In
education,
we
do
a
lot
with
mission
statements.
We
write
them.
We
plan
curriculums
around
them.
Mission
statements
are
very
important.
Schools,
corporations,
even
the
government
has
a
mission
statement:
the
Preamble
of
the
Constitution.
A
mission
statement
guides
the
rest
of
the
behavior
that
a
person
engages
on
both
a
daily
basis
and
in
their
long‐term
goal
setting,
though
many
of
us
never
actually
formula te
a
formal
mission
statement
for
ourselves.
Let’s
take
a
quick
look
at
some
of
the
major
points
of
our
mission
statement:
One
G‐d:‐ That’s
pretty
big.
No
one
at
that
time
period
was
monotheistic
in
any
pure
sense,
and
this
is
the
case
for
much
of
the
world
even
now.
The
concept
of
an
all‐ reaching
unified
entity
that’s
beyond
the
limits
of
the
physical
universe
is
a
very
difficult
concept.
Mesirat
Nefesh‐That
means
giving
over
of
yourself,
time‐wise,
monetarily,
and
even
in
extreme
cases
your
life.
There
have
unfortunately
been
many
Jews
who
were
told
to
convert
or
die,
and
chose
not
to
convert.
It’s
a
hard
concept
for
most
of
us.
Education‐There
is
a
requirement
to
be
educated
and
to
educate
your
kids
about
being
Jewish.
Jews
have
always
been
very
into
education,
which
is
why
we
are
so
disproportionately
represented
in
colleges
and
universities
around
the
country,
as
well
as
in
professions
that
require
advanced
degrees.
Reward
and
Punishment‐No
one
wants
to
walk
around
thinking
G‐d
is
going
to
zap
them,
and
we
don’t
advocate
that.
However,
no
one
wants
to
think
all
the
murderers
and
rapists
who
don’t
get
caught
by
the
police
get
to
just
have
an
easily
life
with
no
repercussions.
Nor
does
such
a
world
make
sense.
We
certainly
don’t
believe
that.
We
believe
that
you
are
rewarded
for
every
good
deed
and
punished
fo r
every
bad
one.
Everyone
has
a
share
in
the
Next
World,
even
non‐Jews,
but
what’s
waiting
for
you
depends
on
your
behavior
down
here.
The
Exodus:
It’s
the
defining
moment
for
us
as
Jews,
and
we
should
keep
this
unifying
experience
in
our
heads
to
remind
us
who
we
are.
I’d
say
if
you
wanted
a
nice
summary
of
what
it
means
to
be
Jewish,
this
is
it
right
here.
Obviously,
there
is
a
lot
more
but
this
is
certainly
a
good
start.
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Tags: education, exodus, G-d, Israel, jew, jewish, moral education, reward and punishment, shema, Torah
