In Pirkei Avot 4:1, Ben Zoma says, “Who is wise? He who learns from all people”. Our liturgy says, “The world stands on three things: the study of Torah, worship, and acts of loving kindness”. Education has long been a Jewish value. We are encouraged, even commanded, to study Torah, to pass it down to our children, and use our education to be better people. Education is what prevents people from repeating the past, what makes them change their behavior after making a mistake, and makes people more compassionate.
Who educates us? We learn from everyone. We learn how to behave by observing the behaviors of others. We learn by listening, by observing, and by doing. We learn from our parents, our friends, our clergy people, our acquaintances, and our teachers. Teaching is not an easy job (speaking from experience). Despite the difficulty, people teach because they love to share their knowledge, they love to see the spark in a person’s eye when a topic starts to make sense. They teach for the personal connection and intimacy that education creates. Once someone teaches you, you are connected for eternity.
All our lives have been touched by a teacher. Whether it be a school teacher, a Religious School teacher, a rabbi, a cantor, a tutor, a friend, or a relative our lives have been shaped by those who took the time to teach us. Teachers are working especially hard in this time of online. Some have to learn technology from scratch, and have just become teachers. Next week, May 3rd through May 9th, is Teacher Appreciation Week. Take the time next week to not just tell, but show your teachers you appreciate them. Make them a card, post on social media, give them a call and see how they’re doing (if you’re able). Show your teachers that their time and dedication is seen and appreciated – they need it.
Pop quiz! What show had 4 different title sequences, 3 different theme songs, 2 awesome teachers, and 1 spinoff series? Give up? The answer is *drumroll please* Boy Meets World!
We are going to discuss arguably two of the best teachers who have ever graced our televisions, Mr. Feeny and Mr. Turner. We meet Mr. Feeny in the very first season and Mr. Turner in the second. Mr. Feeny was Cory, Shawn, and Topanga’s teacher when the show starts with them as sixth graders, then he was their high school principal, then he was their professor in college. Mr. Turner was their high school English teacher. But both of these men were more than just teachers.
These two men were so much more than just teachers. Mr. Turner might not have been in the show as much as Mr. Feeny, but he made a big impact, especially in Shawn’s life. During the second season, Shawn’s parents abandon him. Shawn lives with Corey and his family for a while, but it isn’t the best fit. After running away and getting in trouble, he finds himself at Mr. Turner’s house. Mr. Turner takes Shawn in and the two live together for a while. Mr. Turner didn’t have to do any of this. He genuinely cared about Shawn and was a positive and stable role model for him, something Shawn was lacking in his life.
Mr. Feeny lived next door to the Matthews and watched the kids grow up. He guided Eric, Cory, Shawn, Topanga, and their friends and family through life. He taught them even when they didn’t want to be taught. He went out of his way to make sure they were ok and happy and safe. He genuinely cared about them and proved it time and time again throughout the show’s seven seasons. Mr. Feeny was the reason Cory ended up becoming a teacher, which we see in the spinoff Girl Meets World. While I could go on and on about the lessons Mr. Feeny taught and how important he is to the others, I think they could do a better job of telling you than I ever could.
And some closing words from Mr. Feeny….
Remember your teachers, show them some love, and wash your hands.
Love,
Amanda and Marissa
