This Shabbat marked the finale of the 2025 Suzanne and Bernard Pucker Tamchui Program. For our students, this was a day of reflection and celebration; they have worked diligently to explore the topics of Food Insecurity, Teen Mental Health, and Educational Access & Equity in Boston – and far beyond. They have tackled very real, challenging issues with open-mindedness and a desire to live Tikkun Olam (repairing the world). In partnership with this year’s six outstanding nonprofits, Middle Schoolers and Lower Schoolers alike have expanded their thinking about important issues in the world, while growing their skills of curiosity, ingenuity, and empathy. Rashi is proud to be donating $1,800 to each of our nonprofit partners in order to further support their work.
Tamchui is a practice in perspective taking. In its second week, Meet the Representatives Week, Social Justice Coordinator Sally Rose Zuckert assisted Grade 3 students as they engaged in a budgeting simulation for a family in need of food, transportation, healthcare, and more. Led by representatives from Yad Chessed, the kids were excited to make a plan for how to use the monthly budget wisely. But when the students discovered that they didn’t have enough money in their budget to provide everything their pretend-family needed, they were outraged. How could this be? Why should this family have to go without essentials? It was clear they had to get creative. Together, we started with this question: “To whom may we go for help?”
When Parashat Yitro begins, Moses is exhausted, overworked, and overwhelmed. He is giving himself – his energy and attention, his time, his care – to the Israelites. They face hardships; they have questions. It seems like Moses is the only one who can provide answers. So, in the service of others, Moses’ responsibilities are many. He is a leader who feels compelled to listen, to help others, and to make difficult decisions. He does this alone.
That is, of course, until someone notices Moses’ isolation and burden. It’s Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, who starts by simply observing. He can see Moses is beginning to stumble. He asks, “Why do you act alone, while the people stand about you from morning until evening?” Moses expresses his mandate to make God’s laws and teachings known to the people. (No pressure, right?) Jethro, with gentle wisdom, lends some meaningful counsel. He reminds Moses to look outside of himself and toward capable leaders who can help make decisions for the community: “For the task is too heavy for you; you cannot do it alone.” In delegating tasks to others, Moses will “bear up” and find his strength again. The people will benefit, too: They will have clearer purpose as they work to solve problems and enact God’s teachings.
What I appreciate most about this moment is that Moses doesn’t ask for this clarity – but he does trust in it. Jethro’s advice is a gift. The exchange is respectful and realistic. Moses is empowered to make meaningful changes moving forward; he shares responsibility with others, and in turn, empowers new leaders to help make important decisions. In reflecting on this passage, we come back to the third grade question: “To whom may we go for help?” In the middle of the budget simulation, students suggested that their pretend-family could reach out to community organizations for donations of clothes, food, and support. Accepting help from others would allow the family to afford other important costs, while positively connecting them to their community. Thanks to what they learned from their Middle School peers and the Tamchui representatives, these young learners knew of two such organizations that could help the many real families who have these real needs.
That beautiful connective thread inspired Sally Rose to reflect upon her own experience leading this year’s Tamchui program. “It was a lot of work! But I only needed to look at my Rashi community to see leaders of all kinds, ready and willing to do great things,” she said. Our faculty and staff used their vision and skill to help our students learn and grow. As a result, Middle School students became the teachers who empowered Lower School learners to expand their understanding of the world.
“The task of Tamchui was too much to do alone – so I didn’t!” Explained Sally Rose. “And I’m so glad. Like Jethro reminds Moses, trust in one another’s abilities and intention to do good helps everyone to ‘bear up.’ As a kehillah (community), we all grew in our ability to use our agency and voice, creativity, and joy as actors in the collective work of Tikkun Olam.”