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 Click here to view our video, "Ta Shma: Living Between the Lines"
Educational Philosophy
A Unique Philosophy of Pluralism
Educational Philosophy
At Ta Shma, Jewish learning is
...engaging
Serious texts require serious attention. At Ta Shma, students are challenged
not only to decipher the meaning of the text, but also to explore its relevance
for a modern Jew. Students pore over texts in hevruta, paired learning, and
then re-gather with Ta Shma's faculty to analyze.
...multi-flavored
The cornerstone of Ta Shma's unique educational approach is our commitment
to pluralism. For Ta Shma, nothing is more essential to the Jewish tradition of
learning than machloket, disagreement, about the meaning and relevance of
texts. Each of our programs is created jointly by staff from across the spectrum
of Jewish belief and practice - Reform, Orthodox, Conservative,
Reconstructionist, unidentified, and undefined.
...intellectually and spiritually challenging
The Jewish tradition challenges, both intellectually and spiritually. At Ta Shma,
students confront these challenges without compromising themselves. The
sacredness of the text is revealed by students' resolve to grapple with all of its
aspects.
...not just textual
Integral to learning at Ta Shma is life beyond the text. Hiking, exploring art as
medium for Jewish expression, community service, and sharing in moments of
song and ritual - are all essential aspects of the Ta Shma experience.
...open-ended
We at Ta Shma are deeply aware that authentic Jewish learning must be open-
ended. Ta Shma faculty - despite their divergent Jewish backgrounds - agree
on this important principle. A program's success is defined not by where the
participant comes out Jewishly, either in practice or belief, but by the
participant's departing with expanded Jewish horizons.
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A Unique Philosophy of Pluralism
For Ta Shma, nothing is more essential to the Jewish tradition of learning than
machloket, disagreement. Ta Shma's educators have developed an educational
methodology based on a deep belief that Judaism's vitality is rooted in the contemporary
meeting of many, at times dissonant, voices.
Ta Shma offers its participants a unique atmosphere of learning which is not merely
tolerant - it's genuinely pluralistic. In each Ta Shma event, faculty of different 'flavors' of
Judaism - Orthodox, Reform, Conservative, Reconstructionist, unidentified, and
undefined - join together to plan and execute the program in its entirety.
Ta Shma's programs are woven from a fabric of Jewish pluralism rich in shades and
textures:
At times, pluralism entails a shared effort by faculty of diverse viewpoints who
plan and teach jointly - deciding together on which subjects and texts to
teach, and on which educational approaches to adopt.
At other times, pluralism involves a faculty member's leaving his or her familiar
educational territory - employing an educational approach, teaching a text, or
presenting a Jewish viewpoint which s/he would not otherwise have chosen.
Still at other times, pluralism demands that serious disagreements take place -
whether they be about a text or about a broader issue. At Ta Shma, these
disagreements always occur in an atmosphere of mutual respect and shared
purpose.
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