Background. What is the Torah and Why Do We Study It?

Size: px

Start display at page:

Download "Background. What is the Torah and Why Do We Study It?"

Teresa Cannon
5 years ago
Views:

1 Machon Micah Gate of Torah: B reishit (Genesis 1:1-6:8) October 8-14, 2017 Tishrei 18-24, 5778 Background What is the Torah and Why Do We Study It? In its broadest sense, Torah is sometimes used to refer to the vast library of Jewish text. More specifically Torah usually refers to the Pentateuch, the first five books of the Hebrew Bible Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. These books make up the story of the Jewish people. These ancient stories touch upon science, history, philosophy, ritual and ethics. Included are stories of individuals, families, wars, slavery and more. Virtually no subject was taboo for Torah. Running through these stories is the unique lens through which the Jewish people would come to view their world and their God. Revelation We cannot talk about Torah without saying something about revelation. By revelation, we mean ways in which God is revealed to people. The basic underlying difference between the Orthodox and non-orthodox approaches to Judaism hinges on this very issue. The Orthodox view is that everything in the Torah (both the material in the Five Books of Moses and the ancient rabbis interpretations of that material) was revealed directly by God. The non-orthodox view is that the Torah contains the understanding of many people about God. It evolved over a long period and was written by numerous individuals. Some like to say that these individuals were divinely inspired. Some rabbinic scholars speak in terms of progressive revelation (the idea that God is revealed differently in every age); other scholars teach that Torah contains the words of God rather than is the word of God. Interpreting Torah Throughout most of Jewish history, the Torah functioned as the law for Jews. Its commandments and the interpretation of them regulated both Jewish personal and communal life. The calendar was set according to the festivals and sacred holy days prescribed by the Torah. Regulations concerning public safety, diet, marriage, divorce and the rearing of children were all found in the Torah. An interpretation of diagnosing an illness may have worked thousands of years ago but would not in today s 1

2 scientifically advanced world. Laws regarding divorce that may have made sense for Jews living in seventeenth-century Europe may not apply as well today. In order to accommodate such changing needs and circumstances, Jews created a process of interpreting Torah that continues to this day. Explanations and interpretations were collected and formed the Midrash Agadah (literary and moral explanations) and Midrash Halachah (legal explanations). Many of these make up the Talmud. After the completion of the Talmud rabbis such as Maimonides, Rashi, Abraham ibn Ezra and Abravanel to name just a few continued to process of interpreting Torah. Every generation of Jews has had its commentators. Today discoveries in archeology, comparative religion, and linguistic analysis contribute to our understanding of Torah. For most of history, women s voices were absent from the interpretation of Torah. However, for the last generation, women have been contributing to this wonderful process and have added a unique and much needed understanding of our sacred text. How We Read Torah The Torah is divided into fifty-four sections, each one called a sidrah or parasha. Each week, on Shabbat another portion is read (some weeks have a double portion). In most Reform synagogues, a portion of the sidrah is read. On Festivals, Reform congregations read from the portions traditionally assigned to those holidays. In addition, a selection from the Prophets or Writings is read each week. Known as the Haftarah, this reading is selected to relate to the text of the Torah portion. In most synagogues, the Torah and Haftarah portions are chanted. Most synagogues have at least several Torah scrolls, from which the Torah is reading during worship services. It is handwritten on parchment made from the specially treated of skin of a kosher animal and the letters are inscribed with a quill pen by a specially trained scribe called a sofer. The cycle of Torah reading is completed within one year. On the holiday of Simchat Torah, the last and first verses of Torah are read as the cycle continues. This is a joyous observance, often accompanied by dancing and music. 2

3 Studying Torah For the Jewish people, the study of Torah never ends. Each year, as we read the sacred text again, it can be as if we are reading it for the first time. Each encounter with sacred text offers the possibility of new meanings. The Reform Movement has published a number of editions of the Torah, with contemporary commentary. Many Reform synagogues have ongoing Torah study groups. Some meet during the week over lunch, while others convene on Shabbat morning. Some rabbis lead Torah study in business offices and others in coffee shops. A Reform synagogue near you may have a Torah study group. No experience is necessary and newcomers are always welcome. A first-century CE teacher, Ben Bag Bag, taught his students, Turn the Torah, and turn it again, for everything you want to know is found within it. (Avot 5:25) The study of Torah can be both an intellectual adventure and a spiritual journey. The many meanings of Torah offer the potential to add greatly to one s life. Sources: Jewish Living: A Guide to Contemporary Reform Practice (Revised Edition) by Mark Washofsky Every Person's Guide to Judaism by Stephen J. Einstein and Lydia Kukoff A Torah Commentary for Our Times, Volume One: Genesis by Harvey J. Fields 3

4 Lesson 1 Enduring Understanding - Torah is an ongoing dialogue between the text and its students. -Torah is real in our daily lives; it goes with us wherever we are. -Developing the skills to study Torah is essential to integrating Torah into our lives. -I am part of the ongoing story of Torah and the Jewish people Say the prayer for the study of Torah: Baruch ata Adonai, Eloheinu melech haolam, asher kid'shanu bemitzvotav vetzivanu la'asok b'divrei torah. We praise You, Eternal God, Sovereign of the universe, who calls us to holiness through mitzvot, commanding us to engage in the study of Torah. Family Discussion Part 1 A man once came to the Kotsker Rebbe and complained that his son did not want to learn Torah. He asked the rebbe, What should I do? The rebbe told him, If you force your child to study Torah, he will study Torah as long as you make him do so. And, in fact he will grow up and amke his child study Torah in his time. However, if you devote yourself to Torah study, soon you will find your child by your side asking to study with. Questions 1. What did the father want his son to do? 2. What advice was the rebbe giving the father? 3. What do you think of the rebbe s advice? Was it wise? 4. What advice would you give this father? Why? 4

5 Family Discussion Part 2 Consider all the different types of people in your life. You might do this by drawing two circles: In the inner circle write the word You, or simply write your name. In the outside circle, write all the other people in your life: parents, friends, teacher, rabbi, bus driver, sister, brother, doctor, babysitter etc. Ask: What would happen if we took away all the people who help in the outer circle? (Possible answers: There would be no one to help me do the things I can t do myself. I would be lonely. I wouldn t be able to get to school, etc.) Explain that in the book of Genesis God creates more than one person so that Adam wouldn t have to be alone. Read the text together as a family. Read- The Story of Adam and Eve (Genesis 2:1-24, adapted) When God finished creating the heavens and the earth, there were no people to care for the land. So God created Adam from the dust of the earth and made him alive. God planted a beautiful garden, called the Garden of Eden, and gave it to Adam to live in and care for. God filled the trees with fruit for Adam to eat. God told him, You may eat all you like of every tree in the garden but of the Tree of All Knowledge you may not eat, for the moment you eat of it you shall be doomed to die. God watched Adam as they days passed and saw that he was not happy being alone. I will make him a helpmate, God said. So God created all the cattle and all the wild beasts and all the birds of the sky and brought them to Adam to give them names. Adam named them all, but none of them were a good helpmate for him. God put Adam into a deep sleep, and God created woman. Adam awoke and saw that she was a perfect helpmate, and he said, Let this one be called woman. And so God created the first two people Adam and Eve who would be the mother and the father of the entire world. 5

6 Alone/Together Game: Which of these activities do you need someone else in order to do? Which activities can you do alone? -Play hide and seek -Go to the doctor -Play on a seesaw -Play a video game -Go to school -Play ping-pong -Get a hug when you are sad -build with blocks -Buy groceries for dinner -Play catch Key Torah Verse- Genesis 2:18 יח ו י אמ ר י הו ה א לה ים, לא- ה יו ת ה אד ם ע ש ה- לו ע ז ר, ל ב ; א דו טו ב כ נ ג דו. 18 And the Lord God said: It is not good for the human to be alone, I shall make him a helpmate beside him. V yomer Adonai Elohim, Lo Tov he ot ha adam l vado. A aseh lo ezer k negdo. 6

7 Lesson 2 Say the prayer for the study of Torah: Baruch ata Adonai, Eloheinu melech haolam, asher kid'shanu bemitzvotav vetzivanu la'asok b'divrei torah. We praise You, Eternal God, Sovereign of the universe, who calls us to holiness through mitzvot, commanding us to engage in the study of Torah. Family Discussion part 1 1. Did you ever get blamed for something your sibling or another child did? 2. Did you ever take credit for something your sibling or another child did? 3. Think of a time when you were very proud of your sibling or another child. 4. Think of a time when you were upset with your sibling or another child. 5. Think of a time when a family problem was solved by talking to a family member. Read Genesis 4:1-16 And the human knew Eve his woman and she conceived and bore Cain, and she said, I have go me a man with the Lord. And she bore as well his brother, Abel, and Abel became a herder of sheep while Cain was a tiller of the soil. And it happened in the course of time that Cain brought from the fruit of the soil an offering to the Lord. And Abel too had brought from the choice firstlings of his flock, and the Lord regarded Abel and his offering but He did not regard Cain and his offering, and Cain was very incensed, and his face fell. And the Lord said to Cain, Why are you incensed, and why is your face fallen? For whether you offer well, or whether you do not, at the tent flap sin crouches and for you is its longing but you will rule over it. And Cain said to Abel his brother, Let us go out to the field. And when they were in the field, Cain rose against Abel his brother and killed him. And the Lord said to Cain, Where is Abel your brother? And he said, I do not know. Am I my brother s keeper? And He said, What have you done? Listen! your brother s blood cries out to me from the soil. And so cursed shall you be by the soil that gaped with its mouth to take your brother s blood from your hand. If you till the soil, it will no longer give you its strength. A restless wanderer shall you be on the earth. And Cain said to the Lord, My punishment is too great to bear. Now that You have driven me this day from the soil and I must hide from Your presence, I shall be a restless wanderer on earth and whoever find me will kill me. And the Lord said to him, Therefore whoever kills Cain shall suffer sevenfold vengeance. And the Lord set a mark upon Cain so that whoever found him would not slay him. 7

8 Family Discussion Part 2 1. There is a lot of missing information in this story, a lot of blank spaces. For example, what did Cain and Abel say to each other in the field? Perhaps it is blank to allow us to ponder about the nature of their relationship. Your job is to look at your text and fill in the blank, to fill in the missing conversation. As a family, discuss what you think happened between Cain and Abel. 2. In Genesis 4 God asks Cain a question and then Cain responds with another question. What is the problem with God s question to Cain? Does God really not know? Doesn t God know everything? If God does know, then why is God asking Cain? 3. Why do you think God asks the question? What is Cain really trying to say to God? What is the problem with God s response to God? 4. What do you think is really behind Cain saying, Am I my brother s keeper? When do you yourself ask this or a similar question? Does this only apply to sibling or is this really about our responsibility to others with whom we are close? If you have a strained relationship with someone, does that change your answer or your responsibility? 5. What is meant by the verse:...at the tent flap sin crouches and for you is its longing but you will rule over it.? Key Torah Verse- Genesis 4:9 ט ו י אמ ר י הו ה א ל-ק י ן, א י ה ב ל אח י ך; ו י אמ ר לא י ד ע ת י, ה ש מ ר אח י אנ כ י. 9 And the Lord said unto Cain: 'Where is Abel thy brother?' And he said: 'I know not; am I my brother's keeper?' V yomer Adonai el Ka in, ei hevel achicha. V yomer lo yadati, hashomer achi anochi. Sources: Level 1, 7 Chai, Learning for Jewish Life (URJ Press) 8

Lesson 1. Baruch ata Adonai, Eloheinu melech haolam, asher kid'shanu bemitzvotav vetzivanu la'asok b'divrei torah.

Lesson 1. Baruch ata Adonai, Eloheinu melech haolam, asher kid'shanu bemitzvotav vetzivanu la'asok b'divrei torah. Machon Micah Gate of Torah: Noah (Genesis 6:9-11:32) October 15-21, 2017 Tishrei 25- Cheshvan 1, 5778 Lesson 1 Questions to be addressed: How were each of the animals on the ark unique, and what were their