I've started to become aware of the changing of the seasons, the cycle of Jewish life. Here we are again close to the beginning, when we start the Torah over again.
I love the beginning of the Torah. There are so many interesting stories that you can get immersed in. The passions, the fights, the sorrow. There are so many engaging commentaries and discussions to have in the beginning.
Rabbi Sack's most recent parsha of the week email asked, why do we begin the Torah with stories and not law? He goes on to answer that Rashi says it is to illustrate the Jewish people’s right to their land. However, the Netziv (R. Naftali Zvi Yehudah Berlin) says it is to teach us about how the patriarchs were ethical, even with people who were strangers, which is why Genesis is named “the book of the upright.” We gain valuable insights into human behavior and ethical behavior from reading the colorful stories at the beginning. In my opinion, it's the old "show, don't tell" that is much more interesting. We see what happens with certain characters, which influences our view of morality. Even if we are told later specific rules on behavior, it's more interesting, and I'm more likely to remember, the stories about a specific people than the dryness of the law.
Rabbi Sack's most recent parsha of the week email asked, why do we begin the Torah with stories and not law? He goes on to answer that Rashi says it is to illustrate the Jewish people’s right to their land. However, the Netziv (R. Naftali Zvi Yehudah Berlin) says it is to teach us about how the patriarchs were ethical, even with people who were strangers, which is why Genesis is named “the book of the upright.” We gain valuable insights into human behavior and ethical behavior from reading the colorful stories at the beginning. In my opinion, it's the old "show, don't tell" that is much more interesting. We see what happens with certain characters, which influences our view of morality. Even if we are told later specific rules on behavior, it's more interesting, and I'm more likely to remember, the stories about a specific people than the dryness of the law.
In the last few weeks, maybe months, we haven't read the weekly parsha as much as we did at the beginning of the year. The latter books are filled with dry laws. While there can be some interesting discussions, most of the time, frankly, I'm bored. It's not that interesting to read the details about what the High Priest should wear or how to build the mishkan.
But then we come back to the beginning, and all of a sudden, I want relearn how HaShem made the earth, what kinds of obstacles the first Israelites encountered and how they dealt with them. I want to hear about moral dilemmas, ethics, and human mistakes. We learn a lot from the beginning of the Torah, and each year I want to come back to it and relearn what I've forgotten.
Perhaps this is why we are supposed to continue learning year after year. There are bits and pieces we forget and then remember. Something speaks to you one year that you didn't realize before. It's a constant journey. I remember going to a family for Shabbat one week, and the father was quizzing the sons on the parsha of the week. At each age, they had a different understanding of the same story. As we grow older, the stories become more complex as we recognize our world around us in new ways, as we interact with others in increasingly unique ways that color our experience and personality.
Each year, there are always new lessons to learn, and it rekindles my love of Torah.
Perhaps this is why we are supposed to continue learning year after year. There are bits and pieces we forget and then remember. Something speaks to you one year that you didn't realize before. It's a constant journey. I remember going to a family for Shabbat one week, and the father was quizzing the sons on the parsha of the week. At each age, they had a different understanding of the same story. As we grow older, the stories become more complex as we recognize our world around us in new ways, as we interact with others in increasingly unique ways that color our experience and personality.
Each year, there are always new lessons to learn, and it rekindles my love of Torah.
