Re: Adon Olam

[janeen kobrinsky <janeenk...>]

Dear Raquel,

again I have to agree with you.  Well put.

Janeen

QuelliPG wrote:

> I respectfully disagree, Neil.  As I just wrote to Rick, I think that the
> kavannah is much more important than the words.  (maybe I'm just a chassid at
> heart)  Not that we don't want our students to learn the words.  Absolutely we
> do.  And sure, go ahead and use a catchy upbeat tune.  Uzi Hitman's tune is
> FUN!  It's silly.  I don't really think it captures the feeling of the text,
> but it was  WRITTEN FOR THOSE WORDS!  I don't picture Bob Denver and Alan Hale
> when I sing it!  There are lots of other tunes (or you can make up a simple
> one of your own) that can be used to teach the words, without cheapening them!
> I agree that music is the best way for many people (including myself) to learn
> words, history facts, spelling words, foreign languages, and countless other
> things...I still can name all the Torah portions in order because of a song I
> was taught as a child in day school!  And Schoolhouse Rock is another
> excellent example!  But I don't want kids to memorize prayers.  I want them to
> learn to read Hebrew and read the prayers.  And I want them to be thinking
> about what they're saying as they say/sing the prayers!  The object of praying
> in Sunday school or Junior congregation on shabbat is not just to have a good
> time.  It's to have a meaningful time.  AND the critical  key to good praying
> with kids is having adults who are praying their guts out.  Sit in a circle.
> Wrap yourself in your talit.  Shuckle. close your eyes.  sing loud.  pray like
> you personally are going to bring the mashiach!  You'll find that your
> students will follow suit or at least you will have gotten their attention and
> made an impression on them that prayer is meaningful and important to you.
> I've seen many a class where the teacher is sitting at his/her desk and the
> kids at theirs and they say Ok, now we're going to do tefillot.  turn to
> page...  and then spend the whole time disciplining or walking around
> reminding kids to sing etc.  If the teacher isn't praying why should they?
> oops, I'm getting carried away...it's late.  My husband and I do a whole
> workshop on bringing spirituality into the religious school setting and I
> could go on and on...
> Raquel