<HTML>I, too, relate to starting off the day being annoyed because students
were not concentrating on davening as they should. When I taught at the
Yeshiva of Flatbush two years ago, I enacted a program similar to what
Yocheved Lindenbaum is suggesting. That is, every day after tefillah, a
different girl would speak 1-3 minutes on the meaning of the tefillah or
a related inspirational story. I started taking volunteers, then made
it obligatory for everyone of the 32 girls for the "Ashkenazic Girls
Minyan at the Yeshiva of Flatbush 6th graders." Different tefilot were
assigned, so not one part of the tefilla was given too much attention
(Shema, Ashrei and the Amida usually get the most comments). The
highlight was at the end of the year, we compiled a book, had it
published and gave it out at a siyum breakfast for all the girls, where
they missed first period to have an extended breakfast and dvar torah on
tefila. The day of the siyum, we davened in a larger room, and let me
tell you they - and I - were so excited, there was not a peep during
davening, concentration was at a peak, and we all felt pretty good about
ourselves. The administration obviously backed me up and paid for the
publishing and food, but we all agreed it was well worth it. A
suggestion, if anyone is interested.
Yes, their kavanah was on a high for only a day, but the buildup and the
day itself were well worth it. Plus, every kid got to take home a book
of divrei torah with their own names attached.
Semadar Ben-Zvi
Jerusalem</HTML>
