On Sunday night we sat in the audience and watched our daughter Chana deliver a beautiful short speech at her High School Graduation in Brooklyn. Seated with dozens of her classmates, all beaming with pride and enjoying this tremendous milestone, we couldn't help but be so happy and grateful for this moment.
Seeing dozens of eighteen year old students successfully graduate as kind, moral and good people, isn't something small. Each one of them has had a journey of their own, and have certainly had their own share of bumps, humps and obstacles along the way. Yet they grew, became stronger and formed lifetime friendships with one another, that will continue to be a part of their journey forward for years to come.
Yes of course, we just wish our kids would stay home in our own little nest, but we also understand that we want them to learn to fly and develop resilience, empathy, community in addition to all of the academics in Judaic and Secular studies, that they have worked so hard on over the years.
There is an quote in the Talmud attributed to Rabbi Chanina, in which he states, "Much have I learned from my teachers, even more have I learned from my colleagues, but from my students I have learned more than from anyone else".
It was this quote that I thought of on Sunday night, as we watched our daughter and the others shining their own unique light on the world, despite two of their academic years being challenging years of the Pandemic, many of them living away from home, dealing with the challenges of the 21st century just like anyone else, yet today they all stood there, having successfully crossed the finish line.
Now they will all spread their wings further, as they continue on with their studies in different places.
We will be forever grateful to the many teachers and educators who gave so much to our daughter and her friends.. Their dedication was expressed in so many ways, but especially by the way that they gave so much time in school and outside of school to all of the students, to help them thrive and grow, not just academically, but emotionally, socially, and just to grow and thrive as good people.
We wish our daughter Chana, her friends and all the other graduating students that we know locally, continued success in spreading their wings, and flying higher in every aspect of their journey forward.
May you continue to be the inspiration of the new generation, and use your passions, creativity and love for life, to help make the world a better and kinder place, each and every day.
Good Shabbos & Shabbat Shalom
Yisroel
P.S Please join us at the Kiddush this Shabbat as we celebrate with High School graduates from the Sudbury area who will be joining us to celebrate and mark this milestone.