It has been too long since I have written about the “Schechter Difference”.
The Martin J. Gottlieb Day School is a proud member of the Schechter Day School Network. And because we write about what that means in our handbook, and even have a picture of Solomon Schechter on our walls, I assume that many, if not, most of our parents are aware that as a Schechter school, we adhere to the norms and practices of the Conservative Movement when it comes to how Judaism is lived in our school. I am less confident, however, that some, if any, of our parents could speak more affirmatively about what the impact of being a Schechter school has on the overall educational philosophy of our school and educational impact on our students. I am less confident, for example, that they realize that much of what our school does and stands for: 21st century learning, Hebrew language immersion, Community of Kindness, Zionism, etc., etc., come as a direct result of what I like to think of as the “Schechter Difference”.
And the once-in-a-lifetime confluence of Thanksgiving and Chanukah, presents an opportunity to see the Schechter Difference in action. Not so much on Thursday…but on “Black Friday”. Because the ease with which we conflate “Thanksgiving” and “Chanukah” into “Thanksgivakkah” provides an opportunity to refine our understanding of what it means to have an “integrated curriculum” and makes it fair to ask if the dissonance between our shared cultural heritages does, indeed, produce a November Dilemma.
What does it mean to have an “integrated curriculum” and what does the “Schechter Difference” have to say about it?
Let’s define our terms.
I have always felt it useful to think of this in terms of a dialectic between the two poles of the most common attitude taken towards curricular integration and that is to be “rejectionist”. A “rejectionist” attitude simply rejects one part of the curriculum when conflict arises. If there is a conflict between, for example, what “Science” and “Torah” say, it is clear that one is authoritative and that resolves the conflict. Whether it is the General Studies or the Jewish Studies that is viewed as authoritative depends, of course, on the school.
Other prevailing attitudes towards integration include “Judaizing” – the felt need to apply a Jewish view to every general studies topic otherwise risk students will view general studies as the more relevant – and a new attitude, not prevalent during the beginnings of the day school movement, which one could call “assimilationist”—where Jewish studies as defined in the school’s mission clearly takes a backseat to the general and any clash between values is left unmentioned and unexplored.
Thanksgiving provides us with a much better “dilemma” to see the “Schechter Difference” in action than Christmas does because regardless of which attitude a
Jewish day school takes, it almost surely isn’t going to integrate the ideas and values of Christmas into its curriculum. Thanksgiving, however, especially if you take a hard look at the phenomenon of “Black Friday” and American consumerism, allows us to see how complicated integration can be. Consumerism with its focus on individual material attainment is not consonant with Jewish values. So what is a Jewish day school to do with that aspect of Chanukah in today’s America?
Being “Jewish” and being “American” is not the same thing. However proud we legitimately ought to be of both our identities, we are not being intellectually honest if we claim they are identical and never in conflict. Please keep in mind that the choice not to choose between is itself a choice. Celebrating the consumerist aspects of Chanukah without acknowledging their conflict with Jewish values is to claim that such a conflict does not exist.
The “Schechter Difference” is that we are neither rejectionist nor assimilationist. Nor do we feel so threatened by general society that we have to make everything Jewish. We strive to be interactionist—our philosophy which can be seen in everything from our mitzvah trips to our blogfolios—seeks to allow the Jewish and the general to interact naturally as it does in the real world. We believe guiding our students through authentic interactions is what will produce serious, committed, affiliated, literate and involved Jews capable of succeeding in a modern world.
So, please, celebrate the historical and secular significance of Thanksgiving with food, football, and gratitude. And please, celebrate the historical and religious significance of Chanukah with joy, festivity, and yes, presents. But this and every year, let’s not forget our Jewish values of tzedakah (charity) and kehillah (community). Along with your normal gift-giving, consider donating a night or two of your family’s celebration to those less fortunate. Our Middle School focuses on “Turkey Tuesday” – where we go out into the community and deliver turkeys to families in need – not “Black Friday”. By doing so we send a powerful message that there are times when our Jewish values command us to set aside the values of secular culture and that not only is that okay, but sometimes it is both necessary and appropriate.
That’s the Schechter Difference.
Happy Turkey Day & Chanukah from my family to yours!
