Using Facebook to learn about Judaism
When NorCal NCSYer Rebeccah Simon came back from NCSY’s TJJ (The Jerusalem Journey) summer program, she was inspired. But she still had so many questions.
To help herself and her fellow NCSYers, Rebeccah launched a Facebook group called NorCal Q & A, an open forum where NCSYers pose questions to be answered by advisors and other staff members of NCSY. Since the group started at the end of March more than 100 Facebook users from the region have joined.
“This is an opportunity for anybody who has questions to ask Rebbe Akiva [Naiman] and Rabbi Mike [Donovan] absolutely anything!” Rebeccah wrote in the first post. ” It can be a private message, public post, but it would be awesome if it would be public so other people can learn when you ask questions!”
The site is a lively conversation with teens asking whether they can work in a non-kosher bakery even if they can’t eat there or even whether someone can throw out a cheeseburger in a kosher kitchen. One advisor, Moshe Lehhman, explained a complicated prohibition of getting benefit from a dish made with milk and meat while another regional director chimed in with a question of his own. Other posts center on the prohibition of kol isha, hearing a woman sing.
Rabbi Akiva Naiman, director of East Bay NCSY attributed the success of the group to the culture of NCSY in California.
“We have a culture of learning here,” he explained. “We’ve run programming that stresses the importance of learning and it worked.”
He also cited the relationship many NCSYers have with their advisors, who actively participate in the forum.
“We fly out the same advisors every month,” Rabbi Naiman explained. “A lot of them are already in their second year. We wouldn’t be the same chapter without them.”
Some questions though can’t be answered over Facebook. When NCSYer Sam Orbach asked why good thing happened to bad people — especially in light of the tragedy in Boston — Rabbi Naiman advised him to attend a Latte & Learn to hear the answer.
The group has its steady followers.
“This is where I go when I have a question that’s Jewish and there’s nothing on Google,” wrote Molly Werthan. “So it’s basically Jewgle.”
Rabbi Naiman concluded with a welcome message for parents.
“I see people on the Facebook group that I never would have imagined would have joined,” he explained. “It surprises me. Last week, I walked into a pluralistic non-denominational high school and a bunch of girls were listening to Call of Inspiration. You never know what kids are doing in their free time. “
