Education is a strong value at the heart of the Jewish community and it plays a crucial role in maintaining the vibrancy and strength of Jews as a people. Since reading the Torah is the primary mode of prayer, and thus the act of connecting to G-d, literacy has been valued in Jewish communities for millennia. In turn, an essential “mitzvah” (commandment) within Jewish life includes both studying spiritual texts and teaching new generations through rituals and traditions that connect contemporary Jews to their ancestral roots. In the modern era, many Jews see great value in educating the world about Judaism as a way to undermine the ignorance of antisemitism and dissolve stereotypes. This theme is anchored by stories from individuals who made education their life’s work, even if it wasn’t their profession.
