Sunday school hypocrisy

I used to "davin" at a synagogue that sponsored an afternoon and Sunday school.

Aside from Shabat (and haggim), the only time I could make a morning minyan was Sunday.

Sunday school started about the same time as the minyan, so as I arrived, I could see parents dumping off their kids and beating a hasty retreat.

To do what?

I often wondered what was more important to the parents than the double mitzvah of being part of congregational prayers.

Double mitzvah because (1) they could pray with the congregation and (2) their children would see that Judaism was more than having the parents burden the children with afternoon and Sunday school.

But what would the parents do between the end of the morning service and the time the children were freed?

How about study with the rabbi or other knowledgeable person - Torah, maybe the week's portion or Rashi or . . . , perhaps Talmud, or Ramba"m, or ... There are options beyond number. But STUDY.

If we stop learning in our profession, we may as well retire - or find a new profession. For most of us, Judaism is not a profession, but it does demaand on-going studies. Meir tells us we can learn from anyone and everyone - he did (and defended it nicely).

Seems to me the kids could see the hypocrisy of it all.

Mom and Dad send ME to a place I don't want to go to learn (about) a religion they don't practice and a language they can't comprehend - their prayers are said by rote or by reading a transliteration but in either case, have no meaning for them.

I always felt sorry for the kids and I felt sorry for Judaism. Both were getting gyped.

(We used to have Greek Orthodox neighbors who sent their daughters to "Greek School" and I suspect they felt the same way about "Greek School" as Jewish kids feel about "Hebrew School." Maybe all religions have the same problem.)

I made a suggestion to The Spouse this morning. In order to get the parents to attend services and study a bit, offer a discount for the kid's tuition, say 25% off if both parents regularly participate in Sunday services and study; 15% off if only one parent participates. (Single parents get the full discount . . . who knows, maybe they'll meet someone during the study sessions!)

Yohanon
Yohanon.Glenn @ gmail.com