CNN recently aired a segment on "Klout." As defined by the young, earnest CEO of the Klout start-up, Klout is a measure of one's personal and/or professional success based on how effectively one uses social media. So- if your blog has hundreds of followers; you're the subject of thousands of tweets; your Facebook page attracts a million friends; and your video has gone viral; you have a high Klout score. (It doesn't hurt to have been on the cover of numerous "People" magazine and "National Enquirer" issues! Think Klout as in Kardashian.)
What bearing could Klout possibly have on the Torah Portion Lech L'cha?
Abram (later Abraham), whom we meet in Lech L'cha, plays an essential, transformational role in the evolution of Judaism. In today's terminology, we'd call him a "game changer." But, why Abram? Why did God choose this particular descendent of Noah to launch the Judaism of One God that is our eternal belief? Did Abram have some ancient Middle Eastern version of Klout?
While there is a charming Midrash about young Abram smashing the merchandise in his father's idol shop, the Torah doesn't explain God's choice. We don't learn that Abram is well known, or a recognized leader in his time, or famous in any way.
The Portion Lech L'cha begins almost abruptly with God's commandment and a statement of God's Covenant with Abram and his descendents.
"And YHWH said to Abram, 'Go from your land and from your birthplace and from your father's house to the land that I'll show you. And I'll make you into a big nation and I'll bless you and make your name great. And be a blessing.' " (Genesis 12:1-2)*
Without a question, a comment, a complaint, or a proclamation, Abram makes a life-altering commitment and does as God commands. Thus, we learn from Abram's first action that, spiritually, his belief in God is incredibly strong, and he is open to "hearing" and obeying God's commands. From a worldly perspective, we discover that Abram is a man of property, a family man who has assumed responsibility for his dead brother's son, Lot and Lot's family.
As God moves Abram on his groundbreaking journey, Abram's relationship with God grows in depth and complexity.. He acknowledges God's presence by building altars and by invoking God's name. (Genesis 12:8)
At the same time, Abram doesn't surrender his ability to act as an individual and passively allow God to determine his and his familiy's fate. In Egypt, Abram makes a plan to have his wife, Sarai, pose as his sister in order to survive the Egyptians' lustful advances. The plan actually works too well and Sarai is taken to be a wife to Pharaoh. God intervenes with plagues on Pharaoh and Abram, Sarai, and their large household escape unharmed. (Genesis 12:10-20) God and Abram act together here to ensure Abram's survival.
Abram continues to travel and to grow in a patriarchal role. He solves the problem of finding territory for his flocks and Lot's flocks by suggesting that they separate and settle in different parts of the land. (Genesis 13: 5-13)
When Lot and his family are imprisoned by warring kings, Abram organizes a rescue and refuses any compensation from the king of Sodom so as to avoid any obligation to an earthly ruler. (Genesis 14: 13-23)
So far, in Lech L'cha we've seen Abram obey God's commandments and ably look after his family. What we haven't seen is any attempt by Abram to communicate the special relationship unfolding between himself and God. Abram doesn't share his unique status with family members, not even with Sarai. Abram doesn't use God's promise to multiply his descendents into a nation to intimidate kings or to enrich himself in any way. Abram doesn't seek self-promotion or embrace self-importance. He isn't sidetracked into pursuing some ancient form of Klout.
Abram, even now, a role model honored in our prayers, listens, obeys, trusts, believes, and strives to understand how he can fulfill the destiny which God promises.
As Lech L'cha continues, God repeats the Divine Promise to protect Abram's family; to multiply his descendents; and to give them land.
As a symbol of the Covenant, God changes Abram's name to "Abraham" and Sarai's name to "Sarah." In observance of the Covenant, God commands circumcision of all males eight days and older in Abraham's household and in the generations to come. God reveals that Abraham and the aging Sarah will have a son, Isaac.
In the final verses of Lech L'cha, without a word to anyone that he, Abram renamed Abraham by God, is a partner in God's Covenant, Abraham diligently listens, firmly believes, and completely obeys.
Admittedly, it's an immense leap from Klout to Covenant, but here's the take-away. From Abraham's example we learn that God's commandments are fulfilled by acts, not by announcements. It's what we do, not how many we tell that matters. Lech L'cha reminds us that in our hyper-connected, super-social world, it's our Covenant score, not our Klout score that defines who we are.
*From: Commentary on the Torah by Richard Elliott Friedman
Not one of my students!
Not One of My Students!
Welcome - Baruchim Habaim
Welcome - Baruchim Habaim
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Sunday, November 6, 2011
Torah Commentary - Noach
If the Torah Portion B'reishit is Shakespearean in its turbulent interplay of human and divine actions and reactions, the second Portion, Noach, is absolute Disney!
Presenting for your life long learning pleasure - "Noah, The (computer animated) Musical!" (or, as it's been dubbed, "The original Singin' in the Rain.")
As the scene opens, God sadly surveys scenes of human corruption and violence which have tainted the world which only a few verses ago God had pronounced to be "Good." Slowly, God's sadness turns to disappointment, then rage. God resolves to destroy all life on land with the exception of Noah, Noah's family, and pairs of land animals and birds. As the storm clouds gather and lightning flashes, Noah anxiously hammers away at the ark, muttering the measurements and directions God ordered. God points a divine Finger at Noah and sings the opening song, "I Choose You!"
Who's sort of OK in this evil array? - It's Noah!
Who's kind of cool - not nearly as cruel? - It's Noah!
Who's not the worst of a bunch that is cursed? - It's Noah!
Who shall I choose, while the others all lose? It's Noah! Noah, I choose YOU!
Noah, his family, and pairs of really cute animals scramble on board the ark - lots of comic relief here. A monkey resembling the MC in "Cabaret" delivers one-liners, "A donkey, an elephant, and a kangaroo walk into an ark..."
Three furry critters dressed in evening wear play classical music a la "Titanic."
When all are on board and the deluge begins, a charming duck leads all the Arksters in a huge song and dance number, "Noah's Ark."
Chorus:
Noah's Ark is the place to be.
Not lost or tossed or sunk at sea.
For a lucky duck (or goat or guy or bear or mouse) like me.
Yes, Noah's Ark is the surest, safest
Beats-an-oasis, very best place to be!
After days and days and days and days of rollicking, rainy adventures, the waters recede. The soggy passengers who, by now, have had enough of the ark, eagerly scan the skies for the dove's return, singing "Where's That Dove?"
Where is that dove? She isn't above.
Is she stuck in the mire? Did her little wings tire?
Please, dove, find a space, a dry sunny place.
We don't mean to complain, but we've had it with rain!
And Ark life is a pain!
Dove, come out of the haze and we'll all sing your praise-
Oh, where's that dove?!
Finally, the dove returns bearing the olive branch. All disembark and settle on land in a huge dance number. (Think "Chorus Line" with a cast of hundreds - some four-legged.)
God takes center stage in the grand finale,"God's Promise." Noah and family and animals gather 'round and sing along with God as a glorious special effects rainbow fills the screen.
The rainbow is God's promise there won't be another flood.
God will keep us safe and dry and we'll try to be good.
The rainbow is a Covenant between God and earthly beings.
We'll behave so well - What a story we'll tell
Of the wonders that God brings.
Thunderous applause! Standing ovation!
Wait, did I mention the tie-ins?
Happy Meals prizes - "Aardvarks to Zebras, collect the whole set!"
Or the mobile app - "Get Those Angry Birds on Board!"
Or the sequel - "Occupy Earth!"
Torah Study is a genuine blockbuster!
Presenting for your life long learning pleasure - "Noah, The (computer animated) Musical!" (or, as it's been dubbed, "The original Singin' in the Rain.")
As the scene opens, God sadly surveys scenes of human corruption and violence which have tainted the world which only a few verses ago God had pronounced to be "Good." Slowly, God's sadness turns to disappointment, then rage. God resolves to destroy all life on land with the exception of Noah, Noah's family, and pairs of land animals and birds. As the storm clouds gather and lightning flashes, Noah anxiously hammers away at the ark, muttering the measurements and directions God ordered. God points a divine Finger at Noah and sings the opening song, "I Choose You!"
Who's sort of OK in this evil array? - It's Noah!
Who's kind of cool - not nearly as cruel? - It's Noah!
Who's not the worst of a bunch that is cursed? - It's Noah!
Who shall I choose, while the others all lose? It's Noah! Noah, I choose YOU!
Noah, his family, and pairs of really cute animals scramble on board the ark - lots of comic relief here. A monkey resembling the MC in "Cabaret" delivers one-liners, "A donkey, an elephant, and a kangaroo walk into an ark..."
Three furry critters dressed in evening wear play classical music a la "Titanic."
When all are on board and the deluge begins, a charming duck leads all the Arksters in a huge song and dance number, "Noah's Ark."
Chorus:
Noah's Ark is the place to be.
Not lost or tossed or sunk at sea.
For a lucky duck (or goat or guy or bear or mouse) like me.
Yes, Noah's Ark is the surest, safest
Beats-an-oasis, very best place to be!
After days and days and days and days of rollicking, rainy adventures, the waters recede. The soggy passengers who, by now, have had enough of the ark, eagerly scan the skies for the dove's return, singing "Where's That Dove?"
Where is that dove? She isn't above.
Is she stuck in the mire? Did her little wings tire?
Please, dove, find a space, a dry sunny place.
We don't mean to complain, but we've had it with rain!
And Ark life is a pain!
Dove, come out of the haze and we'll all sing your praise-
Oh, where's that dove?!
Finally, the dove returns bearing the olive branch. All disembark and settle on land in a huge dance number. (Think "Chorus Line" with a cast of hundreds - some four-legged.)
God takes center stage in the grand finale,"God's Promise." Noah and family and animals gather 'round and sing along with God as a glorious special effects rainbow fills the screen.
The rainbow is God's promise there won't be another flood.
God will keep us safe and dry and we'll try to be good.
The rainbow is a Covenant between God and earthly beings.
We'll behave so well - What a story we'll tell
Of the wonders that God brings.
Thunderous applause! Standing ovation!
Wait, did I mention the tie-ins?
Happy Meals prizes - "Aardvarks to Zebras, collect the whole set!"
Or the mobile app - "Get Those Angry Birds on Board!"
Or the sequel - "Occupy Earth!"
Torah Study is a genuine blockbuster!
Torah Commentary - B'reishit
The Talmud teaches that "All beginnings are arduous." (Mechilta Yitro) The beginning Torah Portion, B'reishit; our world's Beginning; our Beginning; the Beginning of our relationship with God - all certainly "arduous" (as well as wondrous) on many levels. From the first resoundingly simple seven Hebrew words, B'reishit bara Elohim et ha shamayim v'et ha-aretz,we recognize the intellectual effort, spiritual commitment, and energetic embrace of complexity that the mitzvah La'asok b'dvrei Torah (to engage in the study of Torah) demands.
I have open before me three different Judaic Torah commentaries and one Christian version of the Tanach. Each presents a different English translation of the first seven Hebrew words of B'reishit. Each Judaic commentary offers an explanation of its translation - and this is just the first line in the first of 54 Torah Portions in the yearly cycle! Already, there are questions raised, ancient and modern commentaries to consider, personal connections and conclusions to be drawn - a year's worth of intense study, discussion, and reflection in the first seven Hebrew words of the Torah.
We have yet to even encounter the moon and sun, the Garden of Eden, the animals, Adam, Shabbat, Eve, the snake, banishment from the Garden, Cain and Abel and their many descendents. The drama of Creation swings from God's approval on the Sixth Day, "God then surveyed all that [God] had made, and look - it was good!" (Genesis 1:31)* to God's regret hundreds of generations later "When the Eternal saw how great was the wickedness of human beings in the earth, that the direction of their thoughts was nothing but wicked all the time, the Eternal regretted having made human beings on earth, and was heartsick." (Genesis 6:5-6)*
From primordial chaos to rampant wordly corruption - "arduous," definitely arduous!
How could I hope to effectively introduce my Sixth Grade students to their first Torah Study experience in just twenty minutes of Hebrew School time? I found a solution in a new resource called Experiencing the Torah by Joel Lurie Grishaver, published by Torah Aura Productions www.torahaura.com This book presents sections of the Torah Portions in the form of short plays, using the actual Torah Text (in English translation) as narration and dialogue.
After a brief rehearsal, my students performed expressively as Narrators, Adam, Eve, the Snake, and the most prized role - God!
They giggled a bit as "Adam" recited, "I heard you [God] in the garden and I was afraid because I was naked, so I hid."
We paused in the performance and discussed that this is exactly what the Torah text says and that Adam's embarassment reveals to God that Adam has indeed eaten from the tree that God had forbidden.
The students excitedly finished performing just in time for dismissal. As I straightened up the classroom, I noticed that one student had spelled out in magnetic English letters on the chalkboard, "God was here!" While the student was referring to himself in his role as "God," the words resonated. Isn't that what Torah study is - a way to bring God into our midst as we struggle to understand how we can live according to the Torah's teaching?
In the Portion B'reishit, Torah begins with seven immensely powerful Hebrew words, and like the Mobius strips which my students made in celebration of Simchat Torah,** Torah never ends. God is here!
Resources:
*Translations are from The Torah: A Modern Commentary, W. Gunther Plaut, General Editor
**This activity is one of several presented in the book, Experiencing the Jewish Holidays by Joel Lurie Grishaver, Torah Aura Productions
I have open before me three different Judaic Torah commentaries and one Christian version of the Tanach. Each presents a different English translation of the first seven Hebrew words of B'reishit. Each Judaic commentary offers an explanation of its translation - and this is just the first line in the first of 54 Torah Portions in the yearly cycle! Already, there are questions raised, ancient and modern commentaries to consider, personal connections and conclusions to be drawn - a year's worth of intense study, discussion, and reflection in the first seven Hebrew words of the Torah.
We have yet to even encounter the moon and sun, the Garden of Eden, the animals, Adam, Shabbat, Eve, the snake, banishment from the Garden, Cain and Abel and their many descendents. The drama of Creation swings from God's approval on the Sixth Day, "God then surveyed all that [God] had made, and look - it was good!" (Genesis 1:31)* to God's regret hundreds of generations later "When the Eternal saw how great was the wickedness of human beings in the earth, that the direction of their thoughts was nothing but wicked all the time, the Eternal regretted having made human beings on earth, and was heartsick." (Genesis 6:5-6)*
From primordial chaos to rampant wordly corruption - "arduous," definitely arduous!
How could I hope to effectively introduce my Sixth Grade students to their first Torah Study experience in just twenty minutes of Hebrew School time? I found a solution in a new resource called Experiencing the Torah by Joel Lurie Grishaver, published by Torah Aura Productions www.torahaura.com This book presents sections of the Torah Portions in the form of short plays, using the actual Torah Text (in English translation) as narration and dialogue.
After a brief rehearsal, my students performed expressively as Narrators, Adam, Eve, the Snake, and the most prized role - God!
They giggled a bit as "Adam" recited, "I heard you [God] in the garden and I was afraid because I was naked, so I hid."
We paused in the performance and discussed that this is exactly what the Torah text says and that Adam's embarassment reveals to God that Adam has indeed eaten from the tree that God had forbidden.
The students excitedly finished performing just in time for dismissal. As I straightened up the classroom, I noticed that one student had spelled out in magnetic English letters on the chalkboard, "God was here!" While the student was referring to himself in his role as "God," the words resonated. Isn't that what Torah study is - a way to bring God into our midst as we struggle to understand how we can live according to the Torah's teaching?
In the Portion B'reishit, Torah begins with seven immensely powerful Hebrew words, and like the Mobius strips which my students made in celebration of Simchat Torah,** Torah never ends. God is here!
Resources:
*Translations are from The Torah: A Modern Commentary, W. Gunther Plaut, General Editor
**This activity is one of several presented in the book, Experiencing the Jewish Holidays by Joel Lurie Grishaver, Torah Aura Productions
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