Ask any teacher why they like teaching and they will tell you that it’s about the kids. We enjoy watching them grow. We take pride in planting questions and information in them that blossom into curiosity and passions. We are humbled at the possibility of making an impactful and meaningful difference in the life of a human-in-progress. That’s what I was thinking about as I returned for my third trip to Scheiber Sandor Gimnazium here in Budapest. It’s about the kids.
Today my team of teachers from Baltimore (some here for a third trip too and some for a first) was all together with our second cohort of students from Beth Tfiloh. The day began in a way that I had come to expect. I knew which room we were using for davening and how to set it up. I knew the layout of the school and where activities would take place. But best of all, I knew many of the Hungarian teens that were joining us.
So many of these kids have become so special to me. The especially dapper Daniel, the passionate and knowledgeable Abel, shy and sincere Balazs, Akos and Gergo and Greta and Laura – they’re all kids I’ve seen grow so much in the last two years. When Emese and Szandi told me that they had one first and second place in the Chidon Hatanach I was so genuinely proud! And I was so frustrated that Emese couldn’t go because the trip coincides with her SAT exam, but so happy that meant Szandi could go. Ivette told me about her plans for studying biology in university and her stress regarding which school she’ll get into. And Laura told me about her plans to study Norwegian next year so she could switch schools the year after to a school in Norway the year after and emigrate there. These are kids I’ve known for years and it’s been great seeing them again.
Today I had a chance to teach three classes – two 10th grades and a grade 13 class. There were a number of kids that I recognized from previous trips (Sofi, Flora, Laslo, and Buni) and it was nice to reconnect. It was great to be able to start off from a place of familiarity.
When we started this program the goals were about building connections between our school and SSG as a way of helping the Jewish community in Budapest. That goal is still a good one but I find it too big and too ambitious to really be motivating. What motivates me and makes me want to do my best here is the kids.
We are all very familiar with the political and economic pressures on these students. I’m also familiar with the spiritual struggles these teens have based on their historical context. It’s even more important for me to try and bring love of Judaism and Torah to them. I hope so much to bring joy and spirituality of our traditions. I hope that the words of our sages, “words that come from the heart penetrate the heart,” show their strength here. Not because of the devastation of the Holocaust and not because of the money invested in the program. For me it’s not about that. It’s all about the kids.
