Why do I have to go to Hebrew School?

Why do I have to go to Hebrew School?

The simple answer is, you have to go to Hebrew school because I say so.  Not all children will go to Hebrew school because not all parents insist upon it. However, most parents do demand that the children attend a school of religion. Not many opt out.

When I was young my mother made me ingest all kinds of foods, which I hated. You name it, asparagus, lentils, and chopped liver. All sorts of terrible things. With the fullness of my heart I believed it was child abuse. Was my mother, and by extension all of the mothers in the world, guilty of cruel and inhumane treatment?

It must have been hard for her to coerce me into eating things that were not on the par with a Milky Way. Sometimes I would resort to dramatic measures like spitting the food out, refusing to eat it, crying, yelling and generally being disagreeable. Still, she remained firm and resolute in her demands. It would’ve been a lot easier for her to capitulate and fork over the gummy bears in place of the carrots but she stuck to her principles.

Why go through all the fights and the aggravation to convince me to eat those awful things? She could’ve made it easier for self as well as me. Why then?  Because she cared enough for me to insist upon something that was important, gummy bears are not good for me while carrots are.

It is the same with religious studies. I would have preferred playing baseball, or even, God forbid watching All My Children. But Hebrew school was like carrots on the dinner table. No plea-bargaining. Why? Because she loved me.  There is more to it than that.  She also cared that I would identify with something she cares deeply about, Judaism. It was critical that the next generation be given the opportunity to learn about Noah’s flood as well as how to celebrate Pesach and ask the Four Questions. And think of all the things you now know because of afternoon school. You can read a language that any of the kid in school would think would be some sort of secret code or mysterious language. At the bar mitzvah ceremony you learned and demonstrated how to lead services while your non-Jewish friends will never have anything like that opportunity. You are familiar with Torah, its stories and laws. The festivals are known to you as well as Jewish ethics and ideals.

If we did not have to attend religious school we would not. Right? Then what? We would be like everyone else. Jews with some disappear. After all, with nothing particularly distinctive about being Jewish, like being familiar with Hebrew or knowing how to chant the Kiddush, we would soon vanish from the face of the earth.  Unless we teach our faith it will wither and die. After so many thousands of years you wanted to disappear now? On your watch? Imagine grandpa’s face when he hears that news. Besides, it is just not fair to do such a precious treasure.

Thank of it this way: Isn’t get sad, bordering on tragic, when someone you love forgets to say happy birthday?  Isn’t it terrible when you never hear from your aunt or uncle? Our imagination tells us that they must have better things to do than keep in contact with us and remember our special day. That is hurtful makes us sad. Think of how all our relatives and ancestors would feel if we moved away from what they believed to be the most important asset in the whole world?  Forgot them and everything they believed in? That which some of them even gave their lives for?

There is a reason why many millions and millions of Jews feel so strongly attached to the roots. It may be a long story now but religious school tries to uncover the mystery by giving clues so that one day you too will feel strongly about giving your children, the next generation, a Jewish education.  After all carrots helps give you better vision.  Gummy bears only make cavities.