In a few short days, we will celebrate the giving of the Torah at Har Sinai – a momentous, defining moment for the Jewish people. As Rambam highlights in the introduction to his commentary on the Mishna, however, that moment was the beginning of a process: “Know that every mitzva God gave to Moshe, our…
It’s Tuesday and almost Shavuot, which means it’s a great time for a #TuesdayTorahTutorsTidbit about Megillat Rut.Real Torah, from real TorahTutors sessions. A preteen TorahTutors student has been delving into Megillat Rut with her tutor.They noticed many examples of chesed (kindness), a central theme in the Megillah that is one of the reasons offered for…
This week, we bring you a somber – but hopeful – timely Tuesday TorahTutors tidbit; real Torah, from real TorahTutors sessions. A TorahTutors student and tutor discussed some of the traditional practices designed to commemorate or memorialize the Temple. A famous example is the matzah-maror sandwich eaten at the Pesach seder, just like Hillel used…
The approach of Mother’s Day in the US reminds us of some different perspectives on motherhood that a TorahTutors student encountered in her studies of Biblical women. Devorah, the prophetess and judge, is not known as a biological mother at all; her marital status is unclear, and tradition preserves no information about any children she…