It is a nice day when your former student pays you a visit on the last day of term, whilst he is fasting and recovering from surgery, to wish you a Happy Jewish New Year. I was incredibly touched by his intercultural reaching out. It came about this way.
Last year, around this time, there was trouble simmering in my classroom. The trouble centred around two students - one, a volatile, passionate Sudanese woman, and the other, a mischievous, curious, awkward Afghan man. I decided to take some lateral action, and planned to make Tashlikh with my class.
I brought along my best apple table cloth, some apples, honey, and breadcrumbs. I believe this was still during the time of Ramadan, but in that class only a few students were fasting. I prepared a worksheet with some information about Rosh Hashanah, which we read in class. I taught my students to say the traditional greeting "L'Shanah Tova". We then walked to the nearby River Torrens, where we threw breadcrumbs into the water and let go of our grievances.
The two students I mentioned above didn't come to this class. I was a little downcast by that, but went ahead with what I had planned nonetheless.
The student who visited me last week was there. The activity was obviously meaningful for him.
I wished him Eid Mubarak in return - the greeting he had taught me in return for my new year's greeting.
