Research studies suggest that children ask up to 400 questions a day, with a 2018 study by the Western Sydney Local Health District reporting that children can ask as many as 26 questions in a single hour. When I walk into classrooms at the religious school, I am always fascinated by the array and depth of the questions our kids ask. Truly, the students of Shaaray Tefila are as bright and curious as they come. I receive questions regarding holidays, the existential nature of things, even about space and biology (they take “ask me anything” very literally). However, by leaps and bounds, the most common thing kids want to ask me about is God.

This past week at religious school Tefilah services, I wanted to create a space where kids could explore their curiosity about God, especially in the context of prayer. This week’s Torah portion, Shemot, includes the powerful story of Moses meeting God at the burning bush. It is one of the most extensive dialogues between humans and God we have seen thus far in our reading of the Torah. So I asked the kids: Since we are praying here at Tefilah, what would you say to God if you could? What would you ask God? They then wrote their questions and thoughts on sticky notes and placed them inside a box.

As I rode the train home that afternoon, I took out the box of notes to see what the youngest members of our community were thinking and feeling. The notes longed to know God, with questions including:

“Who created You?”

“How were You created?”

“What is Your real name?”

“Who are Your family members?”

There were musings over God’s power:

“Do You know the fyoochr?” (Read: “Future”)

“How did God create everything?!”

“God, make the world a better place. You can do it!”

“How are You so powerful?”

“God, if You are very peaceful, why are there wars? Why do we need to hope for peaceful things to happen?”

Many more questions about justice and Divine plan were asked, but what was most interesting to me, beyond the notes longing to know God and God’s power, were the notes that showed the children’s desire to be known by God.

“How can I hear you!” With an exclamation mark instead of a question mark, a demand for connection.

“Hi, God.” The call of “notice me, please.”

And the one that struck me most of all: “Hi God. My name is [redacted]. I love you.” A humble approach toward God, the bid to be seen and known, and a show of initiating a connection through affirmation of love.

Our kids can teach us more about relationships and love than we know. What I learned from their notes to God is that to be known is to be loved. Our kids are reaching out in the same way the psalmist does in Psalm 139:23, “Search me, God, and know my heart.” We feel loved when we feel seen. In our Torah portion this week, God is seeing us as a people for the first time, embracing us, knowing our struggle. How, as we step into the new year, can we better see the people around us in order to love them more deeply? My wish for us this Shabbat is dedicated to our kids: may they be known and seen by us and by God for their hearts and their minds that yearn for connection. May we show them the love that we all deserve, to be known and appreciated as we are.

With much love from my family to yours this Shabbat,

Ranata Shlobin, Rabbinic Intern