Notes Toward Preparing a D'var Torah/Drash
Rabbi Fred, March 2003
History
It is ancient–see Targum (interpretation along with translation); est. by late
2nd Temple period. It was entertaining, with dramatic modulated voices and other stunts attracting
huge crowds. Many are preserved in Midrash volumes. It developed current character and centrality in
medieval period; "could respond to and influence communal life on the pressing issues of the day and
reinforce the traditions and ethics of the Torah" (EJ 13:998). It remained important, taking different
forms in various lands. In 19th century Germany it became standardized and in the vernacular, ala
Protestant sermons. Today we inherit all this and more . . .
Form
- Yelamdeinu rabbeinu – play on halachic question by someone in kahal
- Peticha – start with 'irrelevant' quote; keep 'em guessing while link to Parsha
- Brakha – open with benediction over Torah, move to specifics
- Dibbur Hamatchil – start with opening words of Parsha; drash from there
- Full Frontal Drasha (the model many of us grew up with, and love/hate)
- D'var Torah / Discussion (popular emerging Recon / Adat Shalom model)
- Creative (employing art, music, havruta study, meditation, poetry, 'props')
Purpose
- Talmud Torah (Torah study, straight up): prepare folks for the Torah reading (focus on the
very words chanted in shul); establish its relevance early on.
- Torah Lishmah (Torah for its own sake): pure education/information. Why?
- Because we love Torah. Because we’re Jews. Because we’re curious.
- Halacha L’ma’aseh (Law/Path that we ourselves do): exhortation, activism.
- How should people’s lives be transformed based on our exegesis/isogesis?
- Oneg Shabbat (Enjoyment of Shabbos)
- Hiddur Mitzvah (Beautification of the commandment)
- Entertainment. Have fun with it; help others to do same!
Content
This non-exhaustive list follows the "civilizational model" of the Reconstructionist Rabbinical
College core curriculum. Sacred texts emerge in each era of Jewish life, building on each other
successively. Cross-check this run-through of texts with Joel Kaufman’s helpful list of library
resources, on a separate page.
- Biblical: Pshat (surface meaning), Remez (clue), Derash (interpretation), Sod (mystical secret/implication). All of Bible, not just Torah. Mod. Scholarship.
- Rabbinic: Talmud – law and story, both. Midrash – classical collections (Midrash Rabbah, etc), and Sefer Ha-Aggadah.
- Medieval: Classical commentaries – Rashi, Ramban, Ibn Ezra, etc. Kabbalah – Zohar, Luria, etc. Philosophy – Saadia Gaon, Maimonides, etc.
- Modern: Hassidut – Baal Shem Tov, anthologies. Philosophy – Buber, Rosensweig, etc. Zionist/Hebrew Poetry – Bialik, Agnon, etc.
- Contemporary: Feminist commentaries & interpretation – Frankel, Plaskow, etc. Reconstructionist resources. Modern sermon collections. Current scholarship. Weekly dvar in the WJW. And above all, CD-ROM and the web.
Theme (how you establish relevance)
- Personal / Anecdotal (spiritual & psychological insights)
- Communal / Synagogue (micro level of group, incl. family)
- Communal / Peoplehood (macro level of group, incl. all Jews)
- Political / Current Affairs (further macro level of Torah implications)
- Philosophical / Educational (mix & match of all these, for learning’s sake)
Style
On the form of the sermon, three considerations are paramount: (a) the length – it should not be the least bit longer than is absolutely necessary to convey the intended derasha; (2) the structure – the sermon should be well-organized, not lacking in proper order, now in the streets, now in the broad places (Prov. 7:12); (3) phrases and words should possess grace and dignity, and they ought to be delivered in a pleasing and proper way." (Joel ibn Shuaib, Olat Shabbat, 1577)
- Theologically open – "the character called God"; "according to the text…"
- Gender inclusive – language about God, language about people
- Gender inclusive – who you call on when; who speaks up the most…
- Silence – be not afraid! (cf. Parker Palmer, The Courage to Teach, p. 82)
- Alternate between secular knowledge / modern situation and Torah / tradition
- "The darshan – interpreter – must not lay a trip on people" (Rosenberg 241)
- "Do not expect to discuss the entire parashah – or even more than a paragraph, a few verses, a single verse, or a single word" (ibid)
- "In seeking insights and interpretations, dig for the less obvious" (ibid 244)
We are not forbidden to come up with new ideas. The Zohar says:
"with each and every new interpretation of Torah, a new heaven is created. But to a certain extent we are obliged to try to relate our new ideas to the whole of tradition." (Joel Rosenberg,
"Giving a Devar Torah." 2nd J Catalog, 1976, p. 244)