Can a good person do bad things, or only good? Could Noach do anything bad? Did he have free will?
Conversely, can one also be “pure” in their actions, or only in their heart?
Can a pure person do bad things?
Can a bad person be pure at heart?
Kli Yakar
Loose translation:
“That generation transgressed in three areas: idol worship, forbidden relations, and theft. That’s why we are told that Noach guarded himself in three ways:
‘Ish Tzadik’—he didn’t steal;
‘Pure in his generation’—he guarded the family unit;
‘He walked with G-d’—he didn’t turn to idols/other gods.”
Sample questions based on Kli Yakar:
• Why was it important for Noach to counter the bad actions of his generation?
• How can we do the same?
• How is this “midah k’neged midah?” Or isn’t it?
* * * * *
Websites
Today’s homeschooling parents have a wealth of information literally at their fingertips. Several websites dedicated to Jewish homeschooling offer classes, curriculums blogs, articles, camaraderie, school supplies and more, giving parents who teach their children at home a host of opportunities.
Room613.net was created five years ago by Rabbi Yosef Resnick to fill an unmet need in the world of Jewish education, providing a comprehensive Judaic studies program for students who are homeschooled or who do not have access to Jewish education locally. Using cutting-edge virtual classroom technology to offer a live, interactive learning environment where students and teacher see and hear each other, share texts, videos, and graphics, and collaborate on a whiteboard, Room613.net brings students from around the country and the world together as a real learning community with a full schedule of Jewish studies and specialty classes for early childhood through high school.
Chinuch.org, a division of Torah U’Mesorah, gives educators the ability to share materials and ideas for students of all ages and includes access to a variety of educational materials clip art, forums, the Olomeinu archives and an audio/video library.
TorahTutors.org, an affiliate of Rabbi Chaim Brovender’s WebYeshiva, offers the homeschooling community the opportunity to build a customized homeschooling curriculum, which includes classes for students and weekly tutorials for parents.
LivingLessons.com offers a five-year Judaic curriculum for students in fourth through eighth grade using a series of age appropriate textbooks and workbooks. The focus is on teaching Torah through taryag mitzvos.
MorahSupplies.com offers a full range of supplies, from posters to aleph bais, with a craft corner offering inspiring ideas for educational projects.
JewishHomeSchool.blogspot.com gives insights, activities and other resources from a mother of five who not only homeschools her kids, but shares her experiences with the world.