Talmud Torah

Talmud Torah of the Jewish Community of Venice is organised on two days a week and includes two pre-bar/bat Mitzvah classes divided by age.

“Talmud Torah Ke neghed kullam – The study of the Torah before everything”. According to an interpretation of Jewish tradition, when passing into the afterlife, the Heavenly Court inquires whether each Jew has set aside time in his life for the study of the Torah, such is the importance of study that it is considered the basis of life.

The parents have a duty to transmit to their children a love of study and knowledge of the rules, history and customs of the Jewish people, so much so that, on the eve of bar miztvà or bat Mitzvà – the religious majority that takes place at the age of twelve for girls and thirteen for boys – after extensive study, one is required to take an examination for admission and confirmation.

The mitzvot, the divine precepts that are the basis of Jewish tradition, cannot be observed if one does not know them and understand their meaning. This is therefore why the Prophets of Israel always encouraged study by claiming that: “Ve haghita bo iomam va Laila – And you shall deal with it [the Torah] day and night.”

Rav Alberto Sermoneta, Chief Rabbi of Venice