Mendel Banon

This week's parsha opens with two words: Lech Lecha. God tells Abraham to leave his land, his birthplace and his father's house. It's usually translated as "Go." But what the words literally say is: "Go TO yourself." Doesn't it seem counterintuitive that "go to yourself" comes with a command to leave everything you've known your entire life? Wouldn't you find “yourself” at home, with the people and habits that made you who you are? Chassidus explains the three things Avraham had to leave. Your land is what you naturally desire. Your birthplace is the nature and habits you grew up with. Your father's house is the way you were taught to think. All of that is real and all of it matters. But none of it is the deepest YOU. The deepest you is your soul's purpose, the part of you that exists for a reason nobody else can fulfill. And you only meet that part of yourself by going. The Rebbe points out that God never tells Abraham where he's headed. "To the land that I will show you." If Abraham knew the destination, he'd still be working within his own understanding. Real growth means going past what you can already imagine. It means letting go of old narratives, ignoring the limitations that society places on you, and pushing yourself past your wildest dreams. We tell kids "just be yourself" but how often do we tell that to ourselves. Be yourself, your true self. And every step of the journey is a step closer to the land that God promises you.

Great conversation last night with actor and activist Patrick Reynolds. We talked about education, universal values and where America is headed. I left inspired by his passion to make real change. Thank you @dory_benami for the invite!

National Character Counts Week starts today. In 1987, a lawyer named Michael Josephson sold his business and used a million dollars from the sale to start an ethics institute. He named it after his parents. In 1992 he launched CHARACTER COUNTS! It grew out of a meeting in Aspen, built on the idea that there are values that all people share, and that schools can teach them without picking a side on politics or faith. In 1993, congress set aside the third week of October to be character counts week. It has renewed that every year since, under presidents of both parties. This year's resolution passed the Senate by unanimous consent, with sponsors from both sides of the aisle. An example of a powerful implementation of this happened in Albuquerque in 1995. Albuquerque had just become the first city in the country to run the program citywide. Senator Pete Domenici put a report from its schools into the Congressional Record. The district had made a manual for parents to teach their children, and at one elementary school, teachers and parents put on skits about respect for the kids. The people who built this thirty years ago were clear about where character begins. It begins at home, and school can either compound it or miss the opportunity.

Inspired by @broukhim thoughts on Noach, I want to share an idea from the Rebbe that captures one of the main themes of the Rebbe’s World view: We are here to contribute, not merely to consume. This week’s parsha describes one of the most tragic times in history, when God decided enough was enough and the world needed a total cleanse. One of the main sins running rampant at the time was stealing, which is really the ultimate form of consumption. What makes stealing so fundamentally bad? It’s not only that the thief isn’t producing anything himself. He’s robbing his fellow of the chance to take that object and use it for good. And even more than that he’s robbing the very object itself of its purpose, and in a way he's denying that anything has a purpose at all. Now when God commanded Noach to build the Ark, He told him to make a "Tzohar", to bring light. Was that command really necessary? Would they otherwise have just sat in the dark? God was teaching them what light actually is. He was teaching them how to CREATE light. Rashi brings two explanations of what the Tzohar was: a window, or a stone that gave off its own light. The Rebbe says you need both. First you need a window to the heavens, a way of seeing the world the way God sees it, where everything has a purpose and our job is to find it and bring it out. Only once that window is open can we become the stone, a source of light and life and purpose that we can share with the world. The generation of the flood only took. The Tzohar teaches the opposite. To give you have to receive, and to fulfill your purpose you must find your unique way to contribute.

Just had a great meeting with Dr. Alex Cherniss, superintendent of Beverly Hills Unified. A tremendous leader who understands what education needs today. It's always refreshing to meet someone who cares this much about the well-being of every one of their students.

This past summer I wrote an op-ed under the guidance of @liel about parents’ responsibility toward their kids’ education, and how crucial their involvement is. The Alabama Governor’s Commission announcement yesterday reminded me of it. They announced they’ll be asking parents a question this week: should children be having less screen time at school? What got me thinking wasn’t the question, but who they’re asking. The parents. It’s time we put parents back in the driver’s seat of education. It’s long for a tweet, but maybe this way it’ll get @BillAckman’s attention ;)

I saw a poll this morning that 83% of NJ supports banning phones in school. (Props to the legendary @JonHaidt for pushing this forward!) Distraction in class was the smaller problem. The bigger one is that phones have been shaping what kids care about and who they look up to. So, parents: once the phone is gone, who's filling that space? Is it going to be you?

My good friend @FarroYossi gave me a push. Post more, he said. And he's right about it. I always assumed social media was just noise. And alot of it is. But somehow, good ideas still find the right people. So I'm going to be sharing more here. About what we're building at @meaningfulmo and the ideas that inspire us. Let's see who it finds.

Great talking, and wrapping with @sidrosenberg19 this morning in Dallas. Great way to go into the new year

A lot of good conversations about @MeaningfulMo at the RNC, and a few Tefillins along the way. Real honor to wrap with @RepFine , who spearheaded the effort for a daily minute of silence in every Florida classroom before he got to Congress.

It was a real pleasure meeting you Darren! We met at the inaugural Wrapfest in LA put on by @broukhim and @FarroYossi Absolutely beautiful event!

Today marks 32 years since Gimmel Tammuz. The Rebbe's belief that every human being has a unique ability to change and uplift the world is carried forward by people he inspired every single day. Every person is a piece of the puzzle the world can't do without. I wrote about watching that play out @FCMichigan

Had a great time joining @liel on his podcast the other day as we discussed a few primary ideas of the Rebbe on education. The focus of education should be on empowering a child with a strong identity built on faith, values, and good character, not merely overloading them with information. And the best way to teach them is by being an example. Kids learn far more from who we are than from what we say. Thanks Liel! Listen here. podcasts.apple.com/us/podcas… @tabletmag @mottiseligson

Hot take: kids don't need another app, curriculum, or wellness intervention. Sometimes they just need one quiet minute to be on their own and process. Had a great conversation with @FreeRangeKids today about exactly this, and I'm super grateful for her wise insights. Kids aren't fragile. They're capable. They just need room. That's what @LetGrowOrg does. That's what @MeaningfulMo does. Let them grow! Some things are simpler than we make them out to be. Thanks @CarolynGorman_ for the intro!

Heading to New Orleans this Morning for the Louisiana Teacher Leader Summit. Building toward a Meaningful Moment pilot in LA schools this fall. If You're in NOLA and want to connect, DM me. If you know someone I should meet, tag them below. See you in NOLA!

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