Michelle Shapiro Abraham, MAJE, RJE (she/her), is the Union for Reform Judaism’s executive director of strategic innovation and program for camps, youth & immersives. A longtime Jewish educator, author, and speaker, she holds a master’s degree in Jewish education from the Rhea Hirsch School of Education at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion. Michelle is a recipient of the 2015 Covenant Award for Excellence in Jewish Education and an active member of Temple Sholom in Scotch Plains, NJ, where her husband, Joel Abraham, serves as the rabbi.
Remind my tired soul, I beg You / My kitchen is far too clean and the china is still in the basement / Remind me how to stop the mourning / for tables that don’t need extensions / quiet synagogues with no children to be shushed...
On Saturday night, I asked my 15-year-old son how he was doing. Was he scared? Overwhelmed? As I listened to him, my heart broke – but I couldn’t deny his reality. For him, this act of hate was terrible. And heartbreaking. And normal.
Jewish tradition provides wisdom on how to handle these moments – both as parents and as individuals: Don’t be afraid to learn. Take large actions. Embrace small acts. Tell the stories to your children, and know when to let it go.
Our things are important and precious to us. They are physical manifestations of our memories. They are our attachment to people and places. They are infinitely meaningful.
How do we help our children understand this world? How do we both protect them and make sure that they are knowledgeable enough to take action when needed?