(יב) רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר בֶּן שַׁמּוּעַ אוֹמֵר, יְהִי כְבוֹד תַּלְמִידְךָ חָבִיב עָלֶיךָ כְּשֶׁלְּךָ, וּכְבוֹד חֲבֵרְךָ כְּמוֹרָא רַבְּךָ, וּמוֹרָא רַבְּךָ כְּמוֹרָא שָׁמָיִם:
(12) Rabbi Elazar ben Shammua said: let the honor of your student be as dear to you as your own, and the honor of your colleague as the reverence for your teacher, and the reverence for your teacher as the reverence of heaven.
With Elul around the corner, we begin the process of preparing for the year to come. This special time of year prompts us to start fresh, set intentions for our growth, and explore new opportunities.
Whether you're gearing up for another school year or deep in the middle of your academic calendar, this is a great time to get inspired by the library. Below we share some of our favorite tools, texts, and resources on Sefaria for a bright new year.
New Year, New Features
We're always adding features to expand what's possible on Sefaria. Here are a few updates that can be especially impactful in your teaching this year:
- Language pages: Our new language pages list all of the texts available in that language (including English, Yiddish, and more), so you no longer have to open texts individually to find out if translations are available. See the full list of languages under 'Translations' on our homepage.
- New sheets editor: Start the new year with a more intuitive, student-friendly sheet editing experience! We'll walk you through the changes in this editor how-to sheet.
- Linking between Siddur and Tanakh: Have you or your learners ever wondered about the phrasing of a prayer you're studying? What's its source? Does it echo a Tanakh text? The Siddur and Tanakh are now cross-linked to reveal more intertextual connections. Try out the new links in 'Related Texts' in the resource panel.
Teaching Resources for Elul
Looking for fresh perspectives and activities for kicking off the new year? Try these, or utilize our topic search feature to find even more in the library:
- In preparation for the High Holidays, journey inwards through ancient texts, contemporary poetry, and reflective questions — prepared as part of Rabbi Margie Jacob's mindful art sessions for Jewish Studio Process.
- The sound of the shofar guides us from Elul into the new year. Review the what, how, and why of the shofar with this text-based sheet from the Sefaria learning team.
- This sheet collection includes some of our learning team's go-to classics on topics that are core to the High Holiday experience. Learn more about a favorite ritual, discover new ones, or find an engaging activity for kids or families.
Explore New Texts on Sefaria
The library keeps growing with new books and translations. Check out some of the latest additions:
- Drawing on a variety of classical and contemporary sources, Rabbi Chaim Jachter's new texts on the books of Ruth and Daniel offer educators a model of how to challenge and engage students in exploring Tanakh. These two works join our larger collection by Rabbi Jachter, including Depths of Yonah, a great read leading up to the High Holidays.
- We've expanded our collection of works by Rabbi Kalonymous Kalman Shapira, the chasidic master and pedagogue known as the Piaceczner Rebbe, to include Mevo HaShearim, Tzav VeZeruz, and Hakhsharat HaAvrekhim. These innovative books offer teachers invaluable insights on advancing the spiritual growth of their students.
As you're planning for Elul, remember that the Sefaria learning department is here to support you and your learning institution's instruction in the coming year. Take a look at our menu of professional development workshops, available free of charge.
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