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.
I know very few diaspora families, whatever their background, who could understand this. I fully support teaching in hebrew but it's ridiculous to expect the parents to understand this!
ReplyDeleteThat said, you should be very proud of your son. it says - roughly: "Kid has outstanding talents and stands out for his special understanding, more than his friends. Due care to use all his time [presumably during tests or some such??] would help him completely realize his great powers."
Thanks!!! Actually, another friend translated it for me as well. Here's her version, which is basically the same thing.
ReplyDelete"Kid neiro yair nisbarech b'kishronos m'ulim umitztayein b'havanah miyuchedes yoser m'chaveirav. Zehirus l'natzeil hazman b'shleimusah yaazor l'havi hakochos hagedolim el tachlisam."
(the transliteration is actually helpful to me in deciphering it)
"Kid is blessed with excellent abilities and excels with/in an unusual (level of) understanding (that is) greater than his peers. Care to take advantage of the time completely will help to bring these great strengths to fulfillment."
Thanks to both of you!!!
Hmmmm. I am thrilled to have stumbled into this discussion. As his Grampa, I likely have said "Kid is blessed with excellent abilities and excels with/in an unusual (level of) understanding (that is) greater than his peers. Care to take advantage of the time completely will help to bring these great strengths to fulfillment" many times with various iterations and to the amusement of many friends bound to listen to a very proud grand parent. I have spoken of sister in similar ways and with identical enthusiasm. Good raising, Mom!
ReplyDeleteJP