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 are fortunate enough to live near amazing, Blue Ribboned schools and our daughter is a happy, successful student in our public middle school. It just wasn’t the best fit for our son and we made the change.
Going to Jewish Day School means he is now enrolled in a dual curriculum. Half the day is spent learning Hebrew. I didn’t necessarily need him to learn Hebrew, but it’s part of the program and after all, it’s wonderful to know a second language. Early in the school year, I said to him, “You are doing something Daddy and I never did—you are learning how to be fluent in another language.”
Our son replied, “Well why don’t you learn with me?”
I started to explain that it’s really hard to learn as an adult.
And then my son interrupted the stream of excuses with “But look what you’ve learned already this year!”
Wow. I was stunned. Yes, I’ve learned a lot recently. My writing has almost forced me back to school in order to continue to have content. Being out there as a public speaker means I pretty much have 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 because 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 love learning. 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 about my choosing to go back to Hebrew School. Gradually they learned that I was not available on Thursdays for lunch.
Thursday nights became mini lessons for my family as I excitedly related what I had learned to my family. And my kids, in turn, loved to add their new knowledge in their is Hebrew and Day school classes, adding “My Mommy told me that the real story of Hanukkah was not what you just told us!” and then proceeded to correct the teacher.
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 other’s talk” but I can’t help it—I’m fascinated and want to learn more. It all makes so much more sense now.
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 the same time I enrolled in DC. Seders haven’t been the same since as the three of us fill the dinner with everything we’ve learned about Passover from Melton. 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.
Meredith Jacobs is the author of THE MODERN JEWISH MOM’S GUIDE TO SHABBAT (HarperCollins) and founder of www.ModernJewishMom.com. She graduates from Melton on June 2.
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