[etni] Fwd: in response to Judi

From: ETNI list <etni.list@xxxxxxxxx>
To: Etni <etni@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Thu, 9 Dec 2010 06:13:18 +0200
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Esther Revivo <estherrv@xxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: in response to Judi


First off, Judi my heart goes out to you and your school. We went
through the same type of trauma when Ella Abukasis was killed in 12th
grade by a kassam in Sederot. The below activity needn't be done the
very first lesson after you return. But of course for at least a week
no learning will be feasible; the students will be emotionally unable
to learn except for poems like that which Avi sent and relate to loss
or songs  like Elton John's "Light a Candle" that I taught at our
mekif when Princess Diana died.

When something happens and we need to talk (in Hebrew in weak groups;
English in good groups.) I do the following activity.
I also do it at the end of the year. Desks are pushed aside and we sit
in a circle. ONLY the person holding my keys has permission to talk.

 I write questions on the board. Sometimes we go clockwise and I allow
kids NOT to talk ; usually later on they'll ask for the keys wanting
to respond to someone else. Even the teacher cannot talk without
holding the keys!
Here's an example of questions I've written in the past especially
during tough times security wise:

1- Is something bothering you? Who do you talk to when you have a
problem? Practically speaking, what can you do to worry less? Can we
help you?

2- Tell us about 2 things you like at school and two things you don't
(AND you must give a suggestion to change the 2 things you don't like
!!!!!) No names of teachers or other pupils allowed.

3- How do you feel about what happened? What do you think we can do to
honour her/ his name? How can we help her/ his family at this time?

4- Name one thing you like about yourself and one thing you wish you change.

After Ella's death (she was no longer my pupil but we're a small
ulpana so everyone knew her and many girls from Sederot knew her
closely from Bnei Akiva) there was hugging and crying but I feel it
was healthy and the kids thanked me for doing the activity. Homework
was to write condolence letters to her parents and family.

Now, a quick change in topic and no disrespect intended. Regarding
those who go out on early pension, even if you can't take out the
Shanat Shabbaton money until the due date, the Bank Habenleumi does
offer a 15,000 or so NIS loan at prime - 1 (about 2.5 %) No need for
arevim as they have our money to cover the loan.

And, many thanks for the Take Action website which I forwarded to our
7th grade teachers.

May our nation know no other such tragedy (one of the Shabbas men left
a wife and 3 children here in Netivot) and may we display more Ahavat
Yisrael to those different from ourselves. (I am not talking down to
anyone; I include myself in this advice. We are so durned polarized it
is terrible.... like the old joke: 2 Jews stranded on an island have 3
shuls: mine, yours and the one neither of us prays in!)

Esther Revivo
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[etni] Fwd: in response to Judi

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