Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: Police (10/12/06)
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TITLE: Lesson Learned | Previous Challenge Entry
By Joanne Sher
10/15/06 -
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"Shalom, Chaim," a young boy with mousy brown hair and a mischievous grin said in muffled tones. "Sit by me today, OK?"
Chaim smiled and took his place beside his friend.
"Get your lesson done, Eli?"
"Mostly," Eli whispered. "Had trouble memorizing Judah Maccabee's dad's name!"
Chaim nodded.
One more student arrived, sitting to Chaim's left.
Soon Maxim Lainer entered the room. He scrutinized each face, and after assuring himself there were no uninvited guests, he locked the front door and pulled the drapes closed.
"OK. Let us begin with the Shema."
The students rose, and Mr. Lainer gestured that they begin. Seven voices, in not-so-perfect chorus, then recited the six most precious words in all Judaism: "Shema Yisrael Adonai Elohenu Adonai Echad."
"And who remembers it in English?"
About half of the boys raised their hands. Mr. Lainer gestured toward Chaim.
"Hear, oh Israel, The Lord our God, the Lord is one."
Mr. Lainer smiled and nodded, then signaled for the boys to sit down.
"Who can tell me what starts at sundown today?"
Several boys shouted out "Hanukkah" with huge smiles on their faces.
Mr. Lainer looked at them disapprovingly and went to the front room window. He peered out for a moment, then replaced the drapery.
"You boys should know better than that - keep those voices down!"
The boys muttered apologies.
"Well, despite that, you are right, of course. Hanukkah does start this evening. I know we've talked about why we celebrate: the Maccabees, the desecration of the Temple, the oil that miraculously lasted eight days. I have some more information to share about this holiday - a historical fact you might find quite interesting."
"Does anyone know why playing dreidel is part of the holiday celebration?"
Mr. Lainer pulled a small wooden top from his pocket. It had four sides, with a different Hebrew letter on each face.
"To help us remember the miracle?" one boy volunteered.
"Sure, Nathan, that is part of it. But the main reason was to protect the Syrian Jews from the government that forbad them from practicing their religion."
That got their attention. All eyes were glued on Mr. Lainer.
"You mean, like us, sir?" Eli asked in amazement.
Mr. Lainer nodded. "When Jews were under Syrian control, it was against the law to study Torah, just as it is here. But, just like us, they followed God's commandments, his mitzvot, and studied anyway."
"But what does that have to do with a dreidel?"
Smiling, Mr. Lainer continued. "A student would always keep a dreidel in his pocket. If the police came by, he would close his book, pull the dreidel out and pretend to be playing."
Mr. Lainer then pulled several dreidels out of his pocket, giving one to each boy. He allowed them to play a while, before having them put the dreidels away and get back to the lesson.
"Let's review the three blessings that are said over the Hanukkah candles tonight. Turn in your Siddurs to page..."
Mr. Lainer turned with a start as he heard an insistent, repetitive pounding on the door. He put his books in a closet, stuffed his dreidel back in his pocket and went cautiously to the door.
A glance through the peephole relieved his fear of the authorities, but the look on his dear friend Slava's face did not calm him completely.
He let Slava in, locking the door behind him. The two men sat at a card table and spoke in hushed tones.
"Maxim, your nephew Joshua was arrested - they caught him reciting his morning prayers."
"Oy vey! How are Marina and Igor taking it?"
"Not well - they weren't home, but neighbors saw it and let them know. They want Nathan with them. I've come to take him home."
"Understandable. I'll get him right now."
He turned to his students, and found them sitting on their Siddurs, intensely playing with their dreidels.
Mr. Lainer smiled in spite of himself.
**
Deuteronomy 6:4, JPS
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