Text and the City Brings Adult Learners Together for an Immersive JTS Experience 

July 8, 2026

From June 8–11, JTS welcomed 35 adult learners from across the United States—and even one participant from Switzerland—for the inaugural Text and the City, a new four-day learning experience that combined intensive Jewish text study with unique opportunities to explore New York City through a Jewish lens. 

Participants represented a wide range of ages and levels of experience with Jewish text study. Some had been engaging with JTS remotely through programs such as Context, weekly webinars, Biblical Hebrew, and Open Classroom, and were excited for the opportunity to learn together in person. For others, Text and the City was their first experience studying with JTS.

A distinctive feature of the program was studying the same biblical chapter with four different JTS scholars. In the morning, participants gathered in the Beit Midrash for an immersive study of Genesis 18. Each scholar focused on different passages and brought distinctive questions and interpretive approaches to the text. Through close reading, intertextuality, comparative interpretation, and philosophical reflection, learners engaged with enduring questions—questions of hospitality and justice, faith and doubt, and the complex relationship between the human and the divine.   

For Andie Levinger of New York City, this was one of the program’s highlights. “The concept of taking one text and exploring it in four different ways was remarkable,” she reflected. “From each teacher, I gained curiosity, excitement, and inspiration. It makes me want to look at every Jewish and secular text in a similar way—with multiple perspectives.” 

As part of the morning text study, participants also had the opportunity to learn in hevruta, the traditional practice of paired learning. For many, this approach was new, but it quickly became one of the most meaningful aspects of the experience. Through thoughtful conversation and collaborative inquiry, learners deepened their understanding of the text while building connections with one another. 

“The way the program was structured enabled people to participate fully,” said Beryl Levinger of Carmel, CA. “Each person brought a unique set of experiences, and those experiences were treasured and valued by everyone else.” 

The hevruta model, combined with opportunities to pray together and share meals, fostered a vibrant learning community. Carol Ehrlich of Brookline, MA, observed, “We formed a lovely community after just a few days—a community of respectful dialogue, willingness to challenge ourselves, willingness to be vulnerable in our approach to text, and a commitment to seeing what others saw in the text.” 

In the afternoons, the learning extended beyond the classroom. Participants joined JTS scholars, who applied the different interpretative tools that they were using in the Beit Midrash to other cultural artifacts: books, documents, visual art, and NYC landmarks. Participants enjoyed visits to some of New York City’s most significant cultural institutions, including The JTS Library’s world-renowned special collections with Dr. Marcus Mordecai Schwartz, a walking tour of Jewish life on the Lower East Side led by Dr. Sandra Fox, a special visit to The Met Cloisters with Dr. Julia Perratore and Dr. David Kraemer, and a private tour of Paul Klee: Other Possible Worlds at the Jewish Museum. The group also attended the opening night of the Israel Film Center Festival. 

“JTS is part of the fabric of New York City,” reflected Michael Ratney of Washington, D.C. “Participants walk away with a great appreciation for how JTS contributes to the life of Judaism in the city.” 

Plans are already underway to grow the program next summer, enabling even more learners to experience the powerful combination of rigorous study, meaningful community, and cultural exploration that made this inaugural gathering such a success. Sign up here for news about the program.