Your Journey into Jewish Learning: Where to Begin
Maybe Judaism has caught your interest and you've decided to learn more. Or you're returning to your roots after a dry spell and don't know where to start. Perhaps you've been studying for some time but have gotten stuck. Regardless of the reason, you've discovered that the amount of information and resources available is overwhelming. Where do you begin? Well, like most things in life, the process of learning is never linear – much to my chagrin. Judaism is no different.
When I started, I was in for quite the culture shock. While delighted that I'd landed on something that would involve a life long amount of study, I was highly intimidated by the level of depth and width that accompanied the learning process. Even now, I don't always know where to begin when starting a new topic or diving deeper into one I've become more familiar with. Despite all this, there's a few things I've learned along the way that I'll be sharing with you.
Pick Something and Start
You have to start somewhere. I'd recommend starting with what drew you in in the first place and see where it takes you. Was there a family memory or holiday that's always stuck with you? When your interest was first piqued, what caused that? As you've gained more exposure, is there one thing that keeps drawing you in? There's a lot to learn so start with what you enjoy the most. If you can't decide, then I'd recommend starting with learning about the Torah as it is the root of Judaism. If that doesn't appeal, try some of these instead:
- Prayer
- Jewish History
- Shabbat
- Holidays
- Kosher
- Tikkun Olam
- Jewish Movements
For those of you considering learning for conversion, focus more on learning about the core concepts of Judaism and the Jewish experience. It's important to make sure that this is something that resonates with you before deciding to convert and what that entails. Additionally, it's best to steer clear of some of the more complicated topics like Kabbalah and deep dives into the Talmud.
Maintain a Sustainable Learning Habit
Pace yourself to prevent burnout. Set aside time that's regular but not overwhelming. Something achievable for your life and schedule as it stands now. Judaism is best done in a way that allows it to naturally meld in and flow with your routine. This doesn't necessarily have to be daily. However, I wouldn't recommend going longer than a week between study sessions primarily because of memory and stringing concepts together. The critical part is that consistency is better than infrequent bursts.
Begin with What Works for You
There are multiple forms of study from listening to watching to reading to classes. Start with what you gain from the most. Once you've figured out how best you want to begin, find solid resources and let yourself go down rabbit holes while checking them out. Eventually, it all leads back into itself. Be gentle with yourself as you go. You're not going to know it all and that's okay. It's perfectly normal for one answer to lead to more questions. And oftentimes the question is more important than the answer.
Beginner Resources
Websites
Podcasts
Videos
Classes
Introduction to Judaism classes offered by your local federations, synagogues, and community centers are best. Call or email around to see what's being offered.
Ask Questions
Judaism wasn't meant to be learned in a vacuum. It's an ongoing conversation that has taken place over centuries. Debate is critical to this. Don't be afraid to ask questions. There's multiple resources for this. Social media and the web can be a decent starting point like Reddit, Stack Exchange, Discord, and Facebook groups. However, if you start using them, take them with a grain of salt. Chabad has a great "Ask the Rabbi" section that includes a detailed database search for past questions in case yours has already been asked. Spoiler alert, it probably has.
You're going to find multiple points of views and that's okay. It's highly rare for everyone to be in agreement. After all, two Jews, three opinions. Take your time to make decisions and conclusions while realizing they may change on you. This is all part of the learning process.
Write It Down
Take notes or keep a journal or, better yet, both. The note taking system could be handwritten in a beautiful notebook or logged in a digital database with tags and searching capabilities or a mass of ever growing scribbled on paper. Whatever works best for you. Write out experiences, definitions, answers to questions, etc. The simple act of writing down what you're learning will help it cement itself in your brain regardless of if you go back and look at them. I'd recommend you do, but that's just me.
Pause, Breathe, and Be Present
Eventually, if you're still going strong, it will be time to get involved as the heart of Judaism is its people. Synagogues, your local Jewish Federation, Jewish Community Centers, etc. are the best places to begin this kind of networking. At some point, I'd highly recommend attending Friday evening prayer service or Saturday morning Torah service. (Pro tip: Friday evening services are shorter and tend to be more approachable for those just starting out). It's going to be intimidating and confusing at first, but that's okay. Liturgy takes time and exposure to fully understand and appreciate.
Side Note: Don't be offended if local synagogues don't always respond right away if you're trying to contact them prior to attending services. Sometimes you just have to show up.
Try different places to expose yourself to the wide variety within the Jewish community. Don't be afraid to get involved. It's eye and heart opening. Jews are some of the most kind and real people you'll ever meet. Get to know a rabbi. Or, better yet, two.
Continue the Journey Forward
There's no, "I have arrived!" It's all learning and will ebb and flow with your life. Remember: it's a marathon and not a sprint. Adjust things as needed. There's no competition for "Best Jew." Someone else's journey isn't going to be your own. If you feel comfortable with it, start trying a simple Jewish practice, but focus on the practices that bring the most enjoyment. Start with one at a time for a bit before adding in the next one. Lighting Shabbat candles are a good starting one if you can't decide.
And, as always, don't forget to enjoy the journey as you continue on down the road.
If you're rediscovering or new to Judaism, what kinds of things have helped you along the way? I'd love to know more!
