If Davis 4th Graders Were in Charge of Judaism

Last Friday we had our annual 4th grade family Shabbat. 4th graders, their families, and guests gathered to view the "reimagined/reinvented" Shabbat ritual projects as well as join together for a Kabbalat Shabbat service led by the students.

I was there, helping to coordinate the project sharing as well as the Shabbat service. As I surveyed the projects and listened to the beautiful original writings that each 4th grader shared during the service, I found myself wondering what Judaism would "look like" if Davis 4th graders were "in charge." The pictures below, along with the students' writing paint a compelling picture I think. The projects exude a playful and yet respectful energy and the writings show the tremendous depth of thought, feeling, spirit, and expression that these kids can achieve even at a young age.

Typing now, I realize that the question of what Judaism would look like if Davis 4th graders were in charge isn't quite as whimsical as I initially thought. Eventually, they will be in charge. Currently, the prospects for the Jewish future look good to me.

And here are there original writings:

Jake Martin: Welcome

Welcome parents and families to our Fourth Grade Kabbalat Shabbat.

Thank you so much for coming to celebrate Shabbat with us tonight.

We are very happy to have you all with us.

For me, the meaning of Shabbat is being with your family and friends and also praying to God.

I hope you all enjoy our service.  

Daniel Katz: Kehillah

Kehillah is family.

Kehillah is friends.

Kehillah is you.

Kehillah is others.

Kehillah is when you help.
Kehillah is God.

Jack Tolk: Kehillah

Kehillah is when we bring our friends together.
Kehillah is when we play, or sing, or pray together.

Kehillah means community.
Community rocks.

Davis is a big community.

Which means that Davis rocks!

Alyssa Gershon- Palma: Light

Light is holy.
Light is sacred.

Light brings help.

Light was one of the first creations.

Light sometimes brings miracles.

Emily Hoff: Light

Light my way. Shine, show, light.

No more dark in life.

Wisdom, hope.

Help me make the world a better place.

Justin Miller: Light

When it is light outside, the world is happy.

When the light bulb goes off in my head, I’m thinking.

When it is light outside people know what they are doing.

When the Hanukkiah is lit, it reminds me of back then.

Light makes the world joyful.

Light helps us see how to do good and not evil.

Light helps us see hope.

Zoe Richmond: Beauty

You are beauty.

Even if you look different your beauty is there.

You might just not know it.

Your beauty is on the outside and inside.

Your beauty is in your heart.

So believe in yourself.

You have beauty.

Allison Slutzky: Beauty

Beauty is the kindness in someone’s heart.

What people think of you and what you think of yourself.

To give love and care.

Beauty is in everyone’s heart.
Anyone can be beautiful.

Aidan Kramer: Beauty

Beauty:

Sleeping in my bed at night.

Playing with friends.

Hanging out with family.

Isabelle Goldstein: Beauty

Beauty is nature.

Beauty is your family.

Beauty is The Davis Academy.

Beauty is your best friend.

Beauty is life.

Beauty is not caring how someone looks on the outside.

Everyone has beauty even if you don’t think you can see it.

Take time to see the beauty in everyone.

Avi Frank: Beauty

Beauty

Is the truth in yourself.

The light that wakes us and the dark that puts us to sleep.

Beauty is being there to lend a hand to a friend.

Beauty is the land we cherish and live on,

And the reason we love this earth.

Beauty is every one of us being a Kehillah

And listening to the wisdom that’s being passed down from the wise.

Cory Isaacs: Gifts

My parents are gifts.

My brother is a gift.

My dog is a gift.

Everyone we love and everything we have is a gift.

Jack Rifkin: Gifts

Gifts are not your gadgets.

Gifts are things like nature,

You and your family,

Being blessed by God.

A gift is the world coming together as one.

Vivian Kohn: Gifts

Giving to the poor.

Interacting with people.

Freedom to do as we please.

The family and friends you have.

Avery Lipman: Gifts

A gift: when you dedicate your time.

A gift: when you donate.

A gift: someone who makes you smile.

A gift: something you were born to do.

A gift: not about the money.

It is the thought that counts.

Bradley Amato: Gifts

Thank you God for my house.

Thank you God for my family.

Thank you God for my shelter.

Thank you God for my friends.

Thank you God for animals.

Thank you God for me.

Praise you God.

Joshua Israel: Listen

Listen to the birds chirping a blessing.
Listen with your ears.

Listen with your eyes.

Listen like nature surrounds you.

Listen like Abraham did to God.

Listen like the wind is howling right at you.

Listen to laughter.

Ari Levy: Shema

Listen to the birds chirping.

Listen to the nice morning breeze.

Listen to a prayer.

Listen to the clatter of rocks.

Listen to the clatter of pencils

Against the clipboard.

Listen to your God.

Sydney Gold: Shema

Shema Yisrael Adonai Eloheinu

Oh God, listen to my prayers

I will sing you a song, Adonai

Shema- Listen

Yisrael- Israel

Adonai- Our God

Eloheinu-

Listen to all my prayers.

I say them for a reason.

Listen to my prayers for my cousin who has a disability.

Listen to my prayers that everyone will be healthy and happy.

Listen to the fire trucks and police cars at work.

Listen to the guitar strum a tune.

Listen to the birds chirping a message.

Listen to the fighting people working to keep us safe.

Listen to my pencil writing.

Listen to my words.

Listen to Shabbat coming.

Zach Rubin: Listen

If you are silent,

You may hear people talking.

You may listen to the birds chirping,

Or you may not hear anything

But the breeze blowing.

Listen. 

Frankie Silverman: Ready

Ready is the

Rain coming down

The place you need to go

The clouds in the sky

The Jewish Star on your synagogue.

The feeling of ready is

When you are ready to go

Everywhere and anywhere.

Ready has lots of meanings as you see.

You have been ready, just like me.

Hope Mishkoff: Ready

I’m ready today

Oh I’m ready today

I’m ready to make the world a better place,

I’m ready to see the smiles on everyone’s face,

I’m ready to paint a rainbow in the sky,

I’m ready, oh I’m ready

But there’s no need to ask why.

Rachel Rusnak: Ready

The word “ready” can mean so many different things.

Ready is the word you say before the leap of faith.

Ready is the fear in your voice when you go down a rollercoaster.

Ready is the love in your voice before you leave.

I’m sure that everybody is ready at some point in their life.

Are you ready?

Mallory Rosen: Love

Love is what everyone can share together,

It’s when a heart communicates or opens up to another person,

When you can express how you feel.

Kindness, sharing, friends

This is what makes love so special.

Living life.
Over again.

Violins playing for,

Each and every one of us.

Shayna Edelman: Love

You can love a pair of shoes

Or a pretty shirt.

But the most important kind of love is,

Loving friends and family.

Love is in everyone.

Jordan Frank: Love

Love is the world.

Love is kindness.

Love is friendship.

Love is you and everybody else.

Love is the sounds of animals.

Love is small.

Love is big.

Love can be anything you want it to be.

Love.

Nolan Tuck: Love

Love is the world.

Love is everything.

Love spreads.

Love is what makes us alive.

Love is what makes everything alive.

Love is spreading and it won’t stop.

We create love and,

Love is what makes the whole world beautiful.

Reid Kaplan: Freedom

Freedom is important.

Freedom is like when Moses

Led our people out of Egypt

To the Promised Land

Of family, friends, fun, and most of all

Freedom.

Baruch Atah Adonai.

May this world be full of freedom.

Ryan Frank: Freedom

I feel freedom when the wind blows.

I see freedom when a puppy get adopted from the humane society.

I smell freedom when I smell the moist air outside.

I experience freedom when I’m in nature.

I don’t have to be set free out of a cage to be free

I just find it around me.

 Emily Cohen: Shalom

Shalom means:

Peace, hello, and goodbye

Shalom is all around you

It is in everything and everyone around you

You just have to find it

Out there

Jake Miller: Shalom

Shalom is when countries sign a peace treaty.

Shalom is when you say “hi” even if you don’t feel comfortable.

Shalom happens when everybody loves each other and has a great time.

Shalom is all the goodness that everybody has inside them.

Shalom.

Amen.

Pressley Rogers: Shalom

Shalom is

Peace

Hello

Goodbye

Shalom is peace

Shalom is possible

Shalom is nature

Shalom is welcome

Shalom is family

Shalom is pets

Shalom is the world

Shalom is possible

Renee Vaysman: Shalom

Peace is quiet.

Peace is when people care about you.

Peace is when a hear opens.

Peace is family, friends, and your loved ones.

Peace is your teachers.

And peace is so much more.

Ross Bernath: Shalom

Shalom. Shalom is attending funerals.

Shalom is helping others.

Shalom is being kind to your friends.

Shalom is enjoying the moment while it lasts.

Shalom is doing the right thing even if no one is watching.

Shalom is on the inside.

Talan Bens: The Prayer of My Heart

In my heart there is love

And there is everything in the world.

In my heart there is family.

In my heart there is love for my mom, dad, Ashtyn, and Bailey.

In my heart I love myself.

In my heart I love everybody and everything.

Ava Galison: The Prayer of My Heart

A prayer in my heart can be happy or sad

Turning my thoughts and feelings into words

And these words into songs.

A prayer from my heart is meaningful.

The most meaningful because it is true.
And it is in my heart.

Ryan Reiss: The Prayer of My Heart

Ba-bum

Ba-bum

Ba-bum

This is the sound of your heart.

While scientists have proven that this is what keeps you alive,

The heart does many more things.

The heart is where your prayers come from.

It makes you feel empathy for someone when they aren’t having a good day.

It makes you want to help the world in any way you can.

When something tragic happens,

The heart gives you hope,

And lets you believe that things will turn around.

If I had to pick one part of the body to represent God,

It would be the heart.

Harrison Green: The Prayer of My Heart

Every day I look

Up at the sky

I see clouds forming

Shapes and the birds

Racing by

I see ancient

Words and I

See ancient prayers

But they are not in

Words for they

Are up there.

I see peace,

Shalom, and many

Other things.

One time I think

I even saw a

Pair of eagle

Wings

The prayer from

My heart is

Not what I

Say

It is how I see how I do

And how I act every day

Nessa Stukalsky: Remember

Remember the time we were slaves

Remember the loved one who is in our hearts

Remember the spark that make you: you

Remember the good times but don’t forget the bad

Remember that you can do anything you believe in

Remember you shine!

Brenna Mittleman: Remember

Remembering is love.

Remembering is kindness.

Remembering is peace.

Remembering is the world.

You should remember a lot of things.

Remember, remember.

Remember your school.

Remember your family.

Remember, remember.

Lizzie McGrath: Remember

Remember every moment of your life.

Remember memories, good or bad.

Remember what you need in life.

Remember your friends.

Remember your family.

Remember the important things in life.

Remember that we are a Kehillah.

Remember God.

Remember the holy sound that comes when we stand together as one.

Remember.

Ava Satisky: Remember
Really take in life

Everyone has it

Make times like this and share it

Especially love

Marvelously sing

Be surrounded

Exit happily

Remember

Benjamin Rosenberg: Remember

Remember that the Jews were slaves in Egypt.

Remember the hearts of your grandparents.

Remember all of your teachers.

Remember the people willing to step up and go to war to protect us.

Remember God.

Grace Wolf: Remember

Remember

The laughter

Not the sadness

Remember the flips that

They taught you

Or how to glide on ice

Skates. Remember the songs

That they sang in the car when you were

Bored

Remember

Them and never let them

Go

Morgan Miller: Joy

Joy is happiness

Joy shows your innermost feelings

Joy brings peace to the world

Joy is a wonderful emotion

Joy want to happen to you

It is waiting to fill someone’s heart

Joy is the most important feeling

Joy is God

Joy is happiness.

Logan Katz: Joy

We can make

Lots of joy in

The world either

By making new

Friends or even

By helping out

With a little

Chore to add

Joy to your

Life and other

People’s lives. I

Can add joy

To your life

And you can

Add joy to

My life.

Rachel Denneen: Oneg

Oneg is family

Oneg is friends

Oneg makes laughter

The joy never ends

Oneg can make

Great memories

Oneg is God

And oneg is me