At the root of most misunderstanding and division between people is lack of healthy communication. When we can speak openly and honestly, we are able to share our thoughts and feelings so that others can connect with us. Likewise, by doing so we encourage others to share as well. Rumari Zarez, 11, and his 4th grade classmates, are wise beyond their years and show us the transformation that can take place when we allow ourselves to be vulnerable and speak our truth. Rumari asked to speak to his class, and in doing so, he not only educated them about his autism but was able to receive support and friendship in return. The Hebrew word for the mouth is “peh” which is numerically equivalent to the words for “love” (ahava) and “kindness” (chesed). This teaches us that when we speak, it is to share love and kindness and to bring out the love and kindness in others. This little boy and his classmates beautifully demonstrate this.

(Cover image photo credit: Lisa Rachel Moe. Picture of Rumari Zarez with his teacher, Lisa Rachel Moe, who also filmed the video.)

This adorable video teaches us a really important lesson. Take the time to communicate, even if it is hard to understand the other. Clearly this father doesn’t speak “baby babble” but as you can easily see, just acting as if he knows what his baby is saying, encourages this little boy to keep going and sharing. Often crying in your children is explained as the frustration the baby has with not feeling understood. Babies are trapped without a language to express themselves and cry out when their needs are not being met. While this father is joking around and having a good time, he is instilling the message in his son that what he says is important, what he says is being heard, and what he says is being responded to. And as soon as he grows a bit older and can use real words, no doubt he will continue to express his thoughts and feelings to his loving father who will actively listen and communicate with him. This is why Judaism teaches that the defining characteristic of a human being is the ability to speak. It is not our intelligence that separates us from animals, but that we can share our mind and heart with another, exactly what these two are doing, in a language that only the two of them seem to know!