Knowledge of How

For the past few weeks on Sunday morning I have been working with the kids on active listening. I have asked them to do a special exercise whenever we get to the Shemah. I ask the kids to pair off. I have one child be the talker and the other the listener. The listener is not allowed to say anything in response to the talker. After a minute I have them switch.

This past weekend I added a new wrinkle. I told the listener they could ask one question. In doing this I am trying to teach the children active listening. Active listening being to listen in order to ask and explore, not to wait to speak or to answer a question.

At TBD we are teaching our next generation how to be and not just what to think. As President George Washington said, "Knowledge is in every country the surest basis of public happiness". If this is true, the more we know how to act the happier our community will be. I do believe this approach can change the world. The approach of "knowledge of how" over "the knowledge of what" can fundamentally change the world. For as President Abraham Lincoln said, "The philosophy of the school room in one generation will be the philosophy of government in the next."

Shabbat Shalom and Happy Presidents Day!