Simchat Torah: New Year, New You, New Torah

Posted on October 4, 2023

ByRabbi Alex Freedman.

“What is old, make new.  What is new, make holy.”  –  Rabbi Abraham Isaac Kook 

On Saturday night we commence Simchat Torah, the joyous celebration of completing the Torah once again. Not content to rest, we jump back to the beginning and immediately renew our study once again.

As parents, we expect our children to learn important subjects several times. For example, we learned about the American Revolution in grade school, middle school, and high school. At Religious School, our kids explore Passover every single year because it’s fundamental to who we are as Jews. But in both schools we expect that our children learn something new and different even when they return to the same subject.

As for our children, ourselves. We, too, should make our Torah study different this year. The words are the same, but we are not. The insights of others, too, have much to offer. 

I propose here five different ways to make Torah study new in the year ahead.

1.    Read it with a commentary.

The Etz Hayim Humash, the red book we use to follow Torah readings, is a fantastic achievement of the Conservative Movement. Don’t just follow the translations on the top of the page. Explore the commentaries in the middle and bottom of the pages on Shabbat or at home (all of our B’nai Mitzvah receive one). I highly recommend the thoughts at the bottom: they answer the question, “Why do these words matter today?”

2.    Subscribe to a Dvar Torah.

There is so much quality Torah online. Educate yourself by subscribing to one or more thoughts on the weekly Parsha. I recommend the ones from JTS and Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, but there are many more out there.(http://www.jtsa.edu/jts-torah-online?search=&genre=2046&parashah=&holiday=&theme=&series=&author=)
(http://www.rabbisacks.org/)

3.    Study with somebody, anybody.

Set a regular time to open up the book with your child or a friend and read aloud.  Share your thoughts and questions with your partner (called a “Hevruta”). You can read as quickly or slowly as you like. Having a partner makes workouts better, and the same is true for study.

4.    Ask questions when you have.

We all have questions, and questions lead to both answers and interesting conversations. Google will take you far, but asking real people will go further.  Answering congregants’ questions about Jewish life and Torah study is really one of my favorite parts of the job. Please email me with questions or ask me in shul. That’s a big reason why I’m here!

5.     Give your own Dvar Torah.

Sometimes a question will lead you to insights that you want to share with others in the form of a Dvar Torah (short sermon).  This could be at a Minyan, a Bar Mitzvah party, a wedding, or even a Shabbat or holiday dinner table. To share some Torah in memory of a loved one is always a moving experience for the one delivering the talk as well as those in attendance. Of course I’m happy to help with this. 

As always, Rabbi Schwab and I will be teaching adult ed. classes, which will begin very soon. Don’t worry, we’ve got new material this year!

As we begin the Torah anew as a community this weekend, let’s do the same as individuals too.

Please join us for dancing with the Torahs on Saturday night at 7:00 PM.

Chag Sameach!