We will take a few moments to look over these texts in pairs. You will each read the Hebrew and English and discuss the questions. As a group, we will have a debate with your answers and figure out how, as a class, we relate to these sources.
Babylonian Talmud, Nedarim 81a
הזהרו בבני עניים שמהן תצא תורה
Suggested Discussion Questions
1. Why are we commanded not to neglect the children of the poor? What does it mean that law will go forth from them?
2. What is the lesson of this text? To what extent do we live by this line?
2. What is the lesson of this text? To what extent do we live by this line?
Mishna, Pirkei Avot 1:15
Suggested Discussion Questions
1. Why does Shammai provide each of these three pieces of advice? How do they make you a better person?
2. In what way do each of these three apply to your life today?
3. What does it mean to make your Torah fixed?
2. In what way do each of these three apply to your life today?
3. What does it mean to make your Torah fixed?
Psalms 119:72
Suggested Discussion Questions
1. Why is money important? Why is Torah important? How do these needs compare?
2. How does education sustain us in ways that money does not? Why would you prefer it to money?
2. How does education sustain us in ways that money does not? Why would you prefer it to money?
Deuteronomy 4:9
רַק הִשָּׁמֶר לְךָ וּשְׁמֹר נַפְשְׁךָ מְאֹד פֶּן תִּשְׁכַּח אֶת הַדְּבָרִים אֲשֶׁר רָאוּ עֵינֶיךָ וּפֶן יָסוּרוּ מִלְּבָבְךָ כֹּל יְמֵי חַיֶּיךָ וְהוֹדַעְתָּם לְבָנֶיךָ וְלִבְנֵי בָנֶיךָ:
Suggested Discussion Questions
1. God is commanding the Israelites not to forget their encounter with God and receiving the Ten Commandments. Why is this important?
2. What does this text teach us about the value of understanding one's own narrative?
3. How does maintaining a communal identity affect our social justice work?
2. What does this text teach us about the value of understanding one's own narrative?
3. How does maintaining a communal identity affect our social justice work?