Our Mitzvot are our Blessing

I spent much of this week immersed in The Gan Preschool’s professional trainings, reflecting on the deeper goals of Jewish education.

We took a deep dive into Reggio-inspired activities, discussed the image of the child, and explored ways to foster creativity and critical thinking. Of course, there was the required health and wellness training, as well as the sadly necessary security training (thank you Jessica Anderson & Jewish Federation of Greater Portland)

These hours in training and conversation led me to one question: What is the primary message we want to convey to the child?

I believe the answer lies in the Torah’s words: “See, I set before you today a blessing and a curse. The blessing, that you will heed the commandments of Hashem… and the curse, if you will not heed the commandments of Hashem.”

We want our children to understand that a blessed life is not just a reward for living a life of Mitzvot; it is the natural outcome of such a life. Not only does the blessing come because we heed the word of the Divine; the very act of listening is a blessing.

When a woman lights Shabbat candles, she brings both physical and spiritual light to the world. When a family affixes a Mezuzah to their home, they secure both its contents and identity. When we sit down for a Kosher meal, we nourish both body and soul. This is the blessing.

There is light, identity, and nourishment. There is empowerment, purpose, and a life examined. That is the blessing.

When we stop lighting up the night, stop standing proudly in who we are, and stop approaching each day with thoughtfulness—that is the curse.

It won’t always be easy. Getting home for Shabbat means leaving work early. Kosher food may be more expensive. There are times when our people are under attack—just yesterday, my family was refused service at a gas station for “driving while Jewish.” Yet, the blessing of mission, purpose, and being an agent of the Divine far outweighs any cost

There is a Jewish tradition that when a child begins their education, honey is placed on the Aleph-Bet, which they taste as they are taught the letters. The message is that the letters themselves, the teachings themselves, are good and sweet.

May every Jewish child taste the sweetness of their heritage, feel the light of their identity, and know the blessing that is placed before them each day.