Ohef Sholom Temple - Norfolk, VA
RSS
  • About
    • Our Clergy
    • Our Staff
    • Our Values
    • OST Board & Foundation
      • Constitution & Bylaws
  • Visit Us
    • Library & Archives
    • Judaica Shop
    • Sanctuary and Chapel
    • Our History
  • Membership
    • Join Our Family
    • Membership Application
    • Pay My Dues
  • Youth & Family
    • Religious School
      • Facebook Group
    • Scholarships
    • Youth Programs
    • B’nai Mitzvah
      • Mitzvah Project Spotlight
  • Adult Engagement
    • Adult Education
    • Committees & Auxiliaries
    • Men’s Club
    • Sisterhood
    • Repairing the World
  • Life Cycle Events
  • Worship
    • Services & Programming
    • Virtual Worship
    • Sermons
  • Calendar
  • Give
    • Donations
    • Endowment
    • Memorial Plaques
    • Tree of Life Leaf
    • Tree of Remembrance Leaf
  • Connect
    • Social Media
      • Facebook Page
      • Facebook Group
      • Instagram
      • YouTube
    • Temple pOST Bulletin
    • Become a Candle Lighter
    • Become a Shalom Greeter
  • My OST

Learning is a Lifelong Endeavor and its Mission is Never Complete

urjnetworkadmin September 6, 2011 OST Blog

Parents have let out a collective sigh of relief.  The new academic year has started and, thank God, the kids are back in school.  It is amazing that, at the end of the school year, parents are so grateful to have a reprieve from supervising homework, making lunches and driving carpools.  By the end of the summer, however, they are all too happy to resume those duties and have their kids back in a structured, productive and learning environment.

While we mostly think about the end of summer as a time that kids go back to school, Judaism teaches that it is specifically this period of the year that all of us, adults, kids, men and women are encouraged to return to learning, studying and personal growth.  Learning is a lifelong endeavor and its mission is never complete.  

Over the past few weeks, I attended two siyumim, the celebrations over completion of a major body of learning, that deeply inspired me.  During the nine days, our member, Jeff Silkin made a siyum on an entire mesechta  (tractate) of gemara.  Remarkably, when Jeff and his family first moved to the circle he would classify himself as a beginner with little background or learning skills.  Yet, by committing to study one night a week with his chavrusa (R. Mayer Englander), something he considers totally ordinary, he was able to achieve an extraordinary feat.  

Last Shabbos at Seudah Shlishiet, another of our members, Dan Waldman, made a siyum on Shas Mishnayos, having completed every single mishna in the six orders.  He told the story of how, as a survivor, he tried to learn about his murdered ancestors so he could visit their graves.  When he recognized that, tragically, he could not locate much information, he decided he would study the entire mishna and dedicate it to them.   Through this process of study that took several years, he became their monument.  Ask Dan how he completed this rigorous project and his answer is simple – one mishna at a time.

Like our many children and like Jeff and Dan, this Elul, let’s all go back to school.  Challenge yourself to complete an area of study, to read a challenging book, to attend an inspiring lecture or to engage a regular study partner.  Participate in the Beis Midrash program nightly or Shabbos afternoon in the Senders Library.  If you need a chavrusa, feel free to contact me any time.  

May we all use Labor Day to return to school for a labor of love – Torah study, and may we attend each other’s siyumim and celebrations for many years to come.

This is going to be the best year ever. What do you do?

Related Posts

OST Blog

Let’s be like Avraham and Sarah and change the world one person at a time.

The Rabbinical Council of America (RCA) is the umbrella professional organization of over 1,000 Orthodox Rabbis from North America and Israel.  In my capacity as Vice President, I had the privilege of participating in a one day officers retreat this week to discuss the current state of Modern Orthodoxy and to strategize a vision for a bright and inspiring future.

OST Blog

You only get one opportunity to make a first impression.

After months of planning and design, this week we finally unveiled the new BRS website – www.brsonline.org We are very proud of its great features including a FAQ section for people who live here, those looking to move and those visiting.  We have videos, podcasts, a blog, photo galleries, and much more.  We have also […]

OST Blog

We are a people only because of the book

Imagine the following scene playing out on CSPAN:  On a specific day of the year, the Supreme Court justices together with the member of Congress take copies of the United States Constitution and dance around the floor of the House of Representatives while singing, clapping and lifting the law books high in the air.   With […]

Recent Posts

  • JOSTY
  • Office Staff
  • Library/ Archives Committee
  • Environmental Stewardship Subcommittee
  • Giving with Gratitude

Archives

  • June 2018
  • November 2011
  • October 2011
  • September 2011
  • August 2011
  • July 2011
  • April 2011
  • March 2010

Categories

  • OST Blog
  • Photo Galleries

Meta

  • Register
  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.org

Contact Info

Ohef Sholom Temple
530 Raleigh Avenue
Norfolk, VA 23507

Phone: (757) 625-4295
Fax: (757) 625-3762

information@ohefsholom.org

  • Ohef Sholom Facebook Ohef Sholom Facebook
  • Ohef Sholom Instagram Ohef Sholom Instagram
  • OST Religious School Facebook OST Religious School Facebook
  • Ohef Sholom Friends Ohef Sholom Friends
  • OSTY/JOSTY OSTY/JOSTY
Yom Shishi, 11 Iyyar 5785
© URJ 2025