Real Learning

My son transferred from our public school to a Jewish day school this year. Don’t get me wrong, I love our public schools — we live near amazing ones and our daughter is a happy, successful student in public middle school. It just wasn’t the best fit for our son.

In a Jewish day school, half the day is spent learning Hebrew. Early in the school year, my husband said to our son, “You are doing something Mommy and I never did — you are learning how to be fluent in another language.”

Our son replied, “Why don’t you learn with me?”

My husband began explaining that he is very busy; plus it’s really hard to learn as an adult.

And then my son interrupted with, “But look what Mommy has learned.”

I was stunned. Yes, I’ve learned a lot recently. My writing has almost forced me back to school. Being out there as a public speaker means needing to know what I’m talking about. So I enrolled in several adult education classes and have stacks of new books about Judaism on the floor; I’m out of space on my shelves.

But what began as a pursuit of knowledge for career has become a pursuit of passion. I was always a good kid and a good student, but now that I’m choosing to learn, I am doing so with much greater purpose. And, yes, it even makes me feel young.

But I didn’t know my children were aware of my studies. And, by example, I’ve taught my son not to be afraid to learn something new. He doesn’t worry that he didn’t start learning Hebrew in kindergarten (as his classmates did). He can’t fall back on the excuse of being too old or too busy to learn.

Perhaps the course that has meant the most to me has been the Florence Melton Mini-School. Initially, my friends teased me about my choosing to go back to Hebrew school. When they would call to ask to meet me for lunch on Thursdays, I reminded them that Thursday I was in school. We joked that my week was Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Jewday, Friday.

Thursday nights became mini lessons for my family as I excitedly related what I had learned. And my kids, in turn, loved to add their new knowledge in their Hebrew and day school classes, correcting the teacher with, “My mommy told me that the real story of Chanukah was not what you just told us!”

I’ve become the “annoying one” in class — constantly speaking up, asking questions, adding comments. I remind myself every time I drive to school, “Be quiet this week — let others talk,” but I can’t help it — I’m fascinated and want to learn more.

Why isn’t Hebrew school like this? Then again, is it what and how we’re learning at Melton that causes it to be so engaging, or is it that I’m older and have chosen to learn and have life experience that gives the subject matter more meaning and connection?

Maybe Hebrew school is wasted on the young.

It wasn’t planned, but my parents signed up for Melton in Philadelphia when I enrolled in D.C. Seders haven’t been the same since. Going to school with my parents has made my experience unique and has taught me more than had I gone through class alone. To see my parents re-engage with Judaism as an intellectual pursuit has taught me the same lesson my son has learned from me.

So, I’m grateful. For everything I’ve learned and continue to learn. For everything I never expected to learn. And everything my children have learned as a result. 

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