Our very own Rabbi Sam Shor was recently the featured presentor for a program on "Do's and Don'ts of Informal Jewish Education" at the opening in-service training session for Upstate NY NCSY advisors at Yeshiva University on September 13, 2005. Rabbi Shor's presentation to more than 50 undergraduate students was extremely well received. The article below is a brief summary of some of the ideas introduced by Rabbi Shor in his session that is soon to be published in National NCSY's Advisor Adlib Newsletter, distributed to more than 800 NCSY advisors and staff across North America.
There is a familiar teaching from Rebbe Nachman of Breslov, which is familiar to us as it is paraphrased within the popular song “Kol HaOlam Kulo…”
The actual teaching from Likutei MohaRan reads as follows:
“Veda SheAdam Tzarich Laavor al gesher tzar meod, meod, vehaklal vehaikar shelo lehitpacheid klal…”
“And know that a person needs to traverse a very, very narrow bridge, but the fundamental and most important principle is to have no hesitation or fear at all…”
Why does Rebbe Nachman use the analogy of a very narrow bridge? What is the difference between a very narrow bridge and a super highway?
On a super highway if the car in front of you is driving 20 miles below the speed limit, or is blaring some really annoying country music, or is swerving back and forth in a frustrating fashion-well on a super highway, where there are multiple lanes, you can switch lanes and blow right by the troublesome car. But on a narrow bridge, you need to engage, and confront challenging situations and individuals.
What Rebbe Nachman is teaching us- is that in life it is inevitable that we are going to encounter challenging situations and individuals with different points of view, different backgrounds, and values that may be completely in conflict with our own moral compass. Rebbe Nachman is teaching us don't be afraid or hesitate to engage such individuals, in fact quite the contrary embrace such situations as opportunities to share and learn from one another, and traverse that “narrow bridge” together.
When this is our paradigm, we truly can gain new understanding and perspective-our students and chanichim can be more comfortable and really open to learn from us, and perhaps more importantly we can learn so much from each of them….
For so many, NCSY has been the conduit for developing life long learning and friendships; friendships rooted in reaching the beauty of Jewish life, of crossing that proverbial bridge together. Kol Hakavod to you- the many staff and volunteers that help to create the welcoming, warm and safe environment-allowing so many Jewish young adults to traverse life's narrow bridge at their own pace and comfort level….
With much appreciation,
Rabbi Sam Shor
Director of Community and Leadership Development
ISRALIGHT
Har Sinai NCSY Regional President 1988-89
Har Sinai NCSY Advisor, Regional Administrator 1991-95