Using Primary Texts
Using primary Jewish texts means engaging directly with the Bible, rabbinic literature, and other foundational sources that have shaped Jewish thought and practice across millennia. This approach highlights our tradition's reverence for encountering sacred text as a transformative act. By guiding learners to wrestle with the actual words and ideas preserved in our textual heritage, we not only foster critical thinking skills like close reading and argumentation but also create an unmediated connection between learners and the authentic voice of Jewish tradition, empowering them to join the ongoing conversation that has sustained Jewish life for generations.
Start Here
- Tool Introduction: Use of Primary Text (Ilana Gleicher-Bloom, Pardes Institute) — A short overview of how and why to use primary texts in Jewish education, from the DRJC e-course
Webinars
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DRJC Tools and Methodologies: Primary Texts — An introductory webinar exploring this tool with fellow educators
Read & Explore
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BimBam: Torah, Tanakh, Mishnah, and Gemara — Animated explainer on the major Jewish texts and how they relate to one another
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My Jewish Learning: Torah Introduction — A beginner-friendly overview of what the Torah is and how it functions in Jewish life
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My Jewish Learning: Talmud Introduction — A clear breakdown of the Talmud's structure, history, and purpose
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Pedagogy of Kinyan Torah — Research paper on Ilana Gleicher-Bloom's signature pedagogy of helping students develop their own interpretations of Torah
Let’s Learn Together
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DRJC for You: Using Primary Texts - Explore this source sheet for self-guided learning related to this DRJC tool
Discover more
A recording of NLI's webinar, Remembering in Real Time in commemoration of October 7th.
Text Study based on the hit movie and Broadway Show, Mean Girls. This text study explores lashon hara using the ancient texts form the Babylonian Talmud, Yisroel Salanter coupled with quotes from the Mean Girls musical.
A four-to-five lesson Jewish Studies curriculum for students ages 11+ that uses the SparkIL platform as a living case study to explore Mutual Responsibility, Tzedakah, Israeli diversity, and social entrepreneurship.