Even though Jewish people only make up so little of the world’s population, Jews have won 20% of the Nobel Prizes in a variety of fields. We are a deeply curious people, which isn’t only a modern phenomenon of Jewish life. Rather, this orientation towards Sakranut, curiosity, stems from our ancient culture. A culture of examining and dissecting texts and mining them for wisdom that can be pulled out from the smallest letter to expose grand ideas and new ways of thinking about the world.  

Isidor I Rabi won the Nobel Prize for Physics in 1944 for his discovery of Nuclear Magnetic Resonance. Born into a Jewish family in Rymanow, Galicia and immigrated to New York’s Lower East Side as an infant, eventually going onto Cornell and to Columbia Universities.  

When he was asked about what made him want to be a scientist, and what made him successful, he didn’t credit his illustrious education at elite universities, rather he said, “My mom made me a scientist without even intending. Every other Jewish mother would ask her child after school, ‘So, did you learn anything today?’ But not my mother. She always asked me a different question. ‘Izzy,” she would say, ‘did you ask a good question today?’ That’s the difference. Asking good questions made me become a scientist.”  

When you as a parent ask good questions and model wondering aloud, you show them the value isn’t always in knowing, but in discovering how to learn. Ask them open-ended questions that encourage their thinking, or when a child asks your opinion ask them what they think first. We just came out of Passover, a night of many questions, and different types of children who ask them. Meeting each child where they are, encouraging them to ask questions, and not rushing to answer but helping them find their voice are all great ways that we can foster Sakranut/curiosity.   

The Holy Gift of “Why?” — Nurturing Curiosity Through a Jewish Lens 

If your child is in the “why?” phase — or perhaps never left it — congratulations/mazel tov! You’re parenting someone who’s wired exactly the way Judaism hopes they’ll be. 

At its core, Judaism is powered by questions. Not just the deep, existential ones (though we have plenty of those), but the messy, everyday, slightly annoying ones too. Why do we light candles on Friday night? Why can’t I eat mac and cheese with hot dogs at Grandma’s? Why did Moses have to wander the desert for that long? Why, why, why?! 

In Jewish tradition, questions are invitations for more questions (we know kids are great at that too!). In fact, the Talmud — one of Judaism’s most foundational texts — is basically a centuries-long group chat where rabbis ask each other “what if?” and “why?” across time and space. Sometimes they even disagree with God! So when your kid asks a million questions at bedtime, think of them as a mini-Talmudic scholar in pajamas. They’re not trying to stall (okay, maybe a little). They’re testing ideas, making connections, and looking for meaning, just like our ancestors did.  

Sometimes as parents you might feel like you need to have all of the answers, but you don’t! Judaism prefers a good question to a quick answer. Did your child ask why the moon looks different tonight? Wonderful! You could say, “That’s actually how we tell Jewish months — by the moon!” Let their sense of wonder guide you into Jewish time, rituals, or nature. The goal isn’t to give a lecture — it’s to share the awe. 

Kids mirror what we model. Ask your child questions too. “Why do you think we dip apples in honey?” “What would you ask if you met Noah?” Jewish tradition teaches through stories — let them wonder right along with you. 

Instead of “we do this because we’re supposed to,” try “let’s explore what this means to us.” Let your child help plan Shabbat, decorate for holidays, or make up their own blessing. Give them space to invent and explore. There’s no “right” way to be curious. 

Not every question has a neat answer — and that’s okay. Judaism has a long tradition of embracing mystery. It’s powerful for kids to hear, “That’s a big question — and even grownups are still figuring it out.” In a world that often pushes fast answers and tidy truths, Judaism gently reminds us: questions are holy, curiosity is sacred, and growing minds — like growing souls — need room to wander. 

So next time your child asks “why?” for the 137th time this week, take a breath, smile, and remember: you’re raising a question-asker. And in Judaism, that’s about as holy as it gets.