On Friday night we will honor the congregants who make lifelong learning possible at KI. Caryl and Mike Levin have done so much for our community over the years, making learning real across the age span. By helping us to learn as adults, they and their wonderful volunteers have made sure that learning stays at the center of our Jewish lives. We are forever growing in knowledge, in understanding and in appreciation of our rich heritage. To be a Jew is to be a learner and not just of Torah or Talmud, but of all things, especially now, when misinformation and ignorance are so widespread. Our job is to read broadly, to explore, to discuss, to listen, to see documentaries, to lean into fiction and non-fiction. Indeed we are not meant to remain stagnant or complacent.

Last week I shared a story from the Talmud. I want to share another one this week. In one section of the Babylonian Talmud, we read about a rabbi named Elisha ben Abuya, who the rabbis will criticize for straying from the Torah. Elisha was highly interested in secular subjects in addition to his Torah studies, a great offense in the eyes of the sages. They even go so far as to nickname him “Aher,” meaning “the other one” or “the different one.” To them, he is a pariah. See the following anecdote from Tractate Hagigah:

“The Gemara explains: Aḥer, what was his failing? Greek tunes never ceased from his mouth. He would constantly hum Greek songs, even when he was among the Sages. This shows that from the outset he was drawn to gentile culture and beliefs. Similarly, they said about Aḥer: When he would stand after learning in the study hall, many heretical books, which he had been reading, would fall from his lap. Therefore, he was somewhat unsound even when among the Sages.”

Even as the rabbis struggle with Elisha, they constantly learn from him as well. He has perspective to offer them and ideas they cannot fathom. Elisha is curious and well-read. He is knowledgeable in various subjects. Today we would call him ‘well-rounded.’ While some Jewish circles would perhaps demonize Elisha, many of us view him as a hero. I personally see him as highly admirable. He brings to his Jewish experience a sense of understanding and commentary from the outside world, and vice versa.

This weekend we celebrate lifelong learning at KI. Join us for this special service on Friday night. Let’s keep learning, together.