Getting a Jewish Education in Jewish Tradition
Jewish tradition is ancient, broad and can only be fully covered with a good Jewish education. It starts with defining who is a Jew. In Jewish tradition and law, a Jew is either one born to a Jewish mother or a person who has undergone conversion in a formal Orthodox process. Being a Jew does not depend on believing or observing Jewish law. Conversely, non-observance does not erase one’s being a Jew. In other words, once a Jew always a Jew.
Jewish tradition is enshrined in many documents which form part of a good Jewish education. These are: the Ten Commandments which were given directly by God to Moses on Mt. Sinai and which Jews are obliged to observe; the Mitzvoh which consist of 613 commandments including those found in the Torah and rituals observed during the times of the First and Second Temples. Many of these commandments have been modified to conform with modern technology and practices; 13 Principles of Faith drawn up by the rabbi Maimonides.
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Orthodox Jewish Beliefs as Part of Jewish Education
Orthodox Jewish beliefs hold that orthodoxy is the only real form of Judaism. A strict Jewish education will therefore adhere to the fundamental principles of orthodoxy. The Torah and the Talmud are considered the bases for Orthodox Jewish beliefs and those who do not fully comply with these cannot be considered Jews in the real sense. However, in a looser sense, an Orthodox Jew is one who is religiously observant while a Jew with a more secular approach will be termed as non-Orthodox. Nevertheless, even within Orthodox Jewish beliefs, that are different schools of thought and disagreement on certain points not otherwise explicitly defined.
Teaching Jewish Beliefs in Jewish Education
The 13 Principles of Faith enunciated by Maimonides is the closest one can get to a list of the fundamental Jewish beliefs taught in Jewish education. These are as follows:
- The existence of God – God exists and causes everything else to exist.
- The unity and uniqueness of God – There is only one God, single, complete and indivisible. God cannot be described by attributes.
The Jewish Education Project for Young Children
A trailblazer in new methods and techniques for Jewish education, the Jewish Education Project has established a program for early childhood and young families. Fully aware of the way the world is changing, the Jewish Education Project helps teachers fold Jewish practices into their classes and give young children a genuine Jewish experience. The project extends to young Jewish families so they can explore options for their children’s Jewish education.
The Jewish Education Project has several programs with different methods to achieve its overall objective. These are the major ones.
Gateways to Engagement – The program seeks to convert early-childhood centers and the institutions that maintain them, like synagogues and community centers, into more interesting entry points for Jewish families with young children. To do this, the project brings educators, professional and lay leaders in charge of these institutions together to discuss and look for new ways to do so.
