BIBLE 101:
Fresh approach to Torah study
Please join Rabbi David on Zoom this Thursday (7-8pm) for the renewed Nafshenu weekly Torah class. Here's a link to the texts: bit.ly/Naf2-27
Here's a link to the Zoom class: bit.ly/NafTorah
Some thoughts from Rabbi David on learning at Nafshenu
Learning is a big part of traditional Judaism. Teaching is a core function of a rabbi.
And … we all have busy lives and many choices about how to spend our time. As Nafshenu’s rabbi, I want to make our community’s adult learning activities interesting and fun as well as informative. After all, without faces in the Zoom screen, what good is any online lesson plan?
So, I want to ask you to think about topics and formats that might work well for you. Years back, a 1-hour Thursday
night (7-8pm) Zoom class was the format the Nafshenu Core team picked. And with many interruptions, that’s what we have followed. I have been focusing on the weekly Torah portion. And on any given Thursday, we’ve had as many as a six or seven people – or as few as two – join in. As rabbi, I have always found the classes stimulating.
I also know that we have the potential for more
participation. Some ideas for drawing in more people more often might include:
- Regularity, knowing that there will be a class at the usual time.
- Giving advance word on what we’ll cover: In a long-term calendar in a weekly notice that includes specific
contents and a look at texts for that week’s class; in day-before and day-of reminders.
- Topicality: Going beyond the specific Torah portion for that week and developing, ongoing subjects.
The Nafshenu Core Team and I will reflect in the coming months on how best to
do this. It would be great if we can hear individually from you. If you reach out to me by phone or text (248-508-0874) or email (rebdovid@nafshenu.org), I will be happy to share your thoughts with the Core Team as
well.
In the meantime, I am trying to act as best I can on all three bullet points. This is notice that there will be a Zoom class this Thursday (Feb. 27), as well as on subsequent Thursdays through Passover: March 6, 13, 20, and 27; and April 3, 10, and 17. I will aim to send out a text sheet on Monday for that week’s class. And for the next few weeks, I will be doing what I call Bible
101. It’s a look at all the stuff in the Hebrew Scriptures that often get neglected: self-help advice, love poetry, post-Exodus history and legends; and prophetic cries of outrage against injustice.
Don’t worry if you miss a class. Each one is designed to stand alone. Both regulars and drop-ins are welcome participants.
--Rabbi David Goodman
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Ahead at Nafshenu: PURIM
PARTY
We're 18 days weeks away from "Jewish Halloween." Purim celebrates the victory of the Jews of the Persian empire over the genocidal plot of Haman. Nafshenu is a community that knows how to have a good time. We proved it last year (see photos below) . Please plan to come for the NAFSHENU PURIM PARTY on Friday, March 14, at Prince of
Peace. We'll do our Purim story play and have a potluck Purim/Shabbat dinner.
