Rabbi 360

I love my children’s elementary school, Lincoln Elementary. The school is an alternative program, called Lincoln Options, that focuses on values, community building, creativity and social justice. The experiential curriculum integrates subjects around guiding themes and topics. And there is a garden with chickens!

Every year the school chooses an overall theme, and each class develops a project around that theme. This year it was “Movers and Shakers”–in other words, people who make a difference. Some classes looked at broad social movements, some looked at famous leaders in history. My son’s kindergarten/1st grade class looked at “human giraffes”–i.e., people who “stick their neck out” for others.

One class focused on local movers and shakers, people in Olympia who are community leaders. I was so touched and honored to be selected as one. I was interviewed by a student in the class (who also happens to be a member of the congregation) and we had an engaging conversation about my background, my role as a rabbi in the community and some of my general thoughts on life. He brought these to life in a sign and diorama that was spectacular!

I try my best to make a bit of difference in my community and those around me. Like many others who do similar we don’t do it for recognition. When it does come, however, it is meaningful, and I can’t think of a more wonderful recognition than this one at the school.

It was nice to be named as such but, as I told my interviewee, we can all be movers and shakers. And even if we can only do a little, it all adds up to a lot.