Twinkle, twinkle, kochaveem, way up in the shemayim.”
“If you say the Shema each night, everything will be all right.” These familiar words, sung to the children’s classic, “Twinkle, twinkle little star” is a favorite among Jewish children. We have sung this in our school and in our home for many years so it was not unusual the other evening when my 5 year old daughter made reference to it. I was about to shut her light after a rather hectic evening of homework, baths, late dinner…you know the drill.
Our family has a ritual of saying prayers each night but on this particular evening as the clock wound down with the intensity of a tied football game of our favorite team, I omitted prayers from our bedtime routine hoping no one would notice. As my hand was about to click my daughter’s bedroom light off and I was one step closer to freedom she looked at me with those big, innocent eyes and said, “Aren’t we going to say the Shema?” I sighed and thought, “I had to raise deeply Jewish kids didn’t I?” In a someone frazzled voice, forcing a smile, I replied, “Of course we can say the Shema, sweetheart.”
An expert at Jewish guilt at a very young age she added, “Because you know the Shema makes everything all right.” I breathed deeply, glad I had raised a deeply grounded, Jewish child and felt immediately refreshed. She was right. The Shema, the ritual of saying prayers with your child at night, the connection to God and your spirit IS what makes everything all right. I was glad she reminded me of something as a busy adult we (and I that night) sometimes forget. We said the Shema and she went to sleep peacefully with a smile on her face and I retired to my room with a feeling of contentment that five minutes earlier I did not possess.
I have always known that as a parent it is our job to model appropriate behavior for our children and that sometimes that behavior is difficult to conjure up. I also know that if you miss a beat they will call you on it every time. That particular night, I also realized while it is my job to teach it is also my job to learn, as much as we bestow upon our children we still can learn from their tiny voices. Listen to them and remember what is important this coming year. Connect with them, with yourself, with your Judaism. You will be happy you did. I know I am.
L’Shalom,
Debbie
