I pulled out the plastic container that held notes I’d received from my students over the years

One Friday night, my husband returned from shul to find me deep in thought.

“Would you look at some students’ notes with me after the seudah?” I asked him.

Surprisingly, he agreed. (What self-respecting male doesn’t fall asleep after or even during the meal?) I think he felt sorry for me.

We ate, bentshed, and settled into the couch. I pulled out the plastic container that held notes I’d received from my students over the years. Sometimes the notes accompanied mishloach manos, some came at the end of the year. A few were given for no occasion, just a student reaching out to a teacher.

I began pulling out notes at random.

A yellow-lined card given at graduation: Mrs. B., you made us feel like we are the only ones that count, and we are the only ones you are busy with. Your desire for us to be true bnos Yisrael comes through your classes of how we can grow to be true ovdei Hashem.