53 Jewish Things Everyone Should Be Learning
53 Jewish Things Everyone Should Be Learning
Regardless of age.
As kids and youth around the world are heading back to school, we wondered:
What are the most integral aspects of Judaism, Jewish history, Jewish culture and lifestyle, Israel, and Zionism that everyone should be learning, regardless of age?
While virtually limitless, we filtered them down to 50 subjects and topics — from philosophy and psychology, to humanities and history, to literature and theology.
Here they are, along with a complementary video for each one so you can immediately start learning more:
1) Jewish Literature
Subject: Humanities
Wow, where to start?! Ancient Jewish literature comprises Biblical literature and rabbinic literature, while its modern form includes Yiddish literature, Judeo-Tat literature, Ladino literature, Hebrew literature (especially Israeli literature), and Jewish American literature.
2) Jewish Sages
Subject: Philosophy
Nowadays, when someone seeks wisdom, they might turn to people like Tony Robbins, Brené Brown, and the Dalai Lama. One would be wise to turn to Jewish sages as well, such as ancient Jewish sages Hillel the Elder, Maimonides, and Ezra the Scribe. And more recent ones, including Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks (of blessed memory), Rebbetzin Lori Palatnik, Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel (of blessed memory), Rebbetzin Tziporah Heller, and Rabbi Noah Weinberg.
Fun Fact: The Hebrew term chazal (חז״ל) is an acronym for the hakhameinu zikhronam liv’rakha (חכמינו זכרונם לברכה), meaning: “Our Sages, may their memory be blessed — refering to all Jewish sages of the Mishnah, Toseftah and Talmud eras, spanning from the times of the final 300 years of the Second Temple of Jerusalem until the seventh century CE.
3) Getting to Know the ‘Other’
Subject: Humanities
Jews are as diverse a group of people as exists. And, naturally, we don’t agree on everything. But that doesn’t mean we can’t get along, even if we decide to enjoy different lifestyles and subscribe to different beliefs. Despite sharing the same prefix, unity is not uniformity. If uniformity asks, “Can we all agree?” then unity posits: “Can we all get along?” To get along, we need to get to know each other.
4) Jewish Refugees
Subject: History
When you think about refugees nowadays, Jews might not be the first group of people to come to mind. But anyone who knows Jewish history knows that Jews have put the gee in refugee throughout the last several thousand years.
5) Jewish Peoplehood
Subject: Social Studies
“Being Jewish is defined by membership in the People and not by religion. The Jews have a religion, but Judaism is not a religion. The moment you define Judaism as a religion, the first thing that happens is you create religious denominations. Where was Reform, even Orthodox Judaism, 700 years ago? They did not exist because we did not define ourselves as a religion.” — Avraham Infeld, President Emeritus of Hillel International1
6) Anti-Zionism
Subject: Social Studies
Anti-Zionism is the opposition to Zionism, the movement that sought and ultimately succeeded in establishing a Jewish state in the region of the Biblical Land of Israel. Some contend that anti-Zionism is one of the newest iterations of antisemitism.
7) The 5-Legged Table
Subject: Humanities
“The 5-Legged Table” is Avraham Infeld’s metaphor for describing a strong and stable Jewish identity. According to him, there are five components or “legs” that combine to make up a person’s Jewish identity: memory, family, covenant, Israel, and Hebrew.
8) Jewish History
Subject: History
Luckily, we have this hour-long, all-encompassing survey of Jewish history by the President & CEO of the Center for Jewish History, David Myers (author of Jewish History: A Very Short Introduction).
9) Jewish Poetry
Subject: Humanities
From holiday poems to quiet spiritual reflections, Jewish and Israeli poems celebrate the interweaving of Jewish faith, cultural traditions, and literary history. Famous Jewish poets include Emma Lazarus, Kalonymos Ben Moses of Lucca, Yehuda Amichai, Solomon ibn Gabirol, Anna Margolin, Ze’ev Jabotinsky, and Grace Aguilar.
Fun Fact: Israel’s national anthem — HaTikvah (Hebrew for “The Hope”) — is based on a 19th-century Jewish poem by Naftali Herz Imber, who wrote the first version in 1877, while he was the guest of a Jewish scholar in Romania.
10) Torah
Subject: History
The Torah is the compilation of the first five books of the Hebrew Bible, namely the books of Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy (the Five Books of Moses). If in bound book form, it is called Chumash, and is usually printed with the rabbinic commentaries (perushim). At times, the word Torah can also be used as a synonym for the whole of the Hebrew Bible, in which sense it includes not only the first five, but all 24 books of the Hebrew Bible.
11) Jewish and Israeli Music
Subject: Humanities
There exists both traditions of religious music — as sung at the synagogue and domestic prayers — and of secular music, such as klezmer. While some elements of Jewish music may originate in biblical times, differences of rhythm and sound can be found among later Jewish communities which have been musically influenced by location (i.e. Israeli music and the Middle East). According to Edward Seroussi, an Israeli musicologist of Uruguayan origin:
“What is known as ‘Jewish music’ today is thus the result of complex historical processes.”2
12) Shabbat
Subject: Jewish Studies
As the legendary Hebrew essayist, Ahad Ha’am, put it: “More than the Jewish People have kept Shabbat, Shabbat has kept the Jews.” Another legendary Hebrew essayist, Hayim Nahman Bialik, wrote:
“Shabbat is a day of rest, of mental scrutiny, and of balance. Without it, the workdays are insipid.”
13) Jewish Foods
Subject: Culinary Arts
Talking about Jewish food is both mouth-wateringly delicious and just a little complicated. While Ashkenazi Jews (Jews from Eastern Europe) are used to foods like gefilte fish and matzah ball soup, these dishes would be foreign to a Jew from the Middle East, North Africa, or Ethiopia who would prefer to chow down pkaila, shakshuka, t’bit, or doro wat.
What connects Jewish foods, apart from being delicious, is that they developed from economic necessity and were often a way for poor communities to create something tasty from very little.
14) Jewish Humor
Subject: Humanities
From Woody Allen to Israel’s Adir Miller, humor is embedded in the modern Jewish consciousness. But, according to Rabbi Dan Bronstein in the video directly above, Jewish humor goes back — way back. And if we’re willing to take it seriously, we’ll see that Jewish humor is no joke; it’s a powerful tool.
15) Jewish Wisdom and Relationships
Subject: Social Studies
Whether it’s love between two romantic partners, love between parents and children, love between friends, “and maybe the hardest one,” according to Rabbi David Aaron — loving ourselves — Rabbi Aaron offers insights into how we can tap into Kabbalistic insights to improve and enhance our relationships.
16) Jewish Farming
Subject: Environmental Studies
What does farming and taking care of the Earth have to do with Judaism? Take a tour of Urban Adamah, a Jewish farm in Calfornia, to learn how Jewish values and traditions relate to farming.
17) Jewish Parenting
Subject: Family Studies
Raphael Genis builds upon 2,000 years of Jewish traditional educational mindset and wisdom to expose parents to a new and innovative method to educate and raise their children at home, with a healthier and happier environment to grow and flourish.
18) Jewish Wisdom and Business
Subject: Business Administration
Rabbi Daniel Lapin proposes a new way to view and approach success, based on key concepts from the Bible (which are actually surprisingly simple). Drawing on his wisdom and knowledge of the Bible, he reveals the clear link between making money and spirituality, and urges listeners to focus on self-discipline, integrity, and character strength in order to achieve personal prosperity.
19) Modern Hebrew
Subject: Linguistics
Hebrew spoken today is not the same as the Hebrew in the Bible. But how did Hebrew come to be, anyway? Watch this video to discover the brief history of modern Hebrew — featuring Joshua Mallett, and written by University of Washington’s Dr. Liora Halperin.
20) Zionism
Subject: Political Science
Where did the idea of Jewish return to the Land of Israel come from, what does this return look like, how has it changed through the centuries, and what does Zionism mean anyway? All of these questions are addressed in the video above.
21) Rabbi Noah Weinberg’s 7 Daily Questions
Subject: Psychology
In 1974, after meeting five backpackers at the Western Wall, Rabbi Noah Weinberg (of blessed memory) founded Aish HaTorah — which means “the fire of Torah” — a Jewish education center in the Old City of Jerusalem. For 50 years, he delivered visionary educational programs which brought hundreds of thousands of Jews closer to their heritage.
22) Entrepreneurship
Subject: Business Administration
Joseph “Yossi” Vardi is an entrepreneur and investor, and one of Israel’s first high-tech entrepreneurs. For more than 47 years, he has founded and helped to build over 85 high-tech companies in a variety of fields, among them software, energy, Internet, mobile, electro-optics, and water technology.
23) Happiness in the Jewish Perspective
Subject: Philosophy
Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks (of blessed memory) offers an academic address on the meaning and measure of happiness in the Jewish tradition. An English Orthodox rabbi, philosopher, theologian, and author of countless books, Rabbi Sacks served as the Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth from 1991 to 2013.
24) Positive Chutzpah
Subject: Business Administration
Nili Peretz is an author, former attorney, and lecturer who brings her research from studies on hundreds of successful game-changing entrepreneurs in Israel and throughout the world, and her passion for spreading the “Positive Chutzpah” mindset. From education to business, this mindset transcends the boundaries of culture and gender, providing a trigger for innovation, and pushes us to discover our extraordinary potential, positively impacting the world.
25) The Art of Decision-Making
Subject: Philosophy
Rabbi Zev Leff is one of the most colorful and creative Torah thinkers of our time. Known as a master of the chiddush (a novel interpretation), his riveting philosophical and textual explorations weave together seemingly disparate narrative strands to create dazzling illuminations on Torah themes and interludes. Rabbi Leff is Rosh Yeshiva and communal leader of Moshav Matityahu in Israel, and one of the farm community’s early pioneers.
26) Dreaming Big
Subject: Psychology
Shimon Peres was an Israeli politician who served as the eighth prime minister of Israel from 1984 to 1986 and from 1995 to 1996, and as the ninth president of Israel from 2007 to 2014. He was a member of twelve cabinets and represented five political parties in a political career spanning 70 years. Peres also authored the book, No Room for Small Dreams, and is the focus of a new Netflix documentary called “Never Stop Dreaming: The Life and Legacy of Shimon Peres.”
27) Telling Israel’s Story
Subject: Communications
Michael Dickson serves as Executive Director of the StandWithUs office in Jerusalem, an international and non-partisan Israel education organization. He is also co-author of the book, ISResilience: What Israelis Can Teach the World.
28) The Unheard Story of David and Goliath
Subject: History
It’s a classic underdog tale: David, a young shepherd armed only with a sling, beats Goliath, the mighty warrior. The story has transcended its biblical origins to become a common shorthand for unlikely victory. But, is that really what the David and Goliath story is about? International bestselling author Malcolm Gladwell begs to differ.
29) Israel’s Law of Return
Subject: Political Science
One of Israel’s founding principles is the Law of Return. This law, which dates back to the earliest days of the State of Israel, grants legal permission for any Jew, from anywhere in the world, to make aliyah and settle in Israel. The video above demonstrates why the Law of Return is necessary, who has benefited from it, and how a modern, liberal democracy like Israel — which has many non-Jewish citizens — can have immigration legislation like this on its books.
30) The 500-Year-Old Book That Shaped Jewish Practice
Subject: Jewish Studies
At the dawn of the 16th century, both Ashkenazi and Sephardi Jews relied on oral traditions of Jewish law — halakha. Both groups passed down their own unique customs. However, after the Spanish Inquisition’s mass expulsion, Sephardic Jews found themselves living alongside the Ashkenazi Jews of Eastern Europe. This led to confusion over which traditions and laws to follow. Though they would never meet, Rabbi Yosef Karo and Rabbi Moses Isserles (AKA the “Rema”) worked together to create a book that would continue to shape Jewish practice for the next 500 years, and counting.
31) Kabbalah
Subject: Theology
What is Kabbalah? Where does it come from? Who is it for? Jewish mysticism is often surrounded by mystery. Hear from Rabbi Shais Taub, acclaimed author and spiritual speaker, as he takes on some of the most fundamental questions on Kabbalah and its impact on Jewish life.
32) The Lost Tribes of Israel
Subject: History
How did the Jews lose sovereignty in the Land of Israel after just 500 years? Was it simply a matter of regime change, with the Assyrians and Babylonians asserting their dominance in the region, or was it because the leaders repeatedly failed to listen to Divine advice? And what happened to the 10 lost tribes? This video explains it all.
33) How Modern Judaism Began
Subject: Jewish Studies
If you want to understand how Reform, Conservative and Orthodox Judaism came to be, you need to take a step back to when they first formed: the Enlightenment and Emancipation periods.
34) The Assassination of an Israeli Prime Minister
Subject: Middle Eastern Studies
The tragic assassination of Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin in 1995 still lingers in Israel. Learn why it was a “Jewish” assassination, and the indelible impact that both Israelis and Palestinians are still feeling, both consciously and subconsciously, today.
35) The Holocaust
Subject: History
The Holocaust, also known as the Shoah, was the genocide of European Jews during World War II. Between 1941 and 1945, Nazi Germany and its collaborators systematically murdered some six million Jews across German-occupied Europe, approximately two-thirds of Europe’s Jewish population. Nowadays, there are two calendar days to commemorate the Holocaust: International Holocaust Remembrance Day (January 27th) and Holocaust Remembrance Day, or Yom HaShoa in Hebrew (usually in April or May, depending on the Hebrew calendar).
36) Judaism’s 3 Basic Beliefs
Subject: Jewish Studies
The wisdom and laws of Judaism are as vast as the sea, but what are its most basic tenets? Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks (or blessed memory) distills all of the Torah into three relationships with G-d.
37) The New Middle East
Subject: Middle Eastern Studies
Go inside the meaning and the promise of normalized relationships between Arab states and Israel, a configuration that was unimaginable just a few years ago. The result is “a new Middle East.”
38) Religious vs. Secular Dating
Subject: Social Studies
David Yarus, founder of the number-one Jewish dating app (JSwipe), and Rabbi Manis Friedman, YouTube’s most popular rabbi, sit down for an unapologetic dialogue on marriage and dating. From big questions like “Why marry?” to millennials’ pursuit of romantic perfection, join this dynamic pair as they explore meaningful relationships in today’s swipe culture.
39) Jewish Laws
Subject: Jewish Studies
While everyone knows about the Bible, many don’t realize the many books that proceeded it in Jewish tradition. These books and the bible weave together to create the rules Jews follow to this day.
40) History of Jewish Movements
Subject: Jewish Studies
Learn the history of the Reform Jewish movement, and how early proponents abandoned aspects of traditional Judaism — in order to create a Jewish community that was able to adapt to the changes of the modern world.
41) The Mishnah
Subject: Jewish Studies
With the destruction of the Second Temple, rabbis feared for the survival of Jewish life and practice. After generations of strong leaders kept learning alive, the Oral Law was written down for the first time to ensure it would always endure. This text — the Mishnah — still forms the basis of Jewish law (halacha) millennia later. So who made the radical decision to write down the laws, and what exactly does the Mishnah contain?
42) How to Fight Antisemitism
Subject: Social Studies
Former New York Times columnist Bari Weiss discusses her deeply personal relationship to antisemitism (she became a bat mitzvah at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh, the 2018 site of the deadliest attack on Jews in American history); how social media and political polarization have reignited the problem in recent years; and how everyone can fight back against hatred.
43) Core Principles of Jewish Faith
Subject: Jewish Studies
Maimonides, one of the greatest codifiers of Torah law and giants of Jewish philosophy, formulated a list of the thirteen principles of Jewish faith. Or, as he described them: Judaism’s fundamental truths and very foundation.
44) Jewish Commandments (Mitzvot)
Subject: Jewish Studies
In this talk, Rabbi Yitzchak Breitowitz explains how we can do the seemingly impossible: fulfill all the mitzvot in the Torah.
45) God vs. Gods
Subject: Jewish Studies
In this eye-opening video, based on the works of Maimonides, Rabbi Yitzchak Botton delves into the history and origins of early idolatry, answering many of the questions surrounding this complex topic.
46) The Number 7
Subject: Jewish Studies
The Sages state that all sevenths are cherished: the seventh day (Shabbat), Moses was the seventh from Abraham, self-sacrifice is expected from each of us in the seventh generation, and so forth. But why the number seven?
47) Origins of the Name 'Palestine'
Subject: Middle Eastern Studies
Many Jews are well-versed in the Land and State of Israel, as well as its history, culture, geography, and society. But what about Palestine? Where did the name come from, and who are the Palestinians?
48) The Tanya
Subject: Psychology
A metaphysical journey into applied mysticism and the “psychology of the soul,” the Tanya is a key Jewish mystical text that can help you learn practical tools for refining your spiritual anatomy, and explore notions such as personal development, human perfection, internal conflict, and the difference between who you are and what you do.
49) The Noahide Laws
Subject: Jewish Studies
Did you know that Jews have laws for non-Jews? Rabbi Dr. Yitzchok Breitowitz explains.
50) Israeli Politics
Subject: Political Science
Learn about the parties which make up the Knesset (Israel’s parliament), and what is a so-called coalition government.
51) Jewish Prayer
Subject: Jewish Studies
Why is prayer so difficult? In this interview, Rabbi David Aaron talks about the biggest misconceptions we have about prayer.
52) The Jewish Concept of Messiah
Subject: Jewish Studies
Time marches forward, never turning back or slowing down. So where is it all headed? A look into the future gives us insight to the beginning and the purpose of creation.
53) Jewish Impact on the World's Values
Subject: Jewish Studies
Where do the values that we all take for granted today come from? We have been led to believe that Greece and Rome formed the foundations of Western civilization, but is that entirely true? Did they practice the values we believe in?
Infeld, Avraham. “Who is a Jew? Peoplehood Versus Religion.” eJewish Philanthropy. September 4, 2012, https://ejewishphilanthropy.com/who-is-a-jew-peoplehood-versus-religion-2.
Seroussi, Edwin et al. (n.d.). “Jewish Music.” Oxford Music Online.