Education, Education, Education

Yes, I know it's an over-used political slogan. But it's also the essence of Jewish life - not to mention a wonderful antidote to the world of 'politics'. As we read in the Mishnah, in Pirkei Avot, 'The Sayings of the Sages' (3:5): "Rabbi Nechunya ben Hakanah says: 'One who takes upon themselves the yoke of Torah will find relief from the yoke of politics and wordily affairs. But whoever gets rid of the yoke of Torah will find the yoke of politics weighing more heavily upon them.'" So, if you would like to find some 'relief from the yoke of politics and worldly affairs - particularly after months of pre- and post-election manoeuvring, you know what to do!

But, of course, there are very important positive reasons for engaging in study, too. In fact Pirkei Avot - the section of the Mishnah where we find the philosophical teachings of the sages - is full of statements about the primacy of study. Perhaps the saying of Rabban Yochanan ben Zakkai - who was one of the key rabbis responsible for reconstructing Jewish life in the aftermath of the destruction of the Temple in 70 CE - is the most telling (2:8): "Rabban Yochanan ben Zakkai received tradition from Hillel and Shammai. He used to say: 'If you have learnt much Torah, do not congratulate yourself, for that is why you were created.'"

From a Jewish perspective, study is our raison d'être. In practice, of course, that's not the case. As the English saying goes, 'it's more easily said than done'. And, anyway, many Jews tend to see study as an ideal rather than a real component of their lives. Again and again, I hear people say either, 'I've got no time to study' or 'I'll study when I've got the time'. So how do we go about integrating study into our daily lives? Shammai had a very simple solution: 'Make Torah study a fixed habit' (1:15) In other words, make it part of the day-to-day routine - alongside eating, sleeping, washing, and all the other habitual things we do to keep ourselves going each day.

But, of course, study is not just a personal matter. Rabbi Nehorai, another sage quoted in Pirkei Avot, taught: 'Search for a place of Torah and do not say it will search for you. For there you will find companions to help you grasp it, and you will not have to rely on your own understanding alone' (4:14). Our synagogue is a 'place of Torah' - where you will also 'find companions to help you grasp it'. So, check the diary for the various study opportunities - and come and learn!