Orna Sonnenschein
Welcome to Temple Beth Am

As the Director of Education of Temple Beth Am, I am pleased to make available, on-line, my thoughts which are found in Temple Beth Am's monthly newsletter, TEBEAM.

My articles are available on-line and are readily available for viewing or downloading and reading at your convenience.

Director of Education’s Message
Tebeam
October 2007

Recently I attended my 20^th high school reunion.  It was incredible to see my old classmates as adults.  The 10^th reunion was not as dramatic since many of us were still in touch with one another at that time, and few of us had yet figured out where we were going.  The activities and events commonly considered life-altering were not yet a part of our young lives.  But at the 20^th reunion I witnessed the results of the metamorphosis of idealistic teenagers into thoughtful, talented grownups with families and jobs!  It was comforting to see how so many of my past friends were successful and happy; still themselves…just older and unburdened by the old insecurities and social fears.  It was truly a celebration; our joint “coming of age” ceremony. 

I know reunions are not really a coming of age ceremony, but this time it felt like one.  I went to the event envisioning my friends as they were---who they had been.  But that’s not who I spent the evening with.  I talked with writers, doctors, acupuncturists, lawyers and teachers.  And while many of them did look the same in some way, I was seeing a better version of them.  We had all grown in so many ways.  We parted excited about what we would find at our next gathering.

I think that what struck me the most was how so many of my friends had overcome their weaknesses, the fears and obstacles that were hindering their development.  I was seeing myself in them.  A pending high school reunion is tailor-made for the “If I knew then what I know now…” mentality and for the past few months I’ve found myself thinking that way.  How much time in high school did we waste worrying about what other people thought of us; fearful that people were talking about us behind our back?  The reunion snapped me out of it

I’m getting older; the past is the past; what’s done is done.  Interestingly enough this brilliant realization comes right around the time of closing last year’s book and opening the next.  Simchat Torah completes the cycle of the High Holidays.  The holiday itself completes and renews a cycle.  After the book of Deuteronomy comes the book of Genesis…in the beginning.  It’s a great place to start; looking forward and committed to being a better me; thankful for the many blessings I have; and grateful that I’m able to watch our youth grow and develop and come back changed after each and every summer.

L’Shalom,