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For December 30: Traditions are made to be passed on

23 Dec 2012 - Preaching the News for Sunday

As was the custom among observant Jews of the time, Mary and Joseph went to Jerusalem for the feast of Passover and took the 12-year-old Jesus went them, as related in the gospel for this Sunday’s Feast of the Holy Family. Observant Jews through the ages also have used the teaching of Hebrew to the young as an essential element in preserving religious identity and family traditions. A new British educational mandate will make that more difficult to achieve, Jewish leaders say.The British government reportedly is planning to exclude Hebrew from a list of recognized foreign languages in the national education system, and the Board of Deputies of British Jews warned last week that the exclusion of Hebrew will damage Jewish education in the country.Education Minister Elizabeth Truss announced plans last month to make it compulsory beginning September, 2014 to teach a foreign language to children ages seven to 11. Schools would be required to offer at least one of only seven recognized languages, and Hebrew is not among them.Many Jewish primary schools, which have to fit in Jewish studies alongside the national curriculum, currently offer Hebrew as the only foreign language. According to the Board of Deputies, the schools would find it impossible to continue teaching Hebrew if compelled to offer another foreign language as well.Board Senior Vice-President Laura Marks said the government proposal could be “extremely detrimental to our community’s identity.” Language, including modern and classical Hebrew, is “a vital ingredient to understanding our faith and culture,” she said, and urged the government “to reject the idea of stipulating just a narrow range of languages.” Homily hint: This Sunday’s feast offers a great opportunity to remind parents and educators in the congregation—indeed, all adults—that without effective transmission of religious tradition from one generation to the next, those traditions will weaken and eventually wither away. Sources: Articles by the Jewish Daily Forward and PewForum.org

Teaching great britain board of deputies of british jews jewish schools elizabeth truss laura marks languages hebrew

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Take Five for Faith Daily

Saturday
April 19

HOLY SATURDAY; EASTER VIGIL

Let in the light

During the dramatic service of light at the beginning of the Easter Vigil, the priest lights the paschal candle with these words: “May the light of Christ, rising in glory, dispel the darkness of our hearts and minds.” What is the darkness in your heart and mind? Now is the time to let go of the hurt, resentment, and anger you feel. Now is the time to allow the light of Christ to shine through you. Jesus suffered, died, and rose again so that you, personally, would experience freedom from all of the burdens you carry—so that you, personally, would know that salvation is yours. Now is the time to unchain your heart and mind.

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