Teachers and principals from several Crown Heights schools became students this Sunday when they joined Menachem Education Foundation’s workshop, “Language Skills: the Golden Key.”
The subject for the morning’s “lesson”? Dikduk, Hebrew grammar – and all came away asking for more.
Many have a fear of grammar or see it as an impenetrable web, a stigma which the presenter, Mrs. Sara Rosenfeld, masterfully dispelled with her engaging overview.
Mrs. Rosenfeld is a master educator with years of experience teaching both students and teachers about Lashon Hakodesh, and recently joined the Menachem Education Foundation (MEF) team to develop the Zekelman Standards for Chumash.
“The language of Chumash is precise, and all of its details have tremendous and untranslatable significance,” states the introduction to the language section of the Zekelman Standards.
“Additionally, any translation of Torah is by definition already interpretive,” so how else to give students access to the Chumash, than through the language and conventions that it speaks to us with?
And who will teach dikduk if our teachers never learned it in the first place? This workshop tackled this problem, using Pesukim and Rashis as entry points to an in depth exploration of language skills, and providing a bird’s eye view of the Zekelman Standards for Chumash.
According to Mrs. Raizel Nissim, an assistant principal, “Mrs. Rosenfeld’s Chumash workshop was well-planned, clearly presented, and, most of all, super practical.”
Another participant, a resource room teacher, emailed: “Thank you so much for holding the workshop. I learned some things I was unfortunately never taught, and was therefore unable to teach…. If this standard idea becomes the standard in every school (pun intended), then we know our current and future teachers will not remain ignorant of the basics. Looking forward to learning more!”
More is on its way beginning with a repeat workshop at the Kinnus Hashluchos, on Sunday, January 26 – 25 Shevat. For more information about this workshop, the Zekelman Standards for Judaic Studies, or other MEF programs and resources, visit www.MyMef.org
basically starts off by saying that before rushing to teach dikduk, kids today don’t even know a simple posuk in chumash with rashi
I am a ba’al tshuva who has a hard time reading Jewish novels simply because of the reasons stated. #9 has a good point and should be taken a little more seriously.
Melbourne is very fortunate to have a teacher of the caliber of Mrs Rosenfeld. She is a hidden gem!
Someone, Please translate the holy letter.
in 1942 the FR wrote about the dire need to upgrade the chinuch curiculum: quoted from his Igros Kodesh Vol 6, pg 151: “.. כואב מאד הדבר שהתלמידים הקשישים יחיו אין להם שום ידיעה במקרא ורובם אינם יודעים אפילו את החומש עם פרש”י ומה גם את הנביאים וכתובים שאין להם מושג בזה כלל ולמופת נכון הדבר אשר מי שהוא מועד ההנהלה ישאל דרך אגב בדבורו עם אחד התלמידים לתרגם לו איזה פסוק בכתובים או איזה מאורע האמור בנביאים. ומבהיל העדר היכולת שלהם בכתיבה לא רק רוע הכתב ושגיאות בכתיבת התיבות אלא שבקושי אפשר להבין מה הם כותבים. בזיון הוא לבן… Read more »
The English language is not suppose to be about rhyme or reason. Where did you get that nonsense from. You taking this seriously.
First things first: English grammar and Hebrew grammar can NEVER be compared. Hebrew is lashon hakodesh and the grammar has been decided by G-d, whereas with the English language, the rules of grammar have no rhyme or reason. Having made this clear, I would like to say that no matter what language you speak, grammar is important, and for many reasons. 1) Using proper grammar helps prevent confusion when trying to express an opinion. (For example, some street signs display, “slow children play here” as opposed to, “slow! Children play here.”) 2) Using proper grammar in articles, books, and magazines… Read more »
First of all, thank you for filling the gap in the teacher’s education. Our children really need to learn from teachers who master the topic. How frustrating it is to hear my kids say over and over again ויומר means AND he said when the proper translation is הוא אמר he said. Same goes for all vov hahipuch, very often mistaken for vov hachibur meaning AND. I am also very annoyed when my children are expected to know shorashim and it’s not taught the proper way. Furthermore, some teachers teach Shem etzem (nouns) as shorashim!! Can this class be repeated… Read more »
You may know how to spell, you don’t know how to read or comprehend any\thing you are reading. I wonder which is a better skill reading or writing. You may know how to write but have no idea how to read or comprehend. I would think twice before you ever tell anyone off about their writing.
good point. i guess there should be an offer for english classes to be taught!
It’s great that you know how to spell, but do you know how to read? This article was about dikduk, not English grammar.
Mrs Rosenfeld taught me how to learn, not just how to spit back the information the teacher says.. Chumash is so much more interesting when you understand the richness of the grammar!!
Keep up the good work Mrs Rosenfeld!!
An Aussie student
1 & 2, did you read the article?
I was fortunate enough to have great english classes. It’s so annoying going out with guys who have terrible grammar. “Pik you up in 5.”
Is it rude to let him know there’s a “c” in there? 🙂
i can’t stand that no one knows how to spell in this place!