Parshat Noach 10/23/25 - Dr. Rapoport
We often look to Parshat Noach for the enduring lessons of emunah, but the parsha also offers profound insight into how best to nurture and educate our children, the next generation of Am Yisrael. Noach lived through a pivotal time in human history, having witnessed the troubling dysfunction of society which Hashem needed to erase, and, subsequently, shouldered the responsibility for rebuilding a world that would be just and moral. Our lives, and our children’s futures, will be unquestionably filled with challenges large and small. How we teach them to overcome those challenges with their heads held high, is one of the most important roles we play as educators and parents.
For example, the teivah (ark) can be viewed as similar to our classrooms and homes, providing Noach and his family a safe haven while the world outside was in turmoil. Our classrooms are designed to be places of safety and structure, where children feel secure enough to grow academically, socially, and spiritually. Our students can question, take risks, and try again until they succeed, giving them the inner strength and self-confidence to handle anything that comes their way.
Inside the teivah, Noach cared for each living being with great attentiveness. Rashi (Bereishit Rabbah 30:6) explains that he fed every animal at its proper time and according to its own diet. This echoes the principle of differentiated instruction that we at OCA embrace: every child has a unique profile of strengths, needs, and interests. A skilled teacher offers the right “nourishment” at the right time, enabling each student to flourish.
Noach also modeled perseverance and determination, devoting 120 years to building the teivah, amidst the criticism of others. Setting children up for success in life involves modeling and teaching our children the values of persistence and the courage to always do what’s right no matter what others may say. These lessons require our investment of consistent effort over many, many years to help children grow into thoughtful, capable, and focused adults.
The parsha tells us that mabul (flood) itself reflects the consequences of chamas (violence and corruption), highlighting the importance of strong middot and ethical behavior. Emerging from destruction, not unlike our current circumstances, Noach and his family had to rebuild the world from the ground up. The resilience to take on this type of leadership is a quality we seek to cultivate in our students. At OCA, our teachers, administrators, and social workers guide children through challenges, helping them learn that after setbacks, even ones that hit us the hardest, they can begin anew.
Taking our lead from Noach, may we continue to build nurturing spaces that guide, protect, and prepare our children to live a life of emunah. And may Hashem guide us to help our children develop the confidence, resilience, and strength from overcoming any challenges that come their way so that they may live a life of meaning and purpose.
Shabbat shalom!
Parshat Ki Tavo 9/11/25 - Dr. Rapoport
What does it mean to truly listen to someone? Did you hear what I said? What did I ask you to do? How many of us have asked those questions of our children (or even of our spouse) from time to time? It happens. We aren’t sure whether our requests were heard, or if they will be fulfilled. Fundamentally, each of us has a deeply human need to be listened to, to be seen, heard, and valued. When we don’t feel we are being listened to, that rocks our world.
In Parshat Ki Tavo, we see the word shema appear several times. We are reminded that when we cried out to Hashem, G-d of our fathers, He heard our voice and saw our affliction. (Devarim 26:7) Later, Moshe and the Leviim implore us to “Pay attention and listen, people of Israel! Today you have become a people bound to G-d, your G-d. (Devarim 27:9) Hashem listens to us; so, too, must we remember to always listen to Him. It is through our relationship with Hashem that we have been sustained as a people to achieve great success despite the challenges and pain we inevitably encounter.
The Torah’s repeated use of shema conveys more than the act of hearing sounds. Listening requires the listener to pay attention and actively construct an understanding of the message in order to know what it is that one is being asked to do. One can hear sounds, of course, which metaphorically go in one ear and out the other. True listening is about holding the information we are listening to in mind, forming a mental picture of what the speaker is conveying, and integrating that new information into one’s cognitive framework and perception of oneself.
As you will see throughout every issue of Ohr Chadashot this year, this is exactly how we approach learning at OCA. Our educational philosophy emphasizes that students construct meaning through focused listening, reflection, discussion, and active questioning.
Learning is, at its roots, a social experience that takes place through the interactions among students and between students and teachers. Learners are not passive receivers of information who hear instruction and subsequently comply with directives. We view learners as listeners who, through being encouraged to ask questions, experiment with ideas, and take ownership of their learning, are able to build a base of knowledge that will forever shape who they are as Torah-observant Jews. Within this framework, classroom lessons do not remain in the classroom; they become part of our students’ identity, forming the lens through which our students view themselves and the world around them.
We are excited for the myriad opportunities and experiences that await our students in the year ahead and look forward to sharing photos, updates, and news about their learning with you. Stay tuned!
Shabbat shalom!