This week I spoke with two people in our community I hadn’t seen in a long time. Both shared the same observation: they have never felt as strongly Jewish as they do right now, even as Jews face attacks, verbal and physical.
Their awakening is inspiring, but it also highlights a challenge. Many want to reconnect, to feel the warmth of community, yet without basic knowledge and experience, it can feel intimidating. Walking into a synagogue service, a Judaism class, or a community event can feel unfamiliar, uncomfortable, or even overwhelming.
Some parents are cautious about exposing their children to anything “too Jewish” in the hope they will choose their own path as adults. Without a foundation of basic training, that choice often leads to minimal engagement later in life. We can fall into the same trap ourselves, hesitating to pursue knowledge until “later” and unconsciously passing that hesitation on. With even a little familiarity, the synagogue, a class, or community event can become a space of connection and joy, life-enriching, relevant, and uplifting, turning what once felt unfamiliar into experiences that inspire and strengthen.
This week we read about the seven days of preparation before the inauguration of the Mishkan, on the first of Nissan. For a full week, the Mishkan functioned unofficially, so that on the eighth day, the services could be performed flawlessly. Even for the holiest service imaginable, preparation and learning was essential.
The Passover Haggadah makes the same point. Among the four children, the most challenging is not the rebellious one, but the one “who does not know how to ask.” Ignorance, more than opposition, is the greatest obstacle. A foundation of knowledge allows a person to participate fully, engage confidently, and be inspired when the moment calls.
Basic Jewish training is not about knowing everything. It’s about building familiarity and confidence. It allows us, and our children, to step forward into Jewish life with courage, to feel comfortable in a synagogue, and to continue growing from there, wherever their journey may take them.
Take the first step. Sign up for a class, attend a service, or explore a community event. Even a small step can open the door to new experiences and deeper connection. And if you’d like guidance along the way, Esty and I would be delighted to discuss options that suit you personally.