October 7 and the vital importance of Jewish education

As the Jewish New Year approaches, Jewish communities everywhere will also mark the anniversary of the massacre of October 7. For many of us, that day woke us up to the sobering reality that in our darkest hour, many of our former friends and allies will stand silent. In the face of hate and evil, it is we, the Jewish people, who rise to the occasion, supporting and loving each other in our greatest time of need.

However, one of the most profound truths that emerged from October 7 and its aftermath was the critical importance of Jewish education for our children, as those who spoke up loudest for Israel and the Jewish people were those with proud Jewish identities — identities shaped by a strong Jewish education. Studies consistently show that children who receive Jewish education are far more likely to feel proud of being Jewish, support Israel, marry another Jew, and lead engaged Jewish lives as adults. When a Jewish child grows up loving being Jewish, loving their Jewish brothers and sisters, and loving Hashem, they will not be intimidated by protests, hate, or antisemitism.

The values imparted from a robust Jewish education provide the resilience to face adversity the way Jews have done throughout the millennia — by staying true to Torah, mitzvot, and Jewish values. The same way that Jews persevered through Greek and Roman oppression and through Nazi and Communist persecution is how Jews today will overcome Iran, Hamas, Hezbollah, and all other forces who wish to wipe us off the map.

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However, much is needed to improve the state of Jewish education today. Of the 1.6 million Jewish children in the United States, only less than 300,000 attend full-time Jewish day school, meaning that more than 80% are not attending such schools. Additionally, enrollment in part-time Hebrew schools has declined by 40% since 2006, leaving a huge percentage of Jewish students with almost no Jewish education whatsoever. These staggering statistics reveal that much more is needed to ensure a robust and thriving Jewish community for our future generations.

The Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson OBM, foresaw this decades ago and created a framework to combat this problem. In 1976, he introduced the Education Campaign (Mivtza Chinuch) as part of his 10-point plan to revitalize Jewish life in America. This campaign to transform Jewish education included several components, among them making full-time Jewish education accessible to all Jewish children. He particularly emphasized enrolling our children in a Jewish school from a young age. This way, being Jewish becomes a focus, not an extracurricular activity that can get dropped when a child’s schedule becomes too hectic.

As part of this initiative, Lubavitch on the Palisades’ Preschool was established in 1996, followed by our grade school in 2010. Hundreds of students have walked through our doors over the years from Bergen County and beyond, and have gone on to live proud Jewish lives.

Beyond ensuring Jewish continuity, fighting assimilation, and insulating our children against antisemitism, Jewish education imparts timeless values, teaching our young people how to live moral and ethical lives. Around 3,000 years ago, King Solomon penned the famous words “Educate a child according to his way and when he’s old he will not depart from it” (Proverbs 22:6). In other words, instilling our children with good values when they are young will prepare them for the rest of their lives.

What is most powerful and enduring about Jewish education is that we teach our children how to build a holier world. Everyone has a unique talent that G-d lovingly gifted them, and our mission is to use our talent to enhance the world around us, unleashing the divine sparks found within the everyday aspects of the world. This mindset is a powerful one, which sets our children up for success amid the sea of low self-esteem and less-than-positive belief systems that proliferate in general society.

As the High Holiday season of 2024 approaches, marking 5785 years from the creation of the world, let’s reflect on our pivotal role in helping shape the destiny of the Jewish nation. Rosh Hashanah is a time for introspection and renewal, so let us renew our commitment for providing a comprehensive Jewish education to our children, who are our future.

This year, may all Jewish children be given the opportunity to learn the beauty of their heritage and understand their role as light-bearers in a world that is broken and in need of repair. October 7 visibly showed us that the world needs Jewish education, and the time to make it happen is now.

Rabbi Mordechai Shain is the director of Lubavitch on the Palisades, a school, synagogue, and community center in Tenafly. For more information, go to www.chabadlubavitch.org.