During last week's 8th & 9th Grade Shabbaton, Zoey Diamond ('30) shared the following insightful D’var Torah:

Shabbat Shalom 8th and 9th graders! I’m very excited for this great weekend we are going to have. This week's parsha is Parshat Shemot, the very first parsha of the book of Shemot. Ironically, this is our first Shabbaton. In this Parsha we hear about how Jacob’s family multiplied and became a great nation of Jewish people.

וַיֹּ֖אמֶר אֶל־עַמּ֑וֹ הִנֵּ֗ה עַ֚ם בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל רַ֥ב וְעָצ֖וּם מִמֶּֽנּוּ
Together, we become one kehilla, one community. At Schechter we have to find ways to stay together like we always have been. Just like when the Jews were slaves in Egypt, when they couldn’t leave, they stuck together and always had been. Being in this community is so important. These are the people that you spend every day with, the people you share memories with, and the people you will always be connected with. Getting the opportunity to be friends with these people is what happens at Schechter. Making these types of connections is what happens too. Whether it’s in sports, clubs, or right now, our Schechter community is what we stick with for the rest of our school lives, or more.

In this parsha also, Moshe is born. When the Jewish people grew too numerous, Pharaoh made a decree:

וַיֹּ֗אמֶר בְּיַלֶּדְכֶן֙ אֶת־הָֽעִבְרִיּ֔וֹת וּרְאִיתֶ֖ן עַל־הָאׇבְנָ֑יִם אִם־בֵּ֥ן הוּא֙ וַהֲמִתֶּ֣ן אֹת֔וֹ וְאִם־בַּ֥ת הִ֖וא וָחָֽיָה
When midwives helped deliver Jewish babies, they acted according to their conscience and let the children live. They stood up for what they thought was right—their pride. That’s another thing that we learn at Schechter: to be like the midwives and stand up for what we believe in.

So when we are gathered here this weekend, think about how grateful we are to be here together. And if you are ever in a situation you think is wrong, be like the midwives, stand up for what you believe in. Thank you everyone and Shabbat Shalom!

This Shabbaton gave students the chance to reflect on the values of courage, community, and moral responsibility, and to see how lessons from Parshat Shemot continue to guide life at Schechter.