Growing from the roots

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I became interested in Torah during my college years at Brown University. I felt the need to gain a more nuanced understanding of Judaism as I confronted puzzling social and intellectual challenges on campus. My attempt to answer questions, such as “What are the essentials of Jewish belief and philosophy?” and “Why should I be committed to being Jewish?” led me to canonical Jewish texts spanning centuries and continents. On the way, I also discovered published works by writers in my own family, such as my Yemenite grandfather’s book on the weekly Torah portions and my Palestinian/Danish great-grandfather’s scholarly pamphlets on issues in the Gemara. These discoveries were exciting and provided my identity with a richer sense of context.

 

I had the opportunity to learn Torah in Jerusalem this spring, thanks to the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island. The scholarship afforded me two months at a yeshiva for women called Midreshet Rachel V’Chaya where I studied Torah for about 40 hours a week and lived in a beautiful neighborhood called Har Nof (“mountain with a view”).  

At Midreshet Rachel V’Chaya, I was able to advance my learning of these texts and integrate them more fully into my life. I also had the opportunity to meet other women who were just as fascinated by the sources of our tradition as I was. This special community of Jewish women continues to guide me in my learning and growth.

Thank you to the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island and its donors for aiding me in this important journey of my Jewish identity and a genuine thank you also to the Jewish nonprofits such as MEOR and Midreshet Rachel V’Chaya for making excellent learning programs available for young Jewish men and women. 

Nava Winkler is from Pawtucket. She graduated from Brown University in 2014 and now lives and works in Tel Aviv.