WHAT IS TORAH?
There’s the Written Torah (5 Books of Moses, the Prophets and the Writings, aka
“Tanach”) and the Oral Torah (the Talmud and basically everything rabbinic from the early centuries of the common era through today) – and you can go down a wonderful and fulfilling rabbit hole and stop there...
But there are also modern voices from all genders and political leanings, texts and podcasts and movies about Israel, American Jewish history, and beyond.
And you can learn it everywhere in any way.
This story* from the Talmud proves it:
(*tw: the following text can be problematic on a number of levels, including inappropriate behavior by rabbis in bathrooms and bedrooms. Such behavior by (especially male) authority figures is serious and deserves its own discussion.)
תניא אמר רבי עקיבא פעם אחת נכנסתי אחר רבי יהושע לבית הכסא ולמדתי ממנו שלשה דברים למדתי שאין נפנין מזרח ומערב אלא צפון ודרום ולמדתי שאין נפרעין מעומד אלא מיושב ולמדתי שאין מקנחין בימין אלא בשמאל אמר ליה בן עזאי עד כאן העזת פניך ברבך אמר ליה תורה היא וללמוד אני צריך תניא בן עזאי אומר פעם אחת נכנסתי אחר רבי עקיבא לבית הכסא ולמדתי ממנו שלשה דברים למדתי שאין נפנין מזרח ומערב אלא צפון ודרום ולמדתי שאין נפרעין מעומד אלא מיושב ולמדתי שאין מקנחין בימין אלא בשמאל אמר לו רבי יהודה עד כאן העזת פניך ברבך אמר לו תורה היא וללמוד אני צריך רב כהנא על גנא תותיה פורייה דרב שמעיה דשח ושחק ועשה צרכיו אמר ליה דמי פומיה דאבא כדלא שריף תבשילא אמר לו כהנא הכא את פוק דלאו ארח ארעא אמר לו תורה היא וללמוד אני צריך
It was taught in a baraita in tractate Derekh Eretz that Rabbi Akiva said: I once entered the bathroom after my teacher Rabbi Yehoshua, and I learned three things from observing his behavior: I learned that one should not defecate while facing east and west, but rather while facing north and south; I learned that one should not uncover himself while standing, but while sitting, in the interest of modesty; and I learned that one should not wipe with his right hand, but with his left. Ben Azzai, a student of Rabbi Akiva, said to him: You were impertinent to your teacher to that extent that you observed that much? He replied: It is Torah, and I must learn. Similarly, we learned in a baraita: Ben Azzai said: I once entered a bathroom after Rabbi Akiva, and I learned three things from observing his behavior: I learned that one should not defecate while facing east and west, but rather while facing north and south; I learned that one should not uncover himself while standing, but while sitting; and I learned that one should not wipe with his right hand, but with his left. Rabbi Yehuda said to him: You were impertinent to your teacher to that extent? He replied: It is Torah, and I must learn. On a similar note, the Gemara relates that Rav Kahana entered and lay beneath Rav’s bed. He heard Rav chatting and laughing with his wife, and seeing to his needs, i.e., having relations with her. Rav Kahana said to Rav: The mouth of Abba, Rav, is like one whom has never eaten a cooked dish, i.e., his behavior was lustful. Rav said to him: Kahana, you are here? Leave, as this is an undesirable mode of behavior. Rav Kahana said to him: It is Torah, and I must learn.
Just a few opportunities to bring in text to your events:
What is the theme of your event? What Jewish value corresponds with that theme?
- Toughmudder = Shmirat haGuf/Taking Care of the Body
- Environmental = Bal Tashchit/Not Wasting Resources
- Volunteerism/Social Justice = Tzedek tzedek tirdof/Justice Justice, You Shall Pursue or Justice you shall pursue justly
- Mindfulness = Siag l’chochmah shetikah/Silence Protects Wisdo
What Jewish aphorisms or values can you use to include in your event “brit” or commitment at the beginning of the event?
- Highlight and integrate Moishe House Jewish values, among others
Intentions/“Kavanot” before all markers of time and transition (moments for ritual)
- During opening circle, before Kiddush, before bed, before and after meals, while sitting by the campfire, etc.
Chanting and singing Jewish songs, and understanding the actual words
Shabbat morning Torah study as part of, or in lieu of, morning prayers
- Connected to weekly parashah and/or theme of the event
Appropriating/Reinterpreting Jewish blessings. Blessed is the One who:
- Matir Assurim/lit. Releases the BoundàFrees the incarcerated
- Mechayei HaMetim/lit. Revives the DeadàEmpowers us to compost (thanks to Yoshi Silverstein)
Traditional/Classical text study session as a group
Integrate text with different modalities that engage the different senses. Take
theme/topic and mix and match with modalities (they need not match as most of the following examples do). Here are some examples to get your creative juices flowing. The possibilities are pretty much endless. Here are just a few I put together:
