As a way for students to delve more deeply in to what they have been learning about in their social studies classes, the Triton 7th graders spoke with a Rabbi on Thursday, April 5.

As the seventh graders wrap up their unit on the history of Judaism, 7-2 teacher Mr. Thomas Anderson invited Rabbi Ben Resnick from Newburyport to speak with approximately 200 students, as well as their teachers. The 40-minute presentation included the history of Judaism, what he does as a Rabbi, and what it is like to be Jewish. Ben ended by allowing the students to ask questions.

“I think it was important to have the Rabbi come visit to provide some context to our students,” Anderson said.  “The majority of Triton Students have had very little exposure to Judaism in the real world. Most going to so far as to say they had never met a Jewish person. Giving students the chance to meet and interact with a religious leader from a faith different from their own adds to their understanding of the subject and deepens their knowledge.”

“Has anyone never met or seen a Jewish person before today,” is what Rabbi Ben asked the students as he started his presentation. Approximately 30 students raised their hands. “Is anyone Jewish,” was Resnick’s follow-up question. Only one student and one teacher raised their hands.  

“Well, let me start off by saying that there are many different ways to be Jewish. Not all Jews believe the same things or practice the same things,” Resnick said. “That is okay, because it is okay to disagree because they all love and care about each other. You have to be able to accomodate people who believe different things.”

“Judaism is like a family, and like a family, Jews all over the world care about each other and feel responsible for one another, even if they don’t agree with one another or believe the same things,” Resnick said.

Rabbi Ben went on to describe how Judaism is more akin to an ethnicity that a religion. “Unlike a religion, Judaism is not only what you believe, but also who your family is, and sometimes who your parents are. Sometimes people convert, but once you choose to, you’re in a family. Judaism is an ethnicity, because it’s the culture, where you come from what you do, and your family.”

Ben told the students what some of the Jewish cultures are. “Learning and study are part of Jewish culture, especially psychology, which had a lot of early Jewish psychologists. The food is, as well.”

Some Jewish foods Resnick described were: kanish (a folded pie with meat or potatoes in it), matza (unleavened bread eaten during Passover), and baklava (a pastry originating from Jews living in the Middle East).

Resnick also told the students about a rather unknown side of Judaism. “Comedy is a very Jewish thing, to stand up and have people look at you while you make them laugh. Jerry Seinfeld is a famous Jewish comedian.”

Many students were thrilled to be able to ask someone that they were studying about in their social studies class a question.

“The Rabbi was really cool and it was really cool getting to meet one since we are studying the religion and we were able to learn more about what we were learning in class and get our questions answered,” said seventh grade student Brenna Coates. “It was also cool he lives so close, because he did not live as far away as I thought they did.”

One of Coates’ peers, David Pugh, shared his views. “He wasn’t what I was expecting, for some reason, I was expecting an old guy, but he was young and a cool guy. He was different than a Christian priest, because he isn’t really connected with God since he is married, but it was cool to get our questions answered by someone who knows Judaism so well.”

Paige Andrews, a fellow seventh grader, also enjoyed the experience. “I thought it was really cool to meet him and it was really cool for him to talk to us about Kosher and stuff and his thoughts about it. He explained everything better so I understood it more. It was nice he was so close.”