Yehuda chewed silently, his smile fading. Finally, he said, casually, “And where should I be during this weekly cookie party?”

Chava walked purposefully through the hall, clutching her briefcase with her Chumash and notes. Girls were congregating in clusters, talking loudly after having finished their first morning of classes. She slowed as she passed them, curious to hear their impressions.

“Ooh, Mrs. Litwin is so cute! Was that not the most amazing Navi class?”

“Oh my gosh, that hysterical story she told about the taxi driver and the shadchan! I was totally glued!”

Chava felt her smile freeze as she walked past the girls. None of her students had been glued to their seats today. In fact, it was downright discouraging how little they seemed to be paying attention, even on the very first day. As a veteran teacher, she dreaded the signs: the yawns, the glazed eyes. One of the girls had even shamelessly put her head down to sleep.

She stepped into the office to clock out for the day, and smiled at the secretary’s nearly empty desk, at the neatly pinned schedules and notices on the message board. A new school year, a fresh attempt at organization.

“Hello, Mrs. Edelman. How did your classes go today?”

Chava nodded as Rabbi Freund stepped out of his office. “Fine,” she said. And then, because she needed commiseration, she added, “As good as can be expected, considering the attention span of girls today.” She laughed lightly, waiting for his sympathetic nod.

But Rabbi Freund’s eyebrows furrowed. “I wouldn’t be so harsh on them. Other teachers reported that their classes went very well.”

Chava pursed her lips. Sure, when they make their class Story Hour.

He pulled on his beard. “Maybe, this is just a suggestion, but you might want to talk to some of our younger teachers, like Mrs. Brody or Mrs. Litwin. You and I, we’re from the older generation.” He smiled to soften his words. “We were raised with good old-fashioned schooling. These younger women do a great job attuning their lessons to today’s girls.”

He looked kindly as he said it, not like a boss reprimanding his employee. Still, as Rabbi Freund walked away, Chava felt like she’d been punched in the stomach.