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May 30, 2003/Iyar 28 5763, Vol. 55, No. 40
Torah for everyoneEditorialThe commemoration of Shavuot, zman matan Torah - the time of the giving of the Torah - begins the evening of June 5.According to tradition, the giving of the Torah occurred thousands of years ago, when the Israelites camped around Mount Sinai, seven weeks after their liberation from Egyptian slavery. But the Israelites overslept the morning they were to hear the divine voice echoing from the mountaintop. In atonement for that indiscretion, on erev Shavuot we study Torah late into the evening. Religious authorities have debated whether zman matan Torah refers only to the revelation at Mount Sinai or whether this revelation is ongoing, available to everyone. Based in part on the practice of studying Torah erev Shavuot, Jewish tradition answers with a resounding "yes." Further, zman matan Torah is channeled throughout the year, in part by local educational institutions, such as the Bureau of Jewish Education. Synagogues provide preschool, religious school and adult education. Five Valley Jewish day schools complete the religious spectrum. But not everyone in the community is able to take advantage of these many resources. Financial constraints present one challenge: Many families cannot afford to pay day school tuition. That obstacle has become less daunting in the past four years thanks to the Arizona private school tuition tax credit that in 2002 provided more than $1 million in scholarship funds to local day schools. Special-needs students face unique hurdles: An ongoing challenge for the Valley's educational institutions is to ensure that these students can take part in the ongoing zman matan Torah. The Council for Jews With Special Needs helps by providing a special education consultant to Valley day schools. But as reported in "Meeting children's needs," on Page 1, a single consultant is not enough. Local day schools might look to special education models that exist in cities with a longer legacy of Jewish day school education, such as Southfield, Mich., and Atlanta. In addition, the Jewish Educational Services of North America (JESNA) offers a consortium of 30 programs devoted to special education needs, as well as conferences and training seminars. Zman matan Torah, celebrated on Shavuot, recurs throughout the year. We can resolve on this Shavuot to suggest and encourage our local educational institutions to ensure that everyone - notwithstanding financial constraints or special educational needs - can take part in this ongoing revelation. |
