Class Discussion

I am going to make a conscious effort to make this blog a place for me to post what I've learned from day to day, whether it be about chumash, or about disciplining 6 year olds.
In this past week, I have been inspired and discouraged, excited and scared, in control and out of control, elated and sad.
My work at Yad Byad is unlike anything I have ever done. Not many people will ever have such an appreciation for the wonders of the human mind as seen through the context of a child's brain. I slowly gain confidence with Hebrew andthese children learn in Arabic and Hebrew; they translate for each other, play with each other, argue with each other, steal each others erasers, work very hard, daydream, scream, cry, laugh... I don't think I would be in such awe of the people who work and learn there if I didn't feel so out of my element. (note: I get to sit in the teachers room; sweet.)
Passing from this zone of newness to the comfort zone of Pardes, I feel like I'm recharging my confidence battery. I continue to be surprised with the inspiration that fills me (and I daresay everyone else) when we learn there. Today, we met Eliezer Jaffe. The founder of the Israel Free Loan Association, he had much to say about poverty, social justice, charity, loans, and economics in Israel. He started an organization that now gives about 350 loans a month with a 1% default rate. These loans are interest free and the organization is therefore a non-profit. It was incredibly inspiring to hear about the successes of a moral loan-giving organization that is also based in Jewish halacha. Professor Jaffe says: "Life is a loan. We pay it back, with interest, throughout our lives with מעשימם טובים, good deeds." I have much more to add about charity and giving, I'll keep you posted.
Tomorrow I have a meeting about volunteering with an afterschool program for 5th and 6th graders. I'm pushing my way farther into the world of business and full schedules!