(Courtesy of The Moriah School) Moriah students are encouraged to think critically, to question ideas and to challenge preconceived notions.
Moriah students begin studying Rashi in depth in third grade. They are taught to read and translate Rashi’s comments, to read the unique script known as Rashi script, and to better understand what was bothering Rashi in each pasuk that led to his comments.
Rashi, known as raban shel Yisrael, teacher of all of Israel, is the most frequently studied Torah commentary. Learning Chumash, with Rashi, opens one’s eyes to the beauty of Torah learning.
The third graders inaugurated a new generational Rashi celebration breakfast this year on Rosh Chodesh adar, l’ilui nishmat Aryeh Frommer, z”l.
Grandparents and special visitors were invited to join their Moriah third graders for an introduction into the world of Rashi and experience a Moriah education first hand. Students became the teachers as they taught various Rashi texts to their special visitors.
Morah Odelia Danishefsky, associate principal of the lower school, introduced the concept of mesora. As each generation begins to learn the commentators, of which Rashi is the most well-known, they enter an exclusive community, which Rav Soloveitchik calls, a mesora community.
The Rav explains ‘Let me say, that the secret of mispar ha’do’ros, of combining, uniting, merging many generations into one community, is where discrepancy of age disappears, where years play no role, centuries have no significance. Where generations can communicate and commune with each other.’ This is what I experience every time I enter the classroom at the yeshiva.”
And this is what happens each year as Moriah students progress in their Torah education, learning the Torah with the commentary of Rashi and other Jewish thinkers.
As part of this mesora community, they now stand on the shoulders of their parents, grandparents, great-grandparents and all previous generations.
Watching Moriah students share Torah with previous generations assured everyone present that our mesora is in good hands.
