Why:

If we believe that every Jew deserves a place in the Jewish community and Jewish destiny, at some point taking that place demands a deeper engagement with Judaism. Experiences are good entranceways and knowing people is really important, but to further people’s journeys and allow them to gain self-sustainable Jewish growth for life (or for whatever comes next) they need to learn about Judaism. They need to deepen their understanding, they need to gain tools and skills for continued education, and they have to gain comfort and level footing in the Jewish world.

 

It’s also important to engage in the question of why be Jewish (the answer can't just be social or continuity), as well as big questions and answers about real issues and challenges in peoples’ lives and the world.

 

At the same time, we believe (and see) that Jewish growth is best accomplished through relationships, so ideally all these experiences and education should be accompanied with meaningful relationships.

 

How:

This could mean bringing them to a shiur if a) it interests them b) it's at their level c) timing works out. But there's something unique and powerful about chevruta learning, and especially chevruta learning with peers - because relationships are such a big part of this line of work. You can also really tailor it to what they want and what they need. Now it could be through an existing learning program at Hillel/Chabad, if that's your speed. But it could be intimidating for some people to walk into a room of 50+ people who know each other - hence the idea to organize your own learning group. (But if you really want to do this and are inclined to integrate it into an existing program, go for it!) Oh- and food, don’t forget about (free) food :)

Existing models:

• Solo chevruta-learning: accountability, flexible scheduling (Cornell’s Chevruta program, PIT)

• Group chevruta-learning: consistency + community = commitment (Maryland’s Pizza Parsha, Penn’s SNL, Columbia’s WNLP, Brandeis’ SNL, Binghamton’s Supper and Study)

• Small shiur/chaburah: group learning (NYU’s MEAT, Princeton’s mishmar/chaburas, Maryland’s Booze Shmooze, Michigan’s FNL, PotLuck Learning- everyone contributes, or virtually: UniTorah)

• Traditional shiur: either by peers, by rabbi, or by guest speaker

 

Where:

• Dorm lounge, apt/house - especially if trying to reach people who may be intimidated or turned off by H/Ch

• H/Ch, in a room somewhere - although you'd want your own space to create a sense of intimacy and your own community.

 

When:

• Over / following (free) Sunday dinner

• Over / following Shabbat dinner

• Late one night

• Lunch n’ Learn

 

What:

• Hebrew - biblical/prayer or modern/conversational

• Pirkei Avot - easy for beginners, anyone can contribute, bite-sized wisdom

• Mystical/philosophy - R Kook/Nachman/Soloveitchik/Tzadok

• Core topics - prayer, history, calendar, law

• Hot topics - sexuality, morality, current events, selections of english articles

• Source sheets: Sefaria, Orayta(?)

• Parsha/Chumash (w/Rashi?), English dTs

• Just talk for the first session/half hour and find out what was bothering them/what interested them.

 

Who:

• People who aren't already involved in Jewish learning (but come at least regularly to H/Ch)

• Maybe even people who aren’t Jewishly involved at all

• NonJews - if interested?

 

Things to keep in mind:

• Assumptions (“as we all know..”)

• Self-referential (“just like that other piece of Torah”)

• Translating language/terms (Hebrew, yinglish)

• Not a charity case

• How to make it (at least somewhat) mutualistic