Matchmaker, Matchmaker

TorahMates is a free Jewish learning program that matches thousands of study partners around the world. The program gives individuals the opportunity to study Torah or other Jewish subjects at their own pace from the comfort of their home.

Coordinators with TorahMates match participants and also offer advice on books and other materials to study. After choosing the topic they’d like to learn about, study partners connect weekly for sessions that run 30 minutes (or longer, if desired).

Partners don’t have to be local to each other, because they typically connect via phone or video call. Ultimately, the goal is to help Jewish people learn more about their heritage.

TorahMates had humble beginnings in New Jersey in 1982, starting with a small group of volunteers. The concept was simple: connect two Jews and let them learn Torah. Since then, the program has grown and expanded, allowing participants to study whatever Jewish subject matter they’d like, while still offering guidance and adding incentive prizes for learning time that is logged.

TorahMates, a project of the nonprofit Oorah, coordinates more than 14,000 personal study partners globally. There’s also a Junior TorahMates, which gives kids and teens (ages 10-17) the opportunity to study with mentors via phone or video call.

Nourishing the Mind

For Sarah Feldman, a TorahMates coordinator for 11 years, the program offers Jews a chance to access authentic Judaism.

“Education is a cornerstone of the Jewish religion,” says Sarah, “and we want to spread education so Jewish families can have a sense of identity. It’s nutrition for the soul.”

Orlando resident Leora Estersohn has been a member of the TorahMates program for five and a half years. She is a middle-school teacher and guidance counselor, as well as the busy mom of five boys, so the easy accessibility of TorahMates appeals to her.

Leora also works for the nonprofit Jewish Outreach Initiative (JOIN) of Orlando, where she first heard about TorahMates. Leora enjoys the program so much that she has more than one learning partner.

During her TorahMates sessions, usually conducted by phone, she and her study partner take turns reading aloud from the book they’ve selected.

“I like learning things where we can learn together, at the same pace,” says Leora. “I love that regardless of background and knowledge, in this space we’re equal.”

One of the books she returns to time and again is Soul Construction: Shape Your Character Using 8 Steps from the Timeless Jewish Practice of Mussar, by Ruchi Koval.

“Each time I read it with a TorahMate,” says Leora, “I get something new from the experience.”

From Study Partners to Fast Friends

One of Leora’s study partners is Belinda Smith, an Orlando product manager for a healthcare company.

“This program gives me an opportunity to study Torah with someone who has different perspectives and a different background than I do,” says Belinda, who joined TorahMates in 2021.

Through the program, Belinda has enjoyed reading Happiness and the Human Spirit: The Spirituality of Becoming the Best You Can Be, by Rabbi Abraham J. Twerski, MD.

“I liked the perspective of his approach to human behavior,” she says. “My training as a nurse helped me respond to what he was saying. It was a very uplifting experience, to explore Judaism and talk about happiness.”

Through their mutual studies, Leora and Belinda have formed a friendship that has blossomed over time.

“Leora has taught me to explore Judaism and expand my horizons,” says Belinda.

Adds Leora, “The program is always open to new members. You can pick any [Jewish] topic you find interesting, so it doesn’t need to feel out of reach. And it’s an amazing way to make friends!”

For more information or to get started on your own Jewish learning journey, visit TorahMates.org.