JEWISH EDUCATION

- Jewish education (Hebrew: ‫חינוך‬, Chinuch) is the transmission of the tenets,

principles, and religious laws of Judaism. Known as the "people of the book", Jews
value education, and the value of education is strongly embedded in Jewish culture.

1. How did the ancient Jews learn the bible?

- The Jewish people has an educational tradition as old as history (see *Education, Jewish). From
the very beginning of their identification as a distinct entity, Jews have contributed not only to the
advancement of their own education, but also to that of the world at large. The educational principles of
the Bible found their way into the educational thought of Christians and Muslims. As an example one
might cite the moral, spiritual, and character education through the family and community described in
the Book of Proverbs. Compulsory teaching, incumbent upon the father in the first instance, is ordained
in Deuteronomy 6:6–9 and 11:18–20. Compulsory school attendance was decreed by *Simeon b.
Shetah in 75 B.C.E. and by *Joshua ben Gamla in 64 C.E. In recent years, educators have come to
recognize that ancient Jewish education anticipated, and no doubt indirectly and remotely influenced,
modern education. Thus the National Education Association of the United States cited the Babylonian
Talmud as authority for a maximum class size of 25 pupils (BB 21a). The same source requires, under
Joshua ben Gamla's ordinance, that children start school at six or seven, the age at which children all
over the world traditionally enter school. Adult education is sometimes traced by educational historians,
such as I.L. *Kandel, to the bet ha-midrash of Second Temple times. The importance of the teacher in
the learning process is repeatedly emphasized in the Talmud (Avot), as is the significance of motivation
in teaching and of vocational training-principles, which are basic to effective instruction and a modern
educational system. The practice of "each one teach one," inaugurated by Frank C. Laubach in teaching
literacy to the people of developing nations, has a talmudic prototype.

2. What are some of the educational contributions of Ancient Jewish

education?
- Jewish education has been a core value to the Jewish people throughout history and is
essential to carry on Jewish tradition and values. Jewish education influences Jewish identity,
engagement, and continuity. For most of their history, Jews educated their children in their own
institutions and expressed their educational ideas in their own languages, until the late 18th century.

Evaluation and activities

 Research for the present education of Jewish and its features.

- In all Jewish day schools, students are taught to read, speak, and understand, the
language of Hebrew- the ancient language of the Jews. Usually beginning grade
school, students have intensive Hebrew studies. For most of their history, Jews educated
their children in their own institutions and expressed their educational ideas in their own
languages, until the late 18th century. There was little contact between Jewish and non-Jewish
pedagogues. Jews made few, if any, contributions to general education during the greater part
of the development of education from ancient times. One outstanding exception may be
Constantinus Afer or Africanus (d. 1087), believed by some historians to be Jewish.
Jewish education has been a core value to the Jewish people throughout history and is
essential to carry on Jewish tradition and values. Jewish education influences Jewish
identity, engagement, and continuity.