So I’m sorting through stacks of miscellaneous yeshiva correspondence this afternoon during the littles’ naptime!
Below is the “comments” section from one of the kids’ report cards. I have blanked out the kid’s name for anonymity.
Here’s what I can make out: “Kid’s name (n”y = nero yair, “may his light shine”), nitkaven k’nishronos me’ulim umitztayyin k’hivaneh myuchedet yoser mechaverav (=”his very special understanding among his peers”?). Zehirus (care/caution to… what?) l’natzel bizman k’shleymosa ya’aziv l’havi hakochos hag’dolim (“to bring the big strength”?) el tachlisam (“to their goal/conclusion”?). Okay, then!
This report card is, I’m sure, the yeshiva’s way of saying “YOU – your weird baal teshuvah family – does not belong here.” We will pretend to make a million exceptions for your boy in the name of “understanding his background” and then we will send you a report card in a language you never learned.
Here’s one line I did understand:
This boy belongs in yeshiva. This boy has a gift for gemara, but apparently I can stand here on my blog (okay, sit) chanting it all I like because the yeshiva world is clearly not prepared – is utterly unequipped – to accept him, or understand us.
I am utterly ashamed that I am such an impediment to my children’s education.
