For thousands of years, Jewish education has involved several distinct objects: texts such the Torah and Talmud, a table, some chairs, debate, discussion and several people.

Recently, you can add a computer to that list.

Largely this century, Jewish online education has swept through the world of Jewish learning, creating a new, changing landscape in which Jews are studying and talking — or typing, as it were — often from their own homes, which begs the question: without a physical community of learners, how Jewish is online Jewish education?

That answer, according to Jewish education professionals, is not a black and white one, as many websites offer virtual classrooms allowing students to talk through video and web-chatting technology.

Gratz College offers Internet classes under the banner Gratz Online. Hebrew University of Jerusalem offers similar online courses; it seems universities not offering some online options are now in the minority. The growing trend now is Jewish learning not tied to any physical institution.

WebYeshiva credits itself as “the first interactive, text-based Torah study program on the web.”

“Interactivity is the way to go,” said Yedidya Rausman, founding director of the site. “It’s the only way to learn.”

Sitting at a study table at any Yeshiva in the country, that point is obvious. Online, Rausman explained, interactivity means, “you’re joining people from four corners of the world. But instead of committing to being at a certain place, you turn on your computer and you can be in pajamas. [WebYeshiva] is always there for you.”

Read the full article at the Jewish Chronicle...