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Toward a Renaissance of American Jewish Education

n his commentary on the Talmud — a body of Jewish learning that represents one of the greatest models of cultural preservation in the history of mankind — the medieval philosopher Moses Maimonides pointed to the rabbinic idea that "the world is sustained only by the breath of schoolchildren." His insight is a deep one: that the fate of every civilization depends, over the long term, on the work of perpetuation and transmission.

Eric Cohen & Steven Price photo By Eric Cohen & Steven Price

September 21, 2026

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Toward a Renaissance of American Jewish Education

NationalAffairs.com • Eric Cohen & Steven Price

What happens when a community rediscovers education as a work of cultural and spiritual inheritance? Looking to the growth and challenges of Jewish day schools—and their convergence with classical education and school choice—this piece explores how renewing teachers, schools, and enduring traditions could help form a new generation rooted in both faith and civic life.

Eric Cohen & Steven Price photo

Eric Cohen & Steven Price

NationalAffairs.com

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