Make your
home a regular place for the scholars;
Sit eagerly
at their feet and thirstily drink their words
(Avot 1:4)
The tradition says that some mitzvot are to be done with
alacrity. We are to make sure we get to a
house of study. We should be eager to engage. We are not to pause or be
distracted. Each Saturday morning I wake up with a sense of purpose. I am up
and ready. I will have my coffee and walk 4 blocks to my home synagogue’s Torah
study class at 9:15 AM.
There are about 10 regulars and a larger group of another 20
people that come at least once a month. Our rabbi is a great scholar and an excellent
teacher. He brings some substantial learning to our table to go with our
knowledge and our Etz Hayim humashim. We “regulars” are thirsty for this
conversation.
I am no stranger to Torah study or to Jewish texts. While
certainly not a scholar, I have a decent understanding of text study and how
the parshiot connect to the overall narrative of Judaism and Jewish history. I
feel I also have something to bring to the table.
Hebrew Language
Many of the “regulars” were products of Jewish day schools
and yeshivas. Others have been active members of the community and developed
great literacy in Hebrew language. It is not uncommon for long passages to be
read in Hebrew. The class is taught with some deference for the capacities and
preferences of the more learned. I am sometimes uncomfortable and intimidated. At times, I try to work harder to follow in
Hebrew so I can learn a new word or see a familiar phrase. At other times I
tune out. Our community is pretty stable. Occasionally we have a new prospect
test us out. When they don’t return, I wonder if they were intimidated. I have chosen
to stay at the table.
Close
Readings
Many in the class prefer close readings of the texts. They
will focus on words. They will explore a sentence from different angles. I am a
generalist. In Meyers-Briggs I am an "N" - Intuitive. We intuitive people tend
to see patterns and connections. We are
interested in different synagogues' experiences or even other religions. We tend to see the forest more than the
trees. This close reading often seems to focus on minutiae, on footnotes. Many are "S" types, called sensors, they prefer detail and set rules. I can be impatient
when there seems to be a pressing ethical or theological question that I feel we
are not focusing on. I may become impatient - but I stay.
Torah
Truths
While I love Torah study, I am often frustrated by the Torah.
I just can’t believe that God was not always against slavery or couldn’t hear
our cries in Egypt for 400 years. I don’t believe that God really wants to
oppress Job, or kill Isaac or wipe out the enemie’s woman and children. I can’t
believe that God is really jealous of other gods the way I am jealous over a
rival. I can’t believe all of the small things that one could be condemned to
death for. A death sentence, really? I believe that the God that I would pray
to is good and reflective, not reactive and vengeful. When scholars try to
provide rationalizations for these doubts, I really do want to get up and
leave.
I love the wisdom of Pirkei Avot. I turn to this section in
Sim Shalom on Shabbat morning to revisit these sayings. I stumble, however,
over one of its central claims, that our tradition comes word for word directly
from God (Avot 1:1).
Moses
received the Torah from God at Sinai,
He
transmitted it to Joshua,
Joshua
to the elders, the elders to the Prophets,
The
Prophets to the members of the Great Assembly
Based on my travels, I feel there are many synagogue members
who go to Shabbat services infrequently. When they hear these words about the
literalness of Torah without the interpretative tools of our class or the
mentorship of the rabbi, they may feel alienated from the text. Some won’t stay
engaged. They will walk away.
Fortunately our class allows many approaches to these texts. While
there are different views about the meaning of revelation, the group tends not
to take the Torah literally. They are comfortable
with our capacity to learn from difficult texts and to come out of class the
richer for the conversation.
I was heartened to hear Rabbi Brad Artson’s podcast on the
Ziegler Rabbinic School web site, entitled "Passing Life’s Tests: Using the
Bible as a Source of Wisdom (Even if it Never Happened)." He said he spoke for those who believe that
Torah is transmitted wisdom not necessarily history. Our Sages understood Torah
according to the time they lived in. I
believe we need to be knowledgeable about the Torah and rabbinic wisdom. Like
our ancestors, we need to be engaged in interpreting it. I can stay at that
kind of table.
Torah Study
Connected Vertically and Horizontally
Chancellor Arnold Eisen of the Jewish Theological Seminary was
a scholar in residence at our congregation. He was talking about Conservative
Judaism and its core values. He noted
the importance of making our Jewish connections "vertically." We are vertically connected to our ancestors and to
generations that have come before. When our sages and leaders have held a value
to be sacred we are honor bound to study it, to take it seriously. I like the idea that our class is connected
to a longstanding process of learning. We treat the texts seriously. We honor
them.
Eisen also talked about the importance of being connected "horizontally" to Jews all around the world. We know that other Torah study classes are
engaged with the same parsha as we study. The prayers we say on Shabbat morning
are the same prayers said in Prague, Moscow or Jerusalem. We are one family.
Reflecting
on Learning
I teach congregational leadership. One of the attributes of
successful leaders is a capacity for reflection. I don’t recall if we have ever had a
discussion about how the text study class is working for us. What is helpful?
What is hard? Where are we on our journey? (Bob, what is it like to move from
Ohio at age 60 and start over? What texts speak to this journey? ) How do these
texts speak to us at this moment? Why do we stay? I feel I know enough to ask
these questions.
While journaling is not part of our curriculum, I have taken
this time to write about the experience. On reflection, I value teachers who
connect us to sacred texts, sacred conversations and a sacred chevruta community.
When things get tough I try to reflect and not just react. On
refection, I see that our class, while imperfect, gives us an opportunity to
bring our life experience, our need for community and our thirst for learning
to the foot of our Torah study table. I
am glad I have stayed.
