Johns Hopkins University recently published a study detailing the effects on children of chronic absenteeism from school. It reported that although their test scores might not have suffered, the children nevertheless suffered setbacks in age-level skills and other appropriate developmental milestones. You may ask, “Who cares? The fact that the children are getting good marks means that they are learning, so what is the big deal if they miss so many days?”
This might be an understandable attitude if the only reason we learn is so we know how to behave. But the reason we learn is more than just knowing right from wrong. Learning is important simply for learning’s sake, so every day of learning becomes important.
This is why it is so important for Jews to say na’aseh v’nishma—we will do and we will listen. Of course we must also learn how to act, but learning is not limited to just knowing how to act. Learning is important for learning’s sake. That is why only after we emphasized the importance of acting did we mention learning, to show that we understand the importance of learning for learning’s sake.
This week’s Torah portion is called Shoftim, Judges. The midrash tells us that it is a gift from G-d for us to have judges. You see, judges exist not only to “judge,” but to delve deeper into the meaning of the laws. A judge is meant to be a sage, one who understands the depth of a topic, and that is why it’s a gift. The law exists not only to define how to behave, but to help us understand why the law is the law. We can ask, How does the law make me a better person? What does the law mean to me?
This is what makes us the People of the Book. We are always learning and always questioning.
During the month of Elul, as we prepare for the High Holidays, let’s dedicate time to learn what it really means to be a Jew, and to examine what the holidays really mean to us.
Shabbat Shalom and have a meaningful Elul.