So now that I have your attention….
Over the summer, the director of the religious school at my temple approached me about teaching a four week class at Sunday school. Sure, I told her. I always say yes first and ask questions later. What kind of class? Well, it was described to me as “a sort of Jewish sexual ethics, for seventh graders”. Oh, and it’s called “Sacred Choices”. Hmm. Sexual ethics for 12 year olds. Sounded interesting to say the least.
As I anxiously awaited the “Sacred Choices” curriculum for to arrive in the mail (I was really curious what the material would be like), I realized my nephew was in 7th grade and currently attending our temple’s Sunday school. I couldn’t help but think about how humiliating it was going to be for him to have his aunt standing before him and his friends talking about SEX. Ewwww.
So as usual, my anticipation proved to be a bit overkill. First of all, my nephew was put in my colleague’s class (so as to avoid embarrassment). And second, nowhere in the entire 4 session curriculum does the word “sex” appear. Ah ha! So “sexual ethics” for 7th graders isn’t really about sex at all. It is about embracing Jewish values to make smart life choices. Phew!
I taught the first class of the session this past Sunday. It went well. We started with a creative activity to get the kids thinks about how they see themselves and how they think others perceive them. We talked about what Judaism tells us about our bodies and soul. (They are holy gifts from God and should be treated as such). We brainstormed ways in which we can take care of our bodies and souls (enough sleep, exercise, good nutrition) and things which would compromise them (drugs, alcohol, stress).
That was when the sex bomb dropped. In a room full of 12 year olds, I was hearing the things listed above like sleep, nutrition, stress, drugs and then…sex. Just “sex”. Which list were they suggesting it for? The room got pretty quiet so I asked my volunteer at the chalkboard to add “being sexually promiscuous” to the list of negatives. Good save. This week.
We’ll see what next Sunday has in store….