Three scenes for your viewing pleasure. First, the oh-so-ęsthetic auditorium at Wooton High School. On Yom Kippur morning, you strain from the 34th row to even recognize who’s up there chanting Torah. But you hear the gabbai announce the page, and scanning the machzor, you recognize words from Deuteronomy 30:
"Lo bashamayim hi, this instruction is not in the heavens, it’s not far away or across the sea or too baffling for you. No, karov elecha hadavar m’od, this thing/word is very near to you, in your mouth and in your heart, to follow it." And you know it’s true.
Second, the equally gorgeous visuals of the pre-renovation JCC auditorium. Some of you were there a few years ago when we welcomed an old friend and roommate of mine, already an accomplished Jewish musician (and as of this past year a rabbi), David Paskin. He picks up his guitar and with a flourish, opens:
"You can study in the morning, you can study at night;
you can study outside by a campfire light.
You can study with a rabbi, you can study with a friend —
I just hope that you don’t plan to ever reach the end.
‘Cause we’re talkin’ Torah! We’re talkin’ Torah.
It’s OK as you will see, that we’re bound to
disagree,
when we’re talkin’ Torah."
His words ring in your ears:
"Doesn’t take a lot of money, doesn't take you far from home;
I’ve even heard of someone learning Torah on the phone!
You don’t need to be a scholar, don’t need to be a grownup.
All you need is patience, so you’ll never give up."
David and Deuteronomy both teach the accessibility of Torah. In this community we do indeed try to make it easy for everyone to encounter Torah in their own way. From Ganon to K'nafayim, we cut it into age-appropriate bite-siz ed piece in our Torah School. We share new and varying takes on Torah each week in lively D’var Torah/discussions at services. We have numerous adult education offerings, each expounding on its own bit of Torah. We put bits-o’-Torah in the newsletter, and on the listserv. We open board meetings with a D’var Torah. We even teach how to teach Torah. At Adat Shalom, we strive to make sure that wherever you are, "this instruction is very near to you."
Two months from now, we will offer a remarkable set of opportunities to encounter Torah afresh. This year, the festival of Shavuot happens to fall on the day before the Shabbat of our annual retreat. The retreat itself (June 6-8) will feature Storahtelling, a brilliant avant-garde approach to Torah — be there! But first, plan to join us by dinner on Thursday, June 5 for a rollicking 24 hours of learning and laughter, noshing and schmoozing, praying and playing. Shavuot is the (likely mythic) anniversary of the Torah being received at Mount Sinai — What better place than in the Shenandoahs, and what better way than staying up late and learning, to celebrate the occasion?
David Paskin remins us that we can study with a rabbi or a friend, and we don’t need to be a ‘scholar’ — which goes for teaching as well as learning. We can all be teachers! Have a bit of Torah in you that you’re yearning to share? Have an inchoate idea but aren’t sure which way to take it? Have some thoughts, but are unsure if you’re up to presenting in public? If these statements describe you, then (1) call me for assurance you that you are in fact up to it; (2) check our website for materials on giving a D’var Torah, just posted by the adult education committee; and (3) plan to share your Torah, whether through a 5-10 minute D’var-let or a 30-40 minute presentation, with the safe and supportive group that will gather for our Shavuot retreat.
So the third scene? Erev Shavuot in Front Royal: friends on either side, a blintz on your plate, coffee in your mug, the warm feeling of having just shar ed some meaningful Torah, your Chumash and your heart both open before you. What could be better?! Join us lilmod u’l’lamed, to learn and to teach.
L’shalom,
Fred Scherlinder Dobb