A Message from Debora S. Cole-Duffy
5770 - Introducing Sinai’s Newest Exhortation:
Hineini: /Hee-nay-nee/ Ancient and Modern Hebrew, literally means ~ Here I am! The message of response when God personally calls on someone to do something difficult and important – as in Genesis, when Abraham heard God’s command to sacrifice his only son and yet had faith in God’s righteousness; and in Exodus, when at the Burning Bush God commanded Moses to lead the Israelites out of Egypt and Moses was at the ready.
- noun. the magnificent blessings of this school where students, faculty, staff and parents step forward to make a difference for ourselves, each other, Sinai Academy and the greater world!
- verb. to “step up;” to venture outside one’s comfort zone for the greater good of the community.
- adjective. describing astounding and courageous acts of leadership.
As Sinai’s newest theme, Hineini inspires us, motivates us to step forward and gives us opportunities to experience special moments. Our definition may not quite be ready for publication in Merriam Webster, but Hineini is the word-phrase-exhortation that underscores our school’s spirit. Just as we are reminded at Shavuot that Moses stepped forward to receive the Commandments, Sinai owes the blessings of Hineini in large part to Hannah Senesh Award recipient, Maria Sirois, who stepped forward to beautifully frame Hineini as this school’s guidepost.
You will hear and see Hineini in word and in deed as it is woven fully into the fabric of academic, Jewish and social life at Sinai. I have been amazed by how Hineini guides our students’ and teachers’ efforts. While the principles of Hineiniare not new to Sinai, as a curriculum they serve as an overarching model to punctuate and integrate all that Sinai inspires in our students. We embark on lessons and activities to enhance our students’ social skills and develop their insights into how Jewish values help them to be caring and responsible citizens. Maria forged an agreement with each classroom teacher to create a year-long, developmentally appropriate project for classroom consideration and study. Here is a brief synopsis of how Hineini came to life at Sinai this year:
- Pre-school showed us all the ways they could help one another by being flexible;
- At holiday time, our TK led the school in providing toys to needy foster children;
- Kindergarten guided our community to care for animals by donating to the Humane Society;
- Grade 1 is gaining confidence in handling emotions through Strong Start and writing weekly entries in Gratitude Journals;
- Grade 2 identified their special skills and talents and as members of a class have beautifully quilted their tree of life;
- Grades 3 and 4 are the library ambassadors of this school – organizing and helping us appreciate our many English and Hebrew stories and P.J. Library books;
- Grade 5 has not only shown us that we should care for our world (Shomrei Adamah), but took courageous steps to show leadership even when it is difficult.
Of course, weekly lessons of Hineini are punctuated through Torah study at Tefillah and Kabbalat Shabbat when teachers, rabbis and esteemed community members echo the sentiments.
Hineni was my inspiration to lead Sinai Academy of the Berkshires, and I am honored to serve in this capacity. As I reflect on these months, I find that Sinai Academy is truly a wonder, and I am delighted to support both educational practices and social mindfulness while being guided by beloved Jewish values and principles. The Hineini moments abound, which brings me to a recent one: last week at recess, one first grader's kippah fell off while playing soccer. Another first grade student ran to get it, picked it up, kissed it and handed it back to the child, who thanked him. He kissed his kippah too, and happily placed it back on his head. Gratifying acts, such as this one, sustain the vibrancy of this small, plurastic school.
I honor the special talents and gifts of our current and past faculty, staff, Board, parents and founders - especially those of Board President, Kathy Fraker, and Parent Volunteer Extraordinaire, Maria Sirois; and to Sinai’s Eliezer Ben Yehuda Award recipient, former teacher and Head of School Chris Barash. To Bogrim - Mazel Tov for all that you have accomplished individually, with your class and in this school. As Dr. Seuss says it so well – “Oh, The Places You’ll Go!” And I give thanks for all the special Hineini (usage: adjective!) gifts of Sinai Academy!
L'Shalom,
Debora Cole-Duffy
