Introduction to Judaism: A Thriving Online Learning Community

If, a few years back, someone had told me that we could build an intimate online community of people exploring Judaism, I would have had my doubts. But with the very first Introduction to Judaism classes URJ launched in 2017, this idea has become a reality.

The course exemplifies URJ's success in building communities of belonging. One thing we've learned is that while URJ creates the space and catalyzes the process, the participants themselves make the connection something special. Spanning diverse ages, backgrounds, and interests, they join from across North America and quickly transform into one united cohort, supporting and encouraging each other as they explore Judaism together.

Invariably, when students introduce themselves in the first session, some of them realize they reside nearby one another and make plans to meet up at a local synagogue or to study together at a coffee shop.

Students often remark how they "see themselves" reflected in their classmates. Many gain great comfort from knowing they are not alone on the journey to understand religion's role in their lives and identities.

Our thoughtful expert faculty have developed their teaching methodology to ensure that students can participate fully in this communal journey, irrespective of their baseline knowledge or their reasons for joining the course. Throughout the 20-week live sessions, faculty invite students to share their questions, observations, and ideas about texts on topics such as: Jewish calendar and holidays, life cycle, history, sacred texts, and more.

The chat feature of Zoom, the online platform we use for live sessions, enables everyone to respond to each other, and participation is robust. More often than not, students "lift" others' comments and questions, giving a real sense of support.

Things can get personal, in the best ways. For instance, during a session on Jewish marriage and partnership, a student couple who married two weeks earlier shared the details of their Jewish wedding ceremony, complete with photos.

In most sessions, students enter breakout rooms of smaller groups, examining ancient texts through contemporary ones. This gives them a chance to get to know each other better as they explore their spirituality and Jewish understandings of God.

When faculty wrap up each week and the recording stops, there is always a group of students who stick around to ask more questions and schmooze a bit more. One faculty member calls this their "afterparty."

In surveys that students complete at the end, over 99% of respondents say they are "mostly" to "totally" satisfied with the course. And faculty as well as URJ staff often hear from students long after the course concludes, as they share their ongoing experiences of Jewish learning.

Recently, one faculty member received an email from a former student who said, "I just wanted to say thanks again and let you know that my daughter and I completed our conversion at the mikvah today. We chose our Hebrew names, and I thought about your class a lot as I prepared. I am so grateful to you for setting the foundation for our life of Jewish learning."

Often, students swap contact information and remain in touch. A recent participant said, "I genuinely feel like I got to connect with my classmates in meaningful ways, and several of us look forward to staying connected after the class is over. There are so few opportunities in life to engage in meaningful conversations with like-minded others from all over North America, and the URJ offered the perfect platform for such connection while truly offering me an educational experience I will treasure for a lifetime."

The course creates bonds that endure. I have had the honor of being one of the participating clergy in several students' batei din (final interview prior to immersion) - sometimes virtually and sometimes in person, as folks from neighboring regions make their way to my local mikvah.

I'm excited to see current and past Intro Online and URJ congregational students "IRL" at the first immersive retreat at Camp Coleman in the Georgia mountains, where we'll celebrate Shabbat and enjoy lots of outdoor activities. And I look forward to helping URJ create welcoming online learning communities through new Introduction to Judaism classes in the years to come.

Learn more about our online Introduction to Judaism courses.