This is the topic for contributing to formulating a mission statement for our group. I will start:
To encourage Am Yisroel to learn and adhere to the principles of Torah Im Derech Eretz. These are the principles that underlie the pasuk of בכל דרכיך דעהו and include:
Talmud Torah kineged kulam. To educate ourselves in what Tanach,Chazal and our great thinkers have taught us as to our role in the world and how we fulfull it.
Kiddush Shem Shomayim and Ohr LaGoyim. To demonstrate to ourselves, to our misled brethren and to the world in general, the beauty of Torah life, both within the home and in interpersonal relationships. This values such as חכמה בגוים תאמין, חביב אדם שנברא בצלם and, above all else, ואהבת לרעך כמוך.
A sense of history, mission and purpose. An awareness of our period and our responsibility. To value our lives in the perspective of what we have done to bring the Geulah closer. To love all of Am Yisroel, and to utilize every possible moment and talent to influence those who have gone astray, to bring them closer to Hashem and His primary valus of עשות משפט, אהבת חסד והצנע לכת. This includes values such as yosher, mussar etc.
חנוך לנער על פי דרכו. To provide holistic education to each according to his or her abilities and his unique potential. To train both leaders, talented people who will be capable of arousing the nation in Eretz Yisroel and in the diaspora, and lay people equally committed to these goals on individual, family and communal levels.
Wonderful start. I’d suggest adding in a s’if regarding ikar shechina b’tachtonim - the understanding that the focus of our avodas Hashem is on molding this world, not preparing for the next world, and the belief that every individual has something to contribute towards developing a society that reflects Divine values.
@Avrohom for some reason only put this on WhatsApp but it should be here. His words:
- Torah l’shem asiyah vs Torah l’shem tora - Importance of internalizing (rational) taamei hamitzvos - Responsibility to society - Recognition of the potential inherent of all of humanity. - Treating all human beings even non-Jews with respect (love). - Chinuch as training for future life as opposed to idyllic unexposed childhood - Appreciation for general wisdom and how it can enhance avodas hashem
On #4, to realize that from the chochma perspective, this includes acknowledging and integrating ways of being sensitive to visual/auditory/kinesthetic dominance differences in individual learners, paying special attention to those with emotional/interpersonal intelligence as well as those who need special help in this realm, and any other realm of practical chochma in education that can be applied to the betterment of someone’s development/growth.
Not sure how this might fit in- but I think it is important to have stories told of how chochma and Torah interact in issue-focused contexts that might become maamarim to illustrate the process of making the linkages. For example- why it may be important for all of us to have a sufficient knowledge of medicine and Torah to know how to ensure our loved ones are properly provided medical care, and especially in the case of elderly to ensure that our values control critical decisionmaking. Or why we might need to understand better about how to take care of ourselves in terms of our physicality with respect to diet, exercise, and movement as a way of implementing a shaar bechina sense of appreciating that we were given a body to use as part of avodas elokim. There may be other stories worth telling that may arise in secular law, commerce, and many other arenas- all worth expressing openly for Klal Yisroel to be enriched.