first meeting of the year at the Down Syndrome Learning Program, affiliated with the Boston Children's Hospital. Like last year, there were 2 sessions. In the first session I worked with the "Level 2" class, which I recognized as last year's "Level 1"s. They have grown so much! So much more coordinated, their speech was so much improved, and at least half of them already knew their letters and numbers. Then I worked with the "Level 3" group, who were likewise impressive in their ability to flow with the schedule and engage with the instruction. I felt so energized and happy -- and looking forward to seeing some of them at our local Buddy Walk in 2 weeks!
Here is their video from the early years:
The children featured in this video are now 12-13 years old, and have graduated to the "Lunch Buddies" program. I saw several of them on my way out. What wonderful promise!
Saturday, September 28, 2013
Just in time!
With little over a week before his 16th birthday would make him ineligible for American international adoption, a family has committed to adopting "Brenton".
 |
| Now he really has a reason to be so happy -- and he doesn't even know it yet! |
Friday, September 27, 2013
Haftorah Beam - Bereishit
The Haftorah for Bereishit is Isaiah 42:5-43:10
It opens,
5 Thus said God the Lord,
Who created the heavens and stretched them out,
Who spread out the earth and what it brings forth,
Who gave breath to the people upon it
And life to those who walk thereon:
6 I the Lord, in My grace, have summoned you,
And I have grasped you by the hand.
I created you, and appointed you
A covenant people, a light of nations —
7 Opening eyes deprived of light,
Rescuing prisoners from confinement,
From the dungeon those who sit in darkness.
This is clearly connected thematically to the story of creation, and specifically the creation of light out of darkness. It stresses the role of the Jewish people as G*d's partners in creation, as well as the beneficiaries of G*d's Creation. The first step of Genesis was the creation of light. The first step of acting within the Covenant, as a Light of Nation, is opening eyes.
We are furthermore encouraged to see each day as the first day. In fact, Bereishit does not refer to the first day as "first" but simply as "one day". If no days ever followed, it would have been sufficient. So we see that every day is "one day" -- sufficient onto itself to make a new start:
10 Sing to the Lord a new song,
His praise from the ends of the earth —
The reading continues, echoing the struggles of Adam and Eve:
Chapter 43We are expected to struggle with temptations, but be assured that G*d is with us and wishes us to succeed. We are promised that even when banished from the Garden of Eden, that G*d will be with us in all our difficulties.
1But now thus said the Lord —
Who created you, O Jacob,
Who formed you, O Israel:
Fear not, for I will redeem you;
I have singled you out by name,
You are Mine.
2 When you pass through water,
I will be with you;
Through streams,
They shall not overwhelm you.
When you walk through fire,
You shall not be scorched;
Through flame,
It shall not burn you.
Haftorah Beam - Introduction
Happy New Year! We just finished the yearly cycle of Tishrei holidays. Beginning with the magestic Rosh Hashanah, then the intense Days of Awe which culminate in the fast of Yom Kippur. A quick break for building the Sukkah, and we were in the week-long autumn harvest festival of thanksgiving. The Sukkah has not yet come down, and we find ourselves once again in the sanctuary for Simchat Torah, this time dancing our hearts out with the Torah scrolls. And then.... routine returns, as we begin anew from Genesis -- the final beginning.
And with that, I have completed a year of Torah commentaries. So what's next?
In addition to a weekly reading of Torah, it is customary to read a chapter from one of the Prophets, which usually has a similar theme to that week's Parsha. This custom originated when the Jewish people were in exile and forbidden to read Torah. These alternate readings were substituted as a subversive practice. And then continued when it was no longer necessary. This year, I will write about these additional readings in the Haftorah Beam feature.
Why "Beam"? I like the double-meaning. I will try to illuminate these readings with a beam of light; and they are supporting and connecting beams that scaffold our understanding of Torah.
I am not very familiar with the Haftarot. This will be a real learning experience for me! Look for the first installment in the next few days.....
And with that, I have completed a year of Torah commentaries. So what's next?
In addition to a weekly reading of Torah, it is customary to read a chapter from one of the Prophets, which usually has a similar theme to that week's Parsha. This custom originated when the Jewish people were in exile and forbidden to read Torah. These alternate readings were substituted as a subversive practice. And then continued when it was no longer necessary. This year, I will write about these additional readings in the Haftorah Beam feature.
Why "Beam"? I like the double-meaning. I will try to illuminate these readings with a beam of light; and they are supporting and connecting beams that scaffold our understanding of Torah.
I am not very familiar with the Haftarot. This will be a real learning experience for me! Look for the first installment in the next few days.....
Thursday, September 26, 2013
Torah Connection 5773 - Index
5773
Bereishit - Genesis
Bereishit
Noach
Lech-lecha
Vayera
Chayei Sarah
Toldot
Vayetzei
VaYishlach
VaYeshev
Miketz
VaYigash
VaYechi
Shemot - Exodus
Shemot
VaEra
Bo
BeShalach
Yitro
Mishpatim
Tetzaveh
Ki Tissa
Vayakhel/Pekudei
Vayikra - Leviticus
Vayikra
Tzav
(Pesach)
Shemini
Tazria/Metzora
Achrei Mot/Kedoshim
Emor
Behar/Behukotai
Bamidbar - Numbers
Bamidbar
Nasso
BaHa'alotkha
Shlach-lecha
Korach
Chukat
Balak
Pinchas
Matot/Masei
Devarim - Deuteronomy
Devarim
VaEtkhanan
Eikev
Re'eh
Shoftim
Ki Teitze
Ki Tavo
Nitzavim/VaYeilech
Ha'azinu
V'Zot HaBracha
Khazak, khazak, va-nitkhazek!
Torah Connection - V'Zot HaBracha
Finally, the last parsha of the Torah, read on Simchat Torah, which begins tonight. This is Moses' final speech to the Children of Israel. His final prophecy, the words of a loving father on his deathbed, offering his blessings to each child. We can read each blessing and internalize its message as if it was directed to ourselves. Because, of course, it is.
Tonight is the Great Rewind. I suppose different congregations do it differently, but our congregation does it like this: Several dozen people line the perimeter of the sanctuary; the Torah scroll is carefully unfurled, and each person holds up a page of parchment; when the entire scroll is open, we start reading. Each person is prepared with a short summary of one parsha, and we basically go through a Cliff Notes rendition of the entire Torah. Finally, it is rolled back up.
Tomorrow morning, we read the final parsha.
Then, without missing a beat, we take the newly-rewound scroll, and read the first chapter of Bereshit (Genesis):
The last letter of the Torah is a Lamed, and the first letter is Bet. When those are concatenated, we get the word לב, which means "heart". Thus we fulfill the commandment in the blessing after the Shema,
And so the Tishrei marathon of holidays comes to an end, as well.
Tonight is the Great Rewind. I suppose different congregations do it differently, but our congregation does it like this: Several dozen people line the perimeter of the sanctuary; the Torah scroll is carefully unfurled, and each person holds up a page of parchment; when the entire scroll is open, we start reading. Each person is prepared with a short summary of one parsha, and we basically go through a Cliff Notes rendition of the entire Torah. Finally, it is rolled back up.
Tomorrow morning, we read the final parsha.
Then, without missing a beat, we take the newly-rewound scroll, and read the first chapter of Bereshit (Genesis):
The last letter of the Torah is a Lamed, and the first letter is Bet. When those are concatenated, we get the word לב, which means "heart". Thus we fulfill the commandment in the blessing after the Shema,
And so the Tishrei marathon of holidays comes to an end, as well.
And this one?
UPDATE!!!!
As I said yesterday, about 85% of children with special needs who find themselves in adult institutions in Eastern Europe die within a year of transfer.
"Brenton" is almost 16 years old. He has Down syndrome. He is in an institution in Ukraine.
Having escaped becoming a statistic all these years, he has just over a week before he "ages out" from being eligible for American international adoption. Some other countries permit international adoption until age 18 or even later, but for Americans, 16 is the cutoff.
"Brenton" is in the institution documented in the video below:
As you can see, there are some people working hard on making changes in this institution. But even in the best-case scenario, this is NOT where a young person should look forward to spending the rest of his life!
Julia Nalle has more information about "Brenton" here. I hope his family finds him soon!
As I said yesterday, about 85% of children with special needs who find themselves in adult institutions in Eastern Europe die within a year of transfer.
"Brenton" is almost 16 years old. He has Down syndrome. He is in an institution in Ukraine.
|
| Does he really look like a 15-year-old? |
Having escaped becoming a statistic all these years, he has just over a week before he "ages out" from being eligible for American international adoption. Some other countries permit international adoption until age 18 or even later, but for Americans, 16 is the cutoff.
"Brenton" is in the institution documented in the video below:
As you can see, there are some people working hard on making changes in this institution. But even in the best-case scenario, this is NOT where a young person should look forward to spending the rest of his life!
Julia Nalle has more information about "Brenton" here. I hope his family finds him soon!
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)