The Pick-Up Line

No, not the kind used in bars but rather the one that forms in front of our Education Building at the end of Hebrew School on Monday and Wednesday afternoons. Temple Beth El is not only committed to ensuring a wonderful Jewish education for our students, but ensuring their safety while they are in our care.

Safety has been a major issue in Shalom Park over the past several years. From the terrorist attacks of 9/11 to anti-Semitic graffiti on the façade of Temple Beth El to the recent shooting at the Jewish Federation office in downtown Seattle, we have had periodic reminders that we need to remain vigilant on our campus. A great deal of energy and money has been invested in security. Since Corey Riddley took over Shalom Park security, new procedures and training have been put in place. The locks on all of the doors in our Education Building were changed to allow teachers to respond instantaneously to a lockdown situation. Safety drills and reexamination of building access policies are ongoing. And a carefully thought-out plan guides the pick-up line at the end of Hebrew School to ensure that 200+ students each session are returned to their families efficiently and safely.

So…why do so many parents allow their own impatience to put the lives of their own children and the children of others in jeopardy?

The entire procedure takes about 10 minutes. Pedestrian traffic alternates with advancing the car line. Drivers are not allowed to be talking on cell phones as they approach the building. These measures are taken to ensure the safety of the children.

I’ve seen parents near the back of the line tell their children to weave in and out of the cars so that they don’t have to wait. While they are loading their child into the car, they hold up everyone behind them. Then they bypass the cars in front of the building while parents and children are in the crosswalk. Parents ask their children to cross the parking lot alone so they don’t have to walk all the way over to the building entrance to fetch them. And don’t get me started about the people with cell phones….

Each of these situations puts the children in danger. With so many large vehicles in the line, it is difficult to see the children as they maneuver between cars. This problem becomes even more dangerous when daylight savings time ends and it is dark at 6:00 pm.

Why does this upset me so much? First of all, I spend six hours a week serving as a volunteer chaplain on the pediatric unit at CMC. I spend most of my time in the pediatric ICU and the acute care unit. I see children who are “broken” from one kind of motor vehicle accident or another. Twice a week I see the result of that “remote chance” that something bad could happen. And for what? To get home three minutes sooner?

Even more, it says something about commitment to community.Judaism emphasizes our responsibility to the community. Being part of a community, however, means sacrificing some personal convenience for the greater good.

We hate to be inconvenienced. A recent study shows that Americans are more impatient than ever. I admit that I’d much prefer the efficiency of shopping online or using the self-service checkout at the grocery store. But those personal conveniences don’t affect other people.

When our lives intersect with the lives of others, we as Jews have a responsibility to the community — even if it means some sacrifice for us personally. And when it comes to the safety of others, Judaism is adamant about protecting life. “Kol Yisraeil aravim zeh bazeh.” “All Jews are responsible one for the other.” Let’s turn this saying into action

L’shalom,
Andrew Bernard
Cantor