Generation Sinai – a blessing for parents and children

OWN CORRESPONDENT

“I had to stop and catch my breath and take in how beautiful that scene was,” said Wayne Kay about his Tuesday morning at The Cheder with his children. “It got me wondering what it might have meant to have had this time with my dad as a child, a structured opportunity to learn Torah together like this.”

For the past six years, Chief Rabbi Dr Warren Goldstein’s Generation Sinai initiative has brought Jewish parents and children together in classrooms across the country. This year, it centred on the morning blessing, which Goldstein describes as “a G-d-given formula for starting our day in the best possible way”.

Parents and children worked through a booklet containing sources and inspirational ideas relating to five key morning blessings. They are: Modeh Ani, Al Netilat Yadayim, Asher Yatzar, Elokai Neshama, and Birchot HaTorah, representing gratitude, purpose, wonder, purity, and growth, respectively.

“These five ancient meditations are specifically formulated to focus the mind, open our hearts, and connect our neshamas (souls) to their infinite source, opening up our day to infinite possibility,” said Goldstein.

“This year’s Generation Sinai was wonderful. The content was interesting, and pitched at a level that my daughter and I could learn something from. We went through the first two berachot (blessings), and wanted to keep going, but unfortunately there wasn’t enough time,” said Sara Wosk at Phyllis Jowell Jewish Day School.

“It was great bonding time with my child, and an opportunity to experience firsthand what he’s been learning from his incredible teachers. I loved the atmosphere of families learning together as part of a community,” said Mandy Wiener at Sydenham Pre-Primary School.

“The whole family participated. I loved that my husband came along – normally it’s just the moms who do these things. We were both amazed that our kids knew the berachot. It was great to see how much they actually know,” said Alison Charne at Sandton Sinai.

“What a gift… to our children and to us! Taking davening – which can be quite challenging for all of us – and making it relevant, engaging, and soulful. A guidebook for bringing to life these morning brochos (blessings) which Jews have been saying for centuries. Priceless!” said Mendel Medalie at Torah Academy.

“It was really nice to sit with my child and learn something meaningful and inspiring. We said the berachot together which was beautiful,” said Yael Pollak at Rimon Nursery School.

“I treasured spending time with my children learning about the morning prayers in an age-appropriate and engaging way,” said Andrea Nussbaum at King David Pre-Primary School Linksfield.

“I loved the booklet. So meaningful and so simple at the same time. At this age and stage of my life, the morning berachot are the only part of davening I have time for, so it was as relevant to me as it was to my kids,” said Simone Penn at Hirsch Lyons.

“I especially loved the focus on gratitude, and starting our day with a connection to Hashem, which really sets the tone for the rest of the day. It was great spending quality time with my kids, and I look forward to continuing learning with them at home,” said Sara Ress of Sinai Academy (Cape Town).

“It was a wonderfully accessible learning experience. One of my favourite Generation Sinai experiences so far,” said Farrah Zuckerman at Herzlia Weizmann.