Kabbalat Shabbat

Every Friday at 8:00 a.m., students and teachers in the entire lower school, grades K-5, make their way to the MPR (Multi-Purpose Room), swinging their hands (which are simultaneously clasping those of both their beloved classmates and the myriad of parents, grandparents and siblings who are always invited to attend) in anticipation of the assembly known simply as Kabbalat Shabbat. How best to describe the event? A 45-minute celebration filled with singing, clapping, swaying, blessings, uplifting words from the school rabbi, cantor and president, and culminating in the lighting of the Shabbat candles before students are released to their classrooms. Each week individual classrooms take the stage to lead the audience in song. Kindergarteners wait until April for their chance to lead. After all, even with daily Hebrew class, that's a lot of Hebrew songs for 5 and 6-year-olds to master. Norm and I were both traveling on business the week Lauren's class of 16 students took the stage. My parents accompanied her school and were her adoring audience. Luckily, some of the parents in her class are gifted with cameras so we have still images and a video of the event. First, with the assistance of their loving teachers, the students were dressed in traditional Israeli outfits for the performance. They were then directed to their places on the stage for the main event. One week later, all of the kindergarten classes took the stage together, and I was there. The dress was simpler - matching t-shirts for some - but the air still crackled with the excitement and thrill of performing on a raised stage in front of a packed community of friends. There is something so touching about watching Lauren up there, singing entirely in Hebrew (and completely obliterating my knowledge of the language), pure innocence blended with an emerging sense of conviction. I've always considered myself more of a spiritual person than a religious person, but hearing her matter-of-factly announce to me on a fairly regular basis - "God is all around us, Mama" or "He's here right now on my pencil," gives me a sense of contentment and appreciation I really hadn't anticipated or knew I was looking for when the decision was made to send her to this particular school. I feel like she's being given a foundation of values that will carry her into her older years. She doesn't talk about using her allowance to buy herself toys. No, instead she eagerly says she's saving it for charity (I keep subliminally whispering the word "college" whenever the subject comes up). I have come to love the tradition of Kabbalat Shabbat over the past 9 months. This coming Friday we will be in that MPR again, a different class leading the charge, but having Lauren ensconced in my lap for those 45 minutes will be every bit as sweet.