Evidence of Understanding Activities
The Seventh grade Enduring Understanding is about knowing how to say "Hineini" Hineinu means "I am here" -but it is more than that. Hineini is the answer that our ancestors in the Torah gave to God to say "I am here, I am focused, I am paying attention, I am ready..." Below are our 7th grade Evidence of Understanding writings on our "Hineini Moments"
Jenny's Hineini Moment:
My Hineini moment in my secular life outside of Hebrew school is during lacrosse. I was playing a game against
Nicola's Hineini Moment:
One hineini moment that I had was Passover (this year). I read all the Hebrew and I didn't think that I could read all of that. My family was proud and it was fantastic!!!! Another hineini moment was I've been working with the cantor for my bat mitzvah. The first week I didn't care about what she was giving me to learn. And as the weeks went on I realized getting bat mitzvah is an important thing. So I got up and I worked my hardest.
Throughout my years in Hebrew school, my teacher taught me a lot that I can relate to my life. One example is when I help my family with things that need to be done. Helping with gardening and cleaning the house, etc., I am being a mensch. Also being able to play softball and have player that can play. We work as a team and we have fun so when that we win games because we work as a team!!
Alex's Hineini Moment:
I had a sense of Hineini during my bat mitzvah and I felt a sense of accomplishment as a Jewish adult when it was over. I also felt an earning of respect of community. Since I was so confident I felt like I helped other people to accomplish what I did. I felt great when I accomplished something that I thought that I could never do. It felt unreal to me when I was done. When I was standing up there and I saw all of my family members and friends up there a smile appeared on my face. When I was sitting in my chair listening to the cantor I was humdrum but when I stood up and read I felt great.
Jacob's Hineini Moment:
I was in a Hineini moment when I got to read from the Torah for the first time. I was "in" that moment when I was practicing for my Bar Mitzvah. As I ran through my Torah portion, I could feel myself being in the moment. I felt I was ready for my Bar Mitzvah. I saw a lot of friends do it, and it looked really nerve-wracking. As I went through it, though, I realized it wasn't so hard after all.
Mike's Hineini Moment:
My Hinenini moment was in the summer of 2008. During this I was sailing in the downbay championship and tied for first with one race left. As we rounded the last buoy me and him were tied. During this I had a hineini moment and I won the championship
My Bar Mitzvah was on March 28th 2009. My Bar Mitzvah made me have a sense of pride in myself. During it I had a Hineini moment. It felt like me and god connected. It also gave me a sense of joy and maturity.
Arielle's Hineini Moment:
My Hineini moment was when we were all at Passover with my whole family. Both sets of my grandparents were there and so were my aunt, uncle, and cousins. We were all having fun telling the Passover 
story because my grandpa kept making jokes. Also my younger cousin read the questions and I was trying to read them in Hebrew. It reminded me of everything we learned in Hebrew school. Also, my grandpa kept asking me and my cousins questions about the story. It was fun and I understood what was going on.
Sam's Hineini Moment:
I had a hineini moment which means here I am. I have had many hineini moments in my life but the one that was very important to me was when I had my bat mitzvah and was able to stand up on the bima. When I was done with my bat mitzvah I felt amazing and ready to celebrate with my family and friends. When it was over it is a sensational feeling knowing your done and that I am a young lady now. I have accomplished something that I thought would never come! Being Bat Mitzvah feels unreal and joyful to know that you actually made it through this big moment.
Matt's Hineini Moment:
I have a sense of Hineini while studying for my bar mitzvah. I always have confidence when I go to study for my bar mizvah. I go to study for my bar mitzvah so I could help others. There are a lot of feelings I feel when I finish studying: pride, joy and I feel responsible. I feel like I'm being respected.
I learned this year that you should trust god and to stand up for others. That was the important lesson I learned. When a kid in my school is always getting picked on I try to stick up for him.
Brian's Hineini Moment:
When I was at track practice, I decided to time myself for running the mile. While running, I was in the moment. Nothing was on my mind except beating my old time. When I finished running I was exhausted when I crossed the finish, but I was ecstatic when I discovered my time of 6:55 had beat my old 7:30 time.
When I become a Bar Mitzvah, I felt Hineini. Before my Bar Mitzvah, I felt really anxious and nervous. But, I told myself I could do it, and I convinced myself to not be nervous. While I led the service, I felt that I could do it. When I read my Torah portion I began to feel calmer and in the moment. When it was all over, I felt very accomplished, and I thought all my hard work had paid off.
Andrew's Hineini Moment:
My secular moment was when I was at my first Met game. It was really close and when the Mets finally won I was "here." It was one of the best Hineini moments of my life.
My Hineini moment was when I became Bar Mitzvahed and I read out of the Torah. I felt closer to God than I had ever been. I felt pride in my religion and what I had just accomplished. I felt that I had earned respect from the Jewish community.
Brandon's Hineini Moment:
I stood up for my friend when he was being bullied because it was wrong to be bullied.
When I was up on the Bima I was in the Hineini moment because I worked so hard and it is now over.
Rachel's Hineini Moment
My Hineini moment was when I spent Passover at my aunt and uncle's house. When I was there I read the 4 questions for the first time in front of my family. After I was done I felt very confident, like I had accomplished something.
My secular Hineini moment was when I got a solo in my dance recital. I felt like I was there during this moment because dancing is one of my favorite things to do.
Hannah's Hineini Moment:
My secular moment in life that I felt that Hineini feeling was May 15th. May 15th I earned my third degree black belt. It was a huge accomplishment. I had to complete many tests for it. I had to do 75 pushups in 2 minutes and I did 84. I had to do 75 situps in 2 minutes and I did 77. I also had to run 2 miles in 25 minutes and I ran it in 22 minutes. I was so proud that I was able to do these things. Knowing that I'm able to do these things, I felt a Hineini moment.
I felt a great accomplishment when I read my Torah portion. It was an awesome feeling to know that I can read and chant Hebrew. That is voweless! And Dana was so helpful when it came to reading my prayers I had a ball at my Bat Mitzvah.
