About : Bronfman Blog

This week, I am graduating. As excited as I am to be rid of tests and papers and homework, the idea that I won't be walking to Silver or the Gallatin building still hasn't hit me. Luckily, I have postponed the inevitable end to my internship at the Bronfman Center by another week and a half, allowing myself a little more time for the forthcoming separation to sink in. Looking back, I am grateful for that certain congressman's infamous "communication error." Without his indiscretion, I would not have learned how to be a Jewish, professional leader. I would not have understood how certain, seemingly ancient Talmudic stories can have such relevance to my life. Most importantly, I would not have connected with the Bronfman Center staff and students whom I really should have gotten to know from day 1 of my time here at NYU. To them and to you I say thank you, thank you, thank you.

Check out Sam Cohen and Eitan Fleischman's sweet dance moves!

In the midst of a discussion about prayer, our Sages in the Talmud codify and structure the choreography of saying goodbye.  About prayer they write: “One should note stand and pray while immersed in sorrow, or idleness or laughter or chatter or frivolity, or idle talk…” and immediately thereafter they add: “Similarly, a person before taking leave of his fellow should not part with ordinary conversation, or joking, or frivolity or idle talking, but with some matter of halacha” (BT Berachot 31a).

For those of us who live on an academic calendar, the coming days ahead are a season of commencements, graduations and goodbyes.  It behooves us to reflect a bit on the practice of bidding farewell to our friends, our colleagues, and our teachers.