Two Monmouth County couples honored recently for completing a course of Torah study were among the many Jews throughout the country taking part in similar celebratory events.

At the Jewish Unity Live event held at the Nicholas Music Center in New Brunswick, the Jewish Unity Siyum (the completion of a Jewish text) award was presented to Susan and William Belfer of Ocean Township and Debra and Scott Levy of Marlboro, all of whom completed a 10-session learning campaign, “Self-help from Sinai.” More than 550 people attended the March 11 event.

“Jewish Unity Live is a celebration of learning,” said Rabbi Moishe Lichtenstein, director of Torah Links of Eastern Monmouth County in Ocean Township. “It’s a culmination of a year’s activity and involvement in Torah Links programming, and it also recognizes the time and effort these four people have devoted to organizing and gaining attention for these offerings.”

Jewish Unity Live is an initiative that began in 2005 as a national campaign designed to encourage new commitments to Jewish learning through annual celebratory events around the country. Its local partner is Torah Links, a Lakewood-based outreach program that offers family programming, holiday activities, and Jewish education courses for children and adults; Torah Links also has an office in Marlboro.

Both couples said their studies enriched their lives. The learning project was based on the first chapter of “Ethics of Our Fathers,” a section of the Mishna.

“I don’t know why my actions deserve an honor. All I wanted to do was learn what the Torah was about,” said Karen Belfer.

Five years ago, after puzzling over some Torah portions, she called Torah Links to explain and clarify the interpretations. The organization sent a “wonderful and knowledgeable” teacher to talk to her; the two soon started a women’s study group that still meets twice a month to discuss and learn about Judaism, Belfer said. There are 16 women in the group.

“My life is enriched by a sense of God and my place in the universe,” she said. “This gives me a sense of peace and comfort.”

The Jewish Unity Live event opened with a movie by Long Island film producer Ricky Magder; the film posed questions about personal happiness and life’s defining moments. A discussion led by Rabbi Nate Segal of Staten Island followed; he delivered the Jewish perspective on some of the film’s questions.

“Every person can do something big or small to change someone or something in the world,” Segal told the audience. “It can be as simple as holding the door open for someone else.”

Jewish music was also performed during the evening by Israeli musician Yehuda Glantz.