Paying Students To Learn About Judaism
Filed under: Judaism
A fanstastic idea. As Scripture tells us:
"As he had come from his mother's womb, naked will he return...exactly as he came he must depart, and what did he gain by toiling for the wind?" - Ecclesiastes 5:14-15
The religious person realizes that work in spiritual exploits will be more fulfilling, and produce more benefit than its lay labor counterpart. So one donor thought it worthy to pay people, instead of to shelf books or mix cappuccino or some other college student part-time job, college students should have learning Torah as a money-making option. And in the process, some Jews get turned back on to the Judaism of their ancestors.
VIENNA, Jan. 16 (JTA) — Every Sunday and Monday evening, some 90 Jewish university students in Vienna get paid to learn about Judaism from the Orthodox perspective.At first glance the Nefesh Yehudi, literally Jewish soul, program launched by Rabbi Nechemia Rotenberg sounds suspiciously like a bribe. Paying students to attend religious classes? Is that kosher?
Running around his office trailed by several Chasidim helping him with Chanukah party preparations, a smiling Rotenberg is at ease with such questions.
"Most students need to do some part-time work to get through university," said Rotenberg, 30, a Jerusalem native who is fervently Orthodox, or haredi, but not affiliated with any group. "So say you give them a small stipend to replace that work? That gives them time to discover or rediscover what being Jewish is all about."
A fanstastic idea. As Scripture tells us:
"As he had come from his mother's womb, naked will he return...exactly as he came he must depart, and what did he gain by toiling for the wind?" - Ecclesiastes 5:14-15
The religious person realizes that work in spiritual exploits will be more fulfilling, and produce more benefit than its lay labor counterpart. So one donor thought it worthy to pay people, instead of to shelf books or mix cappuccino or some other college student part-time job, college students should have learning Torah as a money-making option. And in the process, some Jews get turned back on to the Judaism of their ancestors.
Ken yirbu.
Comments
Thanks for the post. I randomly came across your name at jewschool.com and remembered that I saw you perform at the JMAs. (nice set, btw.)
"Vanity of vanities," says the preacher in Ecclesiastes. He continues, "there's nothing new under the sun." So true. It can be tiring always looking at the world without ever looking to the heavens. Look up above the sun and there is found the highest truth.
It's a good thing to encourage education. I don't understand why they need to be paid to get fed, but the philanthropist must have his reasons. Like you said, maybe some will get turned back on to Judaism.
Posted by: More Fire | January 18, 2007 02:58 PM