Laws of Love

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From Rabbi David

In this week's Torah portion, Yitro, God gives the Torah to the Jewish people at Mount Sinai. Reading the text, one imagines a people in awe and some terror. Thunder, lightning, smoke, loud blasts of the shofar and a mountain rumbling all remind the Israelites of the importance of following the rules laid out in the Torah.

While the image the Torah paints seems like a parent or teacher (God) laying down the law for the students (the Israelites), the rabbis offer another perspective. They imagine the giving of the Torah as a grand wedding celebration. The Torah is the ring that God gives to the children of Israel as they stand "under" the huppah (wedding canopy) which is symbolized by Mount Sinai. The rabbis teach us through this imagery that rules and laws only work well when they are born out of a loving and trusting relationship.

Rules and boundaries are vital for a child's development and children respond positively to these boundaries when they know that they are based in love and care. That's the approach that we take at Gan Sinai. By ensuring that everything we do is built upon a foundation of love and safety for each and every child - we are able to teach your children to respect the rules and boundaries that we set.