“I know that your faith isn’t something you practice only on Sundays — it influences your daily decisions, your work ethic and your vision for the future,” expressed Ilana M. Horwitz in her forum address at Brigham Young University.
Horwitz, the Fields-Rayant chair of contemporary Jewish life and an assistant professor of Jewish studies and sociology at Tulane University, spoke on the impact of religious commitment on educational success.
She presented research showing that strong religious values can provide discipline, structure and social networks that improve academic outcomes.
Horwitz shared her personal experience of growing up in what is now Russia, where she had little exposure to religion or the concept of religious freedom. It was only after her family immigrated to the United States that she began to explore her Jewish heritage, discovering its beliefs, traditions and cultural significance.
“Starting over in America was incredibly difficult,” Horwitz explained. “But it gave us something priceless — the freedom to connect with our Judaism for the very first time.”
She highlighted how religious communities offered her stability, motivation and a sense of belonging, which can be crucial for success.
“Religion and education are not in competition, but deeply complementary — reinforcing the same values that help so many young people succeed in school,” Horwitz taught.
For those students, religion offers more than just spiritual benefits — it also provides significant secular benefits.
“Their faith does more than provide moral guidance; it equips them with that framework for success in an educational system that values structure and discipline and a community that reinforces that very message,” Horwitz said.
