A Couple’s TorahMate Story
My husband and I both grew up in similar homes with the basic Jewish expectations: lighting Shabbat candles, doing kiddush on Shabbat — but that was it. We always knew we wanted something different for our kids eventually. It wasn’t until we got involved with Oorah that we began to grow in our observance and in our understanding that Judaism is the foundation for helping our family grow. We were introduced to Oorah and the TorahMates program when we toured the middle school for our kids. They had both been in public school throughout elementary, and right before the pandemic, my husband and I decided it would be too risky to send them to public middle school where they’d be exposed to things that didn’t align with our family’s values. We visited a local Jewish day school, Emek Hebrew Academy, and that’s where we first heard about the TorahMates program and that they could help subsidize our tuition if we committed to learning Torah once a week over the phone. Let me just say: my TorahMate, Sarah Feldman, has been an absolute gift. Over the past three years, she’s changed my perspective on observance and helped me strengthen my emunah (faith). We began by learning the weekly parsha and filling in gaps in my general Jewish knowledge. Now, our learning has evolved into meaningful conversations about life and the importance of continuing Jewish values in our home. With Sarah’s support and guidance, I was able to set firm boundaries at work — including my decision not to attend work events on Shabbat — and to my surprise, I found that it was respected. I truly look forward to our weekly conversations. Learning with my TorahMate deepens my connection to faith and gives me a clearer understanding of my role in passing down what I’ve learned to my children and family. So far, the biggest turning point since my husband and I started learning (he also has a phenomenal TorahMate, by the way!) has been that we now keep Shabbat! I’m sure that we will continue to grow and take on more mitzvahs over time. I’m deeply grateful to Oorah, the TorahMates program, and especially to Sarah — for her patience, her guidance, and for helping me become a better version of who I am with every conversation we have.
By Viki Goodman
