Many people assume that profound spiritual concepts belong in advanced classes, adult lectures, or thick books. We imagine that ideas such as Divine Providence, gratitude, trust in Hashem, humility, and purpose in suffering are too abstract for young children.

Yet children often understand these ideas more naturally than adults do.

Adults have accumulated years of skepticism, distraction, and complicated thinking. Children are still looking at the world with wonder. They are asking the questions we have stopped asking: Who makes the flowers grow? Why did this happen? How does Hashem hear everybody at once?

Children are already searching for meaning. They are already trying to understand their place in the world. The question is not whether they are ready for deep ideas. The question is how we present those ideas.

The mistake many educators make is assuming that simplicity means shallowness. Children do not need watered-down Judaism. They need Judaism translated into the language they speak. A child may not understand a philosophical discussion about Divine Providence. But that same child can understand that every leaf, every raindrop, every animal, and every surprising event is noticed and cared for by the Source of all.

With great sadness we inform you the Rabbi Schuster passed away Monday, Feb. 17, 2014, 17th of Adar 1, 5774.

What one person can do when he really cares about the Jewish people.

One day, when Meir Schuster and his friend were in their early twenties, they had just finished praying at the Western Wall. They watched other young people going to the Wall and being lit up by the experience. And the thought struck both of them at the same time: Why can’t someone connect with all these people and bring them closer to their heritage? They noticed one young backpacker leaning against the wall and crying. They watched as he composed himself, and started walking away from his moving encounter.