To Be a Cream Cheese Jew

by Rabbi Mordechai Rhine

The story of Yakov and Esav is an instructive one. Two brothers, raised in the same home by righteous parents, turned out so differently. Yakov becomes the father of the Jewish people, a nation that would gift the world the concepts of monotheism, self-control, and kindness. Esav, although intellectually aware of spiritual greatness, does not harness himself to its service.

Although Yakov and Esav represent two extremes, their lives provide guidance for parents in every generation. Our goal is to provide our children with the tools to be as Yakov-like as possible. The medrash records that Yakov and Esav parted ways at the age of fifteen. Is there a significance to the age of fifteen that might help us in our efforts in parenting and education?

In the 1940s, in the midst of a variety of challenges, a certain United States day school declared that due to budget constraints they would not rehire the children’s Talmud Rebbe. As the President of the school explained, “Judaism is like the bread; Talmud is like the cream cheese. In hard times one manages without the cream cheese.”

Rabbi Yakov Kaminetsky was one of the Rabbinic leaders in the town at that time. He met with the school board and explained that the primary goal of a Jewish school is to make every effort to produce Yakovs. He then said, “The medrash tells us that Yakov and Esav parted ways at the age of fifteen because – as the Mishnah in Avos tells us- at fifteen the student will find success in Talmud study. The signature moment in Yakov’s education was when he stayed with the traditions of his parents and went on to succeed in Talmud study… while Esav left. The study of Talmud is a critical part of a successful Jewish education.”

Talmud study may or may not be like cream cheese on bread. But it is not an extra. An education system that includes Talmud has focused on a critical factor in producing vibrant Yakovs.

One of the reasons that Talmud is so important is because in its quest for solutions it develops a pursuit for truth. It also helps develop the critical thinking needed for understanding mitzvos. It is one thing for a person to observe by rote as he was taught as a child; it is quite another to become part of the legacy of scholarship that is the Jewish people. The study of Talmud invites a person to the inner chambers of Judaism to appreciate the laws, the relationships, and the legislations. Talmud study is a labor of love. It trains us to learn and to listen. When we don’t agree we don’t say, “That makes no sense.” Instead we say, “I don’t understand.”

I will readily acknowledge that in our time many people have trouble studying the Talmud because of the many prerequisites. To study Talmud successfully a person must have knowledge of the language, the expressions, and the details of the mitzvos. Aids to Talmud study such as the ArtScroll Talmud, mentors, and classes such as our own Take Ten for Talmud are most helpful. But still some people will say that it is too hard.

Our position is that although it may be hard, it is really worth it. Talmud study truly bonds us with Judaism and with Hashem. Adults should make the effort to forge their way into this awesome level of study. But perhaps even more important is the attitude with which we educate the children. We should strive that that the typical barriers of knowledge, logic, and vocabulary should not stand in the way of success. From early on, our education system should be structured so that when students near the end of elementary school they should have the requisite knowledge of mitzvos and Chumash, and should have already developed the essentials of Talmudic logic and reasoning.

Talmud may or may not be like cream cheese on bread. What we do know is that with the proper planning it can be the inheritance of every Jew.

© 2017 by TEACH613™