Education is our Jewish Superpower
Words of Wisdom with Rabbi Efrat Zarren-Zohar
This Dvar Torah was given by Mark Kravitz, CAJE’s Board Chair, at CAJE’s board meeting this week.
Dedicated in memory of Esther Behar (z'l), beloved mother of our past CAJE Board Chair, Saby Behar.
We extend our heartfelt condolences to the entire family. May her memory be a blessing.
Donations in her memory may be made here.
This week’s double Torah portion, Behar–Bechukotai, closes out the book of Leviticus with what can only be described as a spiritual mic drop — or maybe more accurately, a Torah-powered origin story.
Because what we get here isn’t just a list of laws. It’s a blueprint for building a society powered not by force, but by faith. Not by conquest, but by conscience.
And most importantly — by the superpower we’ve relied on for generations: learning.
In Parshat Behar, we encounter Shmita — the mitzvah to let the land rest every seven years. No planting. No harvesting. No business as usual. Just stop. Trust. Recharge.
It’s the Torah’s version of powering down in order to power up.
And like any superhero learning their limits, Shmita teaches us that sometimes strength means restraint. That true resilience comes from knowing when to pause, when to reset — and when to lean into trust over control.
Then comes Yovel — the Jubilee year, every 50 years.
Debts are wiped clean. Land returns to its original owners. Enslaved people go free.
It’s the Torah’s built-in justice system — one that resets society not by erasing the past, but by restoring balance.
The Sforno teaches that Yovel isn’t just about economics — it’s about dignity. About returning people to their rightful place in the world.
But that kind of reset requires a society that understands compassion, fairness, and equity.
You can’t just legislate justice — you have to learn it, internalize it, live it. That’s where our superpower comes in.
And let’s be honest — we’ve all had moments when we wished life had a reset button.
A moment when the group chat blew up with drama we didn’t expect.
A moment when we snapped at someone we love — and wished we could take the words back.
A moment when we felt burned out, checked out, or just… lost.
A semester that went off the rails.
A news cycle that left us overwhelmed and unsure how to respond.
Reset, in today’s world, might look like:
#1 Putting down your phone and picking up a Jewish book.
#2 Logging off social media and logging into a class, a chevruta, a conversation that expands your mind and anchors your soul.
#3 Taking a break from the noise to reconnect with what really matters — identity, values, and vision.
Because in the Torah’s world, reset isn’t weakness. It’s wisdom.
It’s what allows us to re-center and recharge our core power — our commitment to learning.
That brings us to Bechukotai, which opens with: “If you walk in My statutes…”
Rashi teaches that this doesn’t mean just following rules.
It means to toil in Torah — to engage so deeply in learning that it becomes your path, your posture, your way of being in the world.
The Netziv adds that “walking” in Torah implies movement — a dynamic journey.
Learning isn’t something we did once. It’s something we live. It’s the training montage that keeps playing behind every moment of courage, empathy, and resilience.
That’s why Jewish learning is our superpower.
It’s what allows students to show up with pride, not fear.
It’s what fuels educators to teach not just facts, but meaning.
It’s what empowers parents to raise kids with clarity in a confusing world.
Learning is Our Superpower.
At CAJE, we’re not just teaching curriculum — we’re building a Justice League of Jewish learners.
We’re igniting Torah as a renewable energy source.
And we’re helping people of all ages discover their powers — and use them.
So whether we’re facing misinformation online, identity challenges on campus, heartbreak in the headlines, or just a tough Tuesday — we return to our source.
We learn… We reset… We rise.
Because Jewish power isn’t in domination — it’s in depth.
Not in conquest — but in courage.
Not in muscle — but in meaning.
Torah is our cape. Jewish learning is our superpower.
And education — the real kind, the soul-fueling kind — is how we fly.
In a world that tries to confuse us, divide us, and erase us — Jewish education gives us clarity, connection, and courage.
It sharpens our vision, strengthens our voice, and fuels our resilience.
Through learning, we unlock our identity. We remember where we came from. We discover what we’re capable of.
Learning is what transforms fear into faith, confusion into confidence, and loss into legacy.
This is why CAJE exists — to train and equip the next generation of Jewish superheroes. And education is the power we place in their hands
Our Superpower. Our Future.
The message of Behar–Bechukotai is unmistakable: when we anchor ourselves in Torah, in memory, and in lifelong learning, we don’t just survive — we thrive.
Blessing follows. Identity deepens. Resilience is renewed. And purpose takes flight.
At CAJE, we believe that Jewish education isn’t just important — it’s the battery pack of the Jewish people.
It charges our values, fuels our courage, and lights the path forward for every learner, educator, and family in our community.
This isn’t just our mission — it’s our mandate.
Because in a world full of challenges, learning is our Jewish superpower.
And we’re just getting started.
