The Talmud in Tractate Keritot 6b states,
אָמַר רַב חָנָא בַּר בִּזְנָא אָמַר רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן חֲסִידָא: כׇּל תַּעֲנִית שֶׁאֵין בָּהּ מִפּוֹשְׁעֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל אֵינָהּ תַּעֲנִית, שֶׁהֲרֵי חֶלְבְּנָה רֵיחָהּ רַע וּמְנָאָהּ הַכָּתוּב עִם סַמְמָנֵי קְטֹרֶת
Rav Ḥana bar Bizna says that Rabbi Shimon Ḥasida says: Any fast that does not include the participation of some of the sinners of the Jewish people is not a fast, as the smell of galbanum is foul and yet the verse lists it with the ingredients of the incense.
This sentiment is reflected in the opening verses recited before Kol Nidrei on Yom Kippur Eve:
עַל דַּֽעַת הַמָּקוֹם וְעַל דַּֽעַת הַקָּהָל. בִּישִׁיבָה שֶׁל מַֽעְלָה וּבִישִׁיבָה שֶׁל מַֽטָּה. אָֽנוּ מַתִּירִין לְהִתְפַּלֵּל עִם הָעֲבַרְיָנִים:
With the consent of the Almighty, and consent of this congregation, in a convocation of the heavenly court, and a convocation of the lower court, we hereby grant permission to pray with transgressors.
Both of these sources are remarkable in their recognition of the sacred value of every individual, including specifically those who are disconnected from Torah practices. This inclusion is a very Jewish value; we recognize the infinite worth of every human being; even those who don’t share our vision, who are rebellious, or who are just plain annoying.
What a wonderful message to keep in mind as we begin the school year. Not only should teachers not play favorites, they should (try to) not have any favorites. Each and every one of the students is worthy of respect and of being fully included–to the extent possible–just as galbanum is included in the mixture that comprises the incense offered in the Temple. Remember that without the galbanum, the incense is not “kosher” and cannot be used.
Those of us who have been teaching in Jewish day schools long enough have stories about the child whom we metaphorically wanted to throttle, who grew up to be a leader in the Jewish community, or the child who declared himself to be an “atheist” and became a respected rabbi. We never know how the dynamics of the “ingredients” in the classroom will work, and who will be positively influenced by the proceedings and relationships there.
During this coming school year, let all of us “pray with the transgressors” and open our hearts and our classrooms to the continuum of students from the best to the not-yet-their-best-selves.
We wish everyone a meaningful Tishrei and a school year filled with learning, laughs, and love in every classroom.