FAQ's about Partners in Torah

 
How do I know if TelePartners is for me?
If you have questions about Judaism, need more information, or want to develop (or brush up) on your reading and textual skills in a friendly, personal way, TelePartners is definitely for you. TelePartners operates on an open enrollment basis, allowing you the freedom to start when it’s convenient for you, try it out before deciding if you want to continue, and continue for as long as you wish.

How does TelePartners work?
Jewishly motivated adults are paired up with their own personal telephone “mentor”, to study any topic in Judaism of mutual interest. Partners study approximately one hour a week at a mutually agreed upon time.

What will I study?
That is entirely up to you. Pick the topic that interests you most, or ask your partner for guidance in choosing a topic or text. Some popular topics among Teleparticipants are: Jewish philosophy; the Hebrew language; the weekly Torah portion; customs and meanings of the holidays; prayer; Jewish dating, marriage and parenting; and the Jewish view on contemporary issues. This is only a sampling of the many topics you can choose from.

Will I feel comfortable if I don’t have any prior experience Jewish studies?
Absolutely. Partners in Torah attracts Jews from all walks of life spanning the complete spectrum of Jewish affiliation and educational backgrounds. Although two people may be matched because one person has expressed an interest in a particular subject while the other person has a level of proficiency in that same area, the nature of their relationship is peer-to-peer, creating a comfortable and non-threatening learning environment.

I’m not a beginner to Jewish learning. Will I still benefit from TelePartners?
Most likely, yes. Studying with your own partner allows you to choose any topic that interests you, or any topic you have studied before but wish to learn more in-depth and at a pace that is comfortable for you. Partners in Torah also gives you a chance to raise questions you might not have felt comfortable discussing in other, more public settings.

Can this program give me the skills I need to help my children with their Hebrew studies?
Yes. All you have to do is choose the material that your children are learning. Numerous parents in just this situation have found TelePartners effective in bridging the knowledge gap between their children who are receiving a Jewish education and themselves, who might not have had that same opportunity when they were growing up.

What if my schedule changes or something comes up at the time we’re scheduled to study?
That’s just one more reason why TelePartners fits in so well with people’s busy schedules. Since you have your own study partner, all you have to do is let him/her know about your schedule conflict. You then have the choice of rescheduling for a more convenient time or resuming the learning the following week.

How will my study partner be chosen?
The program coordinator will spend some time with you discussing your expectations, interests, level of knowledge, and study options. You will then be carefully matched with the most suitable partner. Since the studying takes place over the phone, we are not bound by geographical distance and have the freedom to select the most suitable partner. (Free phone cards are provided to accommodate long-distance learning).

What if I am not satisfied with my partner?
If that should happen, then just call the program coordinator at 1-800-STUDY-4-2 and she will find you a more suitable partner.

If I’d prefer, do I have the option of studying in person?
That depends on where you live. There are Partners in Torah centers in over 40 cities. If you live near any one of those centers, and possibly even if you don’t, we’ll gladly match you up with a partner you can study with face to face.

All this and it’s free?
Absolutely. We don’t believe that financial considerations should ever deter someone from strengthening their Jewish connections. That’s why TelePartners is completely free of charge. Tax-deductible contributions are certainly appreciated and are used to help defray program costs.
 

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Have additional questions?  Feel free to email us.