By Isa Aron (4-25-09)

Today is sixteen days, which is two weeks and two days of the Omer.

 

It is a tradition to count the days between Passover and Shavuot, as we mark our freedom from slavery and celebrate our freedom to accept Torah. This is called "counting the omer." This year we will observe the tradition of "counting the omer" by sharing stories about the many different ways that we have been turned on to Jewish learning, and through Jewish learning to Torah.

If you heard that I attended an Orthodox day school as a child, and the high school program of the Jewish Theological Seminary as an adolescent, you might assume that I received an excellent Jewish education.  And, in many respects, you would be correct.

But in one respect my Jewish education was rather poor.  While I learned many Biblical verses (and the names of a dozen Biblical commentators) by heart, I never realized that I too had a voice, that I too could be Biblical commentator.

This stage in my Jewish learning did not happen until I was in my early 20's.  Bill and I were already living in California, and were members (along with Rabbi Richard Levy and then rabbinical student Laura Geller) of the Westwood Free Minyan.  Every week the minyan would discuss the Torah portion, much as the New Emanuel Minyan does today. In lieu of a sermon from one of the rabbis (and there were several, in addition to Rabbi Levy), the discussion leader raised a question, brought in some commentary, and everyone in the group offered his or her perspective. 

I couldn't believe that my supposedly "excellent" Jewish education had neglected to help me find my own voice in the text.  After that, it was only a short step to realizing that I wanted to become the type of Jewish educator who could help others experience this same kind of engagement and empowerment.

By Isa Aron

These stories are brought to you by the Temple Emanuel RE-IMAGINE project, an 18-month initiative sponsored by Hebrew Union College, devoted to re-thinking and re-structuring our religious school.