The Power of Adult Jewish Learning

Most Jews end their Jewish study either at Bar/Bat Mitzvah or Confirmation age but their Jewish lives continue to evolve. Just as you wouldn’t end your general education at age thirteen, you shouldn’t end your Jewish education at that age either. Adult Jewish learning is part of a life-long process of growth that will help you advance in your Jewish journey.

Being Jewish is like learning to play piano. The piano is considered the easiest instrument to learn but one of the most difficult to master. Judaism is a great faith for children, with rituals that make our tradition tangible even for the youngest in our community. However, Judaism is a text and idea based religion that demands time and maturity to explore to its fullest. Adult Jewish education programs allow you to explore Judaism with a new pair of eyes, bringing with you the skills and life experience needed to examine these discoveries.

Most adults interested in Jewish study are unsure where to begin. The Talmud, the central rabbinic text of the Jewish tradition, which boasts over 12,000 pages, is often likened to an ocean. To begin Talmud study, you jump in and make your way through the language, ideas, and arguments of the texts. Adult Jewish study can begin the same way, with learners navigating their studies through topics that interest them. Although this is a traditional way to approach Jewish learning it is not necessarily the best for a new student. The challenge of this approach is that it can often leave a learner frustrated when there are still gaps in his or her knowledge. Another method of study is one with a defined curriculum, which guides the learners systematically and comprehensively. Programs such as these will often include textbooks and series of graduated courses that help a learner build a strong foundation.

Organizations across Houston, including my own, offer both kinds of programs. As a new learner, you should definitely consider which type of program best serves your educational goals. Most importantly, you should not delay in getting started, or feel frustrated when the study seems overwhelming. Yalkut Shimoni (863), a medieval anthology of midrash aggadah, teaches: Do not say, "I cannot master the entire Torah and observe all its commandments." Think upon the following parable: A king asked two men to fill a deep pit. The first, upon looking into the pit, exclaimed in despair, "How can I fill so deep a cavern?" The other, a wise worker, said, “What concern of mine is it that the pit is so deep? I am hired by the day, and I shall, therefore, perform my work each day." G-d says to us: "What concern is it of yours that the Torah is so extensive and that there is so much to learn? You are hired to do My work from day to day. All that I expect of you is that you perform, each day, a full day's work in the study of the Torah.”

Our tradition has countless teachings on the value and reward of study. Most educators agree that Jewish learning at its best is a transformative experience. Adult Jewish learning is certainly an intellectual challenge, but should not be just an exercise of the head. Jewish learning should also exercise your heart and your hands. In Rabbi Tarfon and Rabbi Akiba’s debate between the competing values of study and practice, the rabbis determine that “study is greater because it leads to practice.” This rabbinic paradox suggests that the two are indivisibly linked, and what begins in our head will also shape the way we live our daily lives. Adult Jewish learning has the power to do just that and there is no better time to hit the books!

Cyber-Jewish Exploration

Today you can take a meaningful Jewish journey without leaving your office chair.  All you need do is turn on your computer and point your mouse in the right direction.    Last week, I participated in a three-day conference on utilizing technology in developing the field of Jewish education.  Considering myself tech-savvy, I wasn’t sure what I would get out of the program, I was humbled to realize just how little I knew about legitimate websites that can spark and guide Jewish self-discovery.  The internet is exploding with opportunities to explore Judaism, some that are intrinsically Jewish and others that you wouldn’t think of right away like YouTube and wonderhowto.com.

Some advantages of internet Jewish discovery are the ability to cater your browsing to your own interests and explore these topics at your own schedule.  The most frequent explanation I hear for why interested adult learners are not engaging in Jewish learning is “I’d love to but I just don’t have the time.”  Cyberspace learning makes this explanation an excuse. If you are interested in a “traditional” Jewish learning experience, you can sign up to receive daily or weekly e-mails from around the world and participate in the ongoing study of Jewish texts, including challenging opportunities such as the daily cycle of Talmud study or halachic (legal) literature.  Many of these websites also create podcasts and videos that you can use for self-guided learning.  If you are interested in something more structured, it is now possible to take online college courses from universities such as Gratz College, Siegal College of Jewish Studies, and Spertus College.  Many of these programs offer on-line degrees as well. 

As a casual explorer, the possibilities for Jewish learning are seemingly endless.  If you are an information seeker, the Jewish Virtual Library, a division of the American Israeli Cooperative Enterprise, is a vast resource for all things Jewish on history, literature, Israel, religion, culture, and politics.  The site provides concise entries that link to other areas of the library, allowing browsers to expand their search across multiple subject areas.  The site also includes an article about how to evaluate the quality of internet resources, a necessity in an age when everyone can create a webpage of their own. 

If you are a seeking insights into Jewish practice or a trans-denominational exploration of Jewish thought, myjewishlearning.com, is a great source for a pluralistic approach to Judaism.  Of course, many denominational websites also exist, with each of the major movements, and their associated institutions of higher learning, offering their perspective on Jewish living and learning that often includes an exploration of the weekly Torah portion or of the significance of an upcoming holiday.  If you are interested in a specialized subject matter, sites such as the Jewish Women’s Archive (jwa.org) or the Jewish Orthodox Feminist Alliance (jofa.org) are dedicated to exploring the history, contributions, and challenges of Jewish women.  Websites also exist to provide information and support to interfaith families (interfaithfamily.com) and others dedicated to providing curricular materials to teachers in Jewish schools (chinuch.org).

Technology has fundamentally changed our ability to access information and explore our world.  Although I think that the best Jewish interactions are those between people, the internet may be a very comfortable gateway to Jewish discovery.  If we recognize that on-line Jewish learning cannot be a substitute for face to face learning encounters, we can use the internet wisely to broaden our Jewish experiences and find creative and accessible ways to continue our self-discovery