About
Community Registration
Global Day of Jewish Learning programs will be happening around the world!
Get Involved!Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the Global Day of Jewish Learning? When is it?
2. Why participate in the Global Day of Jewish Learning?
3. Who is Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz?
4. Is the Global Day for all Jews?
5. How can I register my community?
6. Who can register a community?
7. How can I participate in a Global Day event in my community?
8. Is there a cost to register my community?
9. Is there a cost to attend a Global Day event?
10. Do I have to join a group or can I study on my own?
11. What if I have never learned a Jewish text before? Do I have to know Hebrew?
12. I live very far from a Jewish community, how can I be involved?
13. What kinds of topics will we study?
14. Who will be teaching?
15. Why is it important that we all learn on the same day? Can’t I just learn any day?
16. Why is it only one Day? What happens after?
17. How can I receive information about the Global Day and its activities?
18. How can I make a donation to the Global Day?
19. If I choose to make a donation, how will the funds be used?
1. What is the Global Day of Jewish Learning? When is it?
The Global Day of Jewish Learning will take place on November 7, 2010. On that day, Jews all over the world will come together to in their communities to study Jewish texts and teachings.
The Global Day celebrates the completion of the Steinsaltz edition of the Talmud. On November 7, 2010, Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz will complete his 45-volume translation and commentary of the Talmud in a Jerusalem ceremony (siyyum.)
The purposes of the Global Day of Jewish Learning are to spark and nourish a love for Jewish learning -- and to celebrate the unity that Jewish learning can engender.
2. Why participate in the Global Day of Jewish Learning?
The Global Day of Jewish Learning is an opportunity for Jews around the world to unite and share in an historic day of learning and community building. Through participation in the Global Day of Jewish Learning, your community will benefit in many ways:
- Uniting your entire community, regardless of affiliation;
- Partnering with local day schools, synagogues and other local agencies;
- Promoting Jewish education and empowering local educators;
- Using the event as a launching pad for your own community initiatives;
- Including your community in a worldwide, groundbreaking event.
3. Who is Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz?
Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz is one of the Jewish people’s greatest champions for open access to Jewish learning. In 1965, guided by the principle that even the most esoteric texts should be made accessible to all Jewish people, Rabbi Steinsaltz undertook the monumental task of translating and elucidating the Talmud’s many thousands of folios.
Now, some 45 years later, the Rabbi is approaching the completion of his commentaries. On November 7, 2010 the world will come together to celebrate his historic contributions to Jewish learning, peoplehood, and unity.
4. Is the Global Day for all Jews?
Yes, the Global Day is for all Jews regardless of learning background or religious affiliation. The classes for the Global Day have been created specifically for all audiences; no prior knowledge of Hebrew or Jewish text is necessary in order to participate in the Global Day.
5. How can I register my community?
Click here to pre-register your community. A member of our staff will then contact you and send you a confimation letter and a registration form.
6. Who can register a community?
Anyone can register. However, because this is a community-wide event, we ask that before you register, you please contact your local federation, Jewish Community Center, educational institutions, or synagogue to ensure community participation.
If you do not know whom to contact in your community, please feel free to call Gabriela, our Community Coordinator, at the Global Day office in New York (212-840-1166). She can help you connect to the appropriate person.
To check if your community has already registered, click here.
7. How can I participate in a Global Day event in my community?
Individual registration for Global Day community events will be available in the summer 2010. Click here to receive periodic updates about the Global Day and events in your community, including an announcement when registration is available.
8. Is there a cost to register my community?
No, there is no cost to register your community to participate in the Global Day of Jewish Learning.
9. Is there a cost to attend a Global Day event?
The Global Day office is not charging individuals to attend the event.
Individual communities may decide to charge attendees a participation fee, but we ask them to keep such fees minimal.
10. Do I have to join a group or can I study on my own?
Since one of the goals for the Day is the unity of the Jewish people, we encourage everyone to join with his/her local community. However, this may be difficult in some locations or for some individuals.
So that no one is excluded, we will be offering web-based classes on November 7th, 2010. Curricular materials will also be on our website for individuals to learn independently or in small groups. Click here to register to receive additional information about the independent learning options.
11. What if I have never learned a Jewish text before? Do I have to know Hebrew?
Absolutely not. Our curriculum for the Global Day is being developed for everyone regardless of knowledge of Hebrew or text study. Regardless of one’s background, everyone is invited, and encouraged, to participate.
12. I live very far from a Jewish community, how can I be involved?
We will be offering web-based classes on November 7th, 2010. Curricular materials will also be available on our website for individuals to learn independently or in small groups. Click here to register to receive additional information about the independent learning options.
13. What kinds of topics will we study?
We will be studying a wide range of topics ranging from love to ecology, prayer to the land of Israel and more. All of the topics for the Global Day will be originating from tractate Taanit of the Talmud. The tractate explores the cycles of the Jewish calendar, and its punctuation by commemoration and celebration.
This rich volume enables communities around the world to engage with the same primary source, even as they study diverse topics and themes. Through our study of this tractate we will be celebrating both our unity and our diversity.
All of the classes are being developed by master level Jewish educators throughout the world. Each class will be a unique experience.
To learn more about the topics we’ll be studying, click here.
14. Who will be teaching?
Each community will choose its own educators. Many of the educators will be local teachers across all denominations.
15. Why is it important that we all learn on the same day? Can’t I just learn any day?
The Global Day of Jewish Learning is unique because it is a specific day set aside for all Jews throughout the world to come together and learn. By joining together in person and in spirit, we can demonstrate – as a people – our devotion to our heritage and to one another.
16. Why is it only one Day? What happens after?
At each Global Day event, communities will have the opportunity to promote the learning opportunities they provide. The Global Day event should be seen as a springboard for individuals and local communities to explore their relationship to Jewish learning.
17. How can I receive information about the Global Day and its activities?
To receive more information about the Global Day click here. In addition, if you have any questions please feel free to contact us and we would be happy to assist. You can find our contact info here.
18. How can I make a donation to the Global Day?
To make a tax-deductible donation to the Global Day of Jewish Learning, click here and you can complete a secure donation on-line.
If you prefer to make a donation via the mail, you can mail your donation to:
The Global Day of Jewish Learning
Aleph Society
25 West 45th Street, Suite 1405
New York, NY 10036
The check should be made out to “Aleph Society”.
You can also make your donation over the phone by calling Gabriela at 212-840-1166.
Your contribution will be tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law.
19. If I choose to make a donation, how will the funds be used?
Your donation will assist us in developing educational materials for the Global Day, in spreading the word and encouraging worldwide participation, and in offsetting the costs of coordinating such a monumental global endeavor. To learn more, please be in touch.