7 Steps

Dear Parents,

As you know, one of the highlights of our week is Mr. Fischman's "Seven Steps to Mentschood" class.  The fourth graders eagerly await his arrival each Tuesday.  They listen carefully and offer deep and sophisticated responses to his questions.  Here are some comments he recently collected regarding Step #2 ("Do not hate your brother in your heart. Correct him but avoid further sin"). 

 Enjoy and shabbat shalom!

Mr. Fischman, Morah Michal, and Morah Leah  

Seven Steps to Mentschhood

Concluding

STEP # 2

Give examples of how you perform Step # 2 in school

·      When someone brags, don't yell at them.

·      Tell people who brag that it isn't nice.

·      If your brother is doing something wrong, try to help him.

·      Deliver an "I" message: Let the person know why you are upset about something he did and how you feel about it.

·      Someone in class said something was easy but it wasn't so easy for me, so I told him how I felt.

·      Although I wasn't invited to a birthday party, I didn't hate the person.

·      If someone is acting silly in reading groups tell them nicely not to be silly.

·      If someone does better on a test than me, I wouldn't complain, I would be happy for them.

·      If someone did better than me in a race, I wouldn't start crying, I would be happy for the person who won.

·      I include other people in my games.

·      I don't speak lashon hora.

·      When someone shakes your desk, don't get angry at them.

·      G<d forbid that you are on the winning side, you don't curse the loser.

·      Don't get jealous over other people's stuff.

·      If you are jealous of someone's things, be happy with what you have.

·      If someone scribbles on your work, give him an "I" message.

·      If someone laughs at you, give them an "I" message.

·      If someone accidentally bumps into you, forgive them.

·      If someone is being really annoying, explain why it annoys you and help sort it out.

·      If someone keeps spilling your pencil box or papers, explain why it bothers you and help him stop.

·      Have faith in your friend.

·      If your friend spilled your juice, you could say "It's o.k., it was probably an accident."

·      If a person has an iPad don't be jealous of him.

·      If they talk behind your back, you shouldn't hate them you should talk to them.

·      If someone knocks over your pencil case, and the person will be mad at you, just let it go.

·      Say "stop, please" and not a bad word.

 

 

How did you perform Step # 2 during the past week?

·      At gym, I told the Coach that I thought the teams were unfair and could she switch them.

·      I didn't get angry at a person who teased me.

·      My brother was hitting and kicking me and was getting mad, but instead of hitting him back I told him to stop.

·      I wasn't upset when the other team beat us at "capture the flag."

·      I wasn't angry when I lost a game.

·      I did not take revenge on anyone who was mean to me.

·      I said "sorry" nicely to my friend.

·      I helped my friend with his problem even though he was mean to me.

·      When my brother was kicking me, I gave him an "I" message and he stopped.

·      My friend felt like her friend didn't like her because they were arguing, so I helped them become friends again.

·      I was jealous of my sister's phone and I said I would wait until I get one soon.

·      When my brother took my iPad I thought of Step #2 and felt furious and told him to please stop because I was using it.

·      Someone keeps taking my pencils, so I said to them, "I think someone in this class is taking my pencils, and you sit at my desk, so if it is you, please stop."

·      I saw someone with a cool rock and I wanted it, but felt happy for him.

·      I did Step #2 when my friend got a toy and not bad.

 

Why is it important to learn Step # 2?

·      (Instead of getting angry) it feels good to help someone.

·      If you hate everyone, everyone will hate you.

·      If people don't follow this step, you would hate everyone, and everyone would hate you.

·      Otherwise you wouldn't have a lot of friends.

·      It could help you in class.

·      It is a lesson you will really need in life.

·      You will make the other person feel bad.

·      Hashem does not like baseless hatred.

·      It will stop you from hating others.

·      Because everyone will be holy.

·      Because hating people is a bad habit.

·      If you don't it, the whole world will be bad and not like each other.

·      So you don't embarrass someone in front of other people.

·      Otherwise, if you hate someone so badly it could tear you up and hurt your insides.

·      If no one follows this step, everyone will hate each other.

·      If you don't like someone, you should try to become friends.

·      So you know what to do when someone annoys you.

·      You can be a better person.

·      You will get into much less arguments and fights.

·      A lot of people would be hurt and no one would share.

·      If you just hated everybody, life wouldn't be life.

·      You can't hate your brother forever.

·      It is an important mitzvah.

·      So you won't annoy, curse or hate someone.