What Will A Jewish Education Accomplish?
I’m very confused about the whole Jewish education topic, precisely the argument that the number one way to prevent assimilation and intermarriage is a Jewish education. I personally know of girls who were not high school drop outs or anything even remotely close- in fact they were straight A students in every subject including the Hebrew ones. They had a straight kosher Bais Yaakov education all the way through and now are dating non Jews. I have two theories on the issue, ones that might sound surprising to the way most of us are brainwashed about Jewish education.
Number one, a jewish education means almost nil. It will not prevent assimilation, intermarriage or anything else. Someone who goes to Jewish schools their whole life, but doesn’t have a religious family backing most probably will not end up religious. In fact, to the contrary, if they are in schools that are much more religious than their famillies, they will end up getting a double message and be even more confused.
Number two, you can give someone all the education in the world, but if basic human needs aren’t met like belonging, acceptance, and understanding you accomplished zero. These girls obviously felt they didn’t belong to the schools they were put into. This could be for several reasons, but the point I want to make is that in the end, I don’t know what it is, but it’s not Jewish education which will accomplish the goal of keeping people Jewish.
I’m still a bit confused, because I know that Jewish education definitely means alot and can’t be taken for granted, bottom line it is what reinforces most of our beliefs. But on the other hand if it’s not the answer I want to know what is the answer in terms of preventing assimilation.
I have a third idea. Maybe the Bais Yaakov schools style and method of teaching is wrong. Maybe if these schools would stop focusing on external things like a perfect yeshivish image, no community college, only marrying kolle, and condemning their honors English class, and instead focused on things that did matter, like Jewish history and Jewish pride it would be a different story.