Q&A: Bible Study
Bible Study
Question
Hi Michael,
I hope you’re doing well. We met at your office more than a month ago. Hope you remember.
A. I still haven’t managed to locate your chapter from the book. I’ll go to the campus library and maybe they’ll find it for me. But in the meantime classes have started (at least some of them, because of the strike), so I’ll have to take a break.
B. I have a question—I was told that the Haredim don’t really teach the Hebrew Bible (Tanakh) in their educational frameworks. Why is that? Is there an article or source you can refer me to? Do students in the state-religious system study the Hebrew Bible (Tanakh)? Why do secular people study the Hebrew Bible (Tanakh)? Do you have any idea? I’m interested in the Haredi approach to the Hebrew Bible (Tanakh).
With your permission, may I continue to contact you with questions dealing with the education of the Haredim and the religious in Israel?
Thank you, and have a successful school year,
Answer
Hello T.,
It seems to me there are three main reasons for this: 1. The feeling that you can’t learn very much from the Hebrew Bible (Tanakh). Usually people interpret it according to the values they already bring from home, and therefore it’s impossible to derive new lessons from it. If you think about it a bit, I’m sure you’ll discover that you’ve never actually learned anything new from the Hebrew Bible (Tanakh) (I’m not talking about facts, but about insights and value-laden lessons). 2. Usually it’s a trivial kind of study (it doesn’t require significant intellectual effort). 3. The concern about having to deal with biblical criticism.
In all these parameters, the Talmud is far superior to the Hebrew Bible (Tanakh).
In the state-religious system they teach the Hebrew Bible (Tanakh), just as they teach many other things. But they don’t really study the Hebrew Bible (Tanakh). Most students hate it, and it bores them tremendously. Exactly like among secular students.
Gladly, as much as I can.
See you,