The Value of Literacy

by Kendra Walz

The late spring and early summer bring in some special occasions in Judaism. Following Passover, we experience Lag B’Omer and Shavuot as the days get longer and warmer and flowers bloom across the land, which we may like to bring inside to decorate our Shavuot tablescape. It is also a special, sacred time for people of many different cultures all over the world, as we all gather with our families to celebrate a universally cherished tradition –graduations!

Graduations are held in schools of all levels all over the world at this time of year. It is a special tradition that marks a generation of individuals who have advanced their knowledge, and the advancement of knowledge and literacy is a very important Jewish value. For Shavuot, we stay up all night studying Torah, just like college students may be staying up all night to study for their final exams.

…the advancement of knowledge and literacy is a very important Jewish value.

A lot of Jews light a bonfire on Lag B’Omer to remember the death of Rabbi Akiva and his students, who are believed to have died from a plague. Rabbi Akiva’s story is important to remember as we move towards Shavuot and celebrate receiving the Torah. It is believed that when he was young, he was an illiterate shepherd, but eventually studied his way to becoming one of our great sages. After his death and the death of his students, the story goes that one surviving student of his, Shimon ben Yochai, held the responsibility of carrying on his teachings to future generations. We now commonly refer to that student as Rashbi, and lighting fires on Lag B’Omer symbolizes a persevering light of knowledge that followed from the death of Rabbi Akiva and many of his students.

These celebrations within our communities happen at the same time many other communities mark educational milestones for their children and loved ones. Lag B’Omer and Shavuot tell us that teaching and education are sacred, and this holds true for all of humanity. As we continue to count the omer down to the eve of Shavuot, consider meditating on the blessings of knowledge and education for children and young people all over the world right now. For many individuals, education is not accessible. It is important to keep these people in our hearts and reflect on Rabbi Akiva’s story, who was once without an education, and how his learning has gone on to shape Judaism and the generations that came after him.

As Jews, we should hold gratitude for what education has made possible for us as a people, and question what our world may be missing out on every time God creates a mind that does not receive education. On Shavuot, we receive the Torah, and the word Torah means “to guide” or “to teach”. Throughout the year, we may find ourselves taking our literacy and our minds for granted. This particular holiday season, let us be grateful for the knowledge that humanity has accumulated thus far, and reflect on how we can help others experience the joys and blessings of receiving an education.

 

Kendra Walz is Chai Mitzvah’s Administrative Services Manager, and has a background in non-profit management and grant administration. She will graduate with an MBA in International Business from the University of Hartford in 2026. She volunteers with multiple Jewish organizations in the Greater Hartford area and Israel, and has been published in the Jewish feminist magazine, Lilith.