Everyone is welcome regardless of knowledge or participation level. You don’t have to be Jewish to study Torah, and knowledge of Hebrew is not required. There are no right or wrong answers, just open, friendly discussion. Coffee, tea, and snacks are provided.
March schedule
- March 7th, 8:30 – 9:30 am: Ki Tisa, – Exodus 30:11 – 34:35
- March 14th, 8:30 – 9:30 am: Vayak’heil-P’kudei, Exodus 35:1 – 40:38
- March 21st, 8:30 – 9:30 am: Vayikra, – Leviticus 1:1 – 5:26
- March 28th, 8:30 – 9:30 am: Tzav, – Leviticus 6:1 – 8:36
What’s a “Tanakh”?
The word Tanakh is an acronym for three Hebrew words: Torah (the five books of Moses), Nevi’im (the Prophets), and Kethuvim (the Writings). We’re all familiar with the five books of Moses: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. These are the books our weekly Torah portions are taken from. A wise old lady once taught me to remember their order by the phrase “Go Eat Lunch Next Door.”
The Prophets section includes Joshua, Judges, Samuel 1 & 2, Kings 1 & 2, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and the twelve minor prophets from Hosea to Malachi. The Haftarah that is read after the Torah portion each week is taken from these books.
The Writings includes some familiar books like Psalms, Proverbs, Job, the Song of Songs, Ruth, Lamentations, Ecclesiastes, Esther, Daniel, Ezra, Nehemiah, and Chronicles 1 & 2. These books contain much wisdom and beautiful poetry.
Most Torah study groups focus solely on the five books of Moses. Our Torah study group here at Congregation Sha’are Shalom will complete our first year and our study of the five books of Moses on April 25. The group has voted to begin studying the rest of the Tanakh starting on May 9.
Our regulars at Torah Study have recently purchased their personal copies of the JPS Tanakh. There is a copy in our temple library also. You are all invited to join us on Saturday mornings at 8:30 am. No previous knowledge is required and you don’t need to be Jewish to participate. Coffee, tea and snacks are provided. Please join us on this wonderful adventure.
Contact George Gazarek at ggazarek@gmail.com for more info.