Midrash

The Story of Torah
Instructor: Baruch Sienna

What is Torah?

We have invited some of today's leading Rabbis and teachers to contribute:

Rabbi Eric Yoffie, president of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations The Torah is like a kaleidoscope - dazzlingly beautiful, infinitely complex, and differently configured each time we look at it anew.

Rabbi Amy Eilberg, first woman ordained by the Conservative movement, Jewish Theological Seminary

Torah is like a path in the woods. It guides your way, leading you to places of great beauty, filling you with awe. It brings you through dark shadowy places, until suddenly you find the most magnificent vista before you. It points you in directions you might not have found on your own, offers you views you'd otherwise not have seen. If you only trust this path, not knowing what lies beyond the bend, you will find that you know where to go, that you will be protected from danger. On this path you will never be lost, and you will never be alone. You may be tempted to try another path. But this one is yours.

Rabbi Mordechai Kaplan, z"l, founder of the Reconstructionist movement

Torah is like a piano:
A music critic wrote: 'When an average performer sits down before the piano, he becomes smaller and smaller and the instrument becomes larger and larger. When [a great player] sits down to play, suddenly the piano begins to diminish and fades into a miniature, until it seems to disappear altogether- and you are left alone with the man and the music.'
The Written Torah is the piano, the Jewish folk spirit is the performer. When those who incarnate the Jewish folk spirit interpret the Written Torah, the latter fades into a miniature, and you are left alone with the Jewish folk spirit and the Divine music.

Allan Gould, Jewish humourist, lecturer, and author of over two dozen books, including 'The Unorthodox Book of Jewish Records and Lists' and 'What Did They Think of the Jews'. Torah is like a teenager: It talks back to you, it reminds you what a hypocrite you are, it makes you realize how much better you could be, it drives you out of your mind, but it fills you with pride and wonder at G-d's creation.

Reb Zalman Schacter-Shalomi, "zaydie" of the Jewish Renewal movement

In which way is Torah like Litmus paper?

You dip what you learn in your mind juice and it discloses whether you are base or sour on God's teaching.

Rabbi Barbara Penzner, President of the Reconstructionist Rabbincal Association. Torah is like a family album. As you leaf through its pages you can reexperience events, meet familiar faces and discover unfamiliar ones. It is a treasury of tales and lessons, sorrows and joys in living color.

Read some of the answers in the Midrash.

Rabbi Eric Yoffie, president of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations		The Torah is like a kaleidoscope - dazzlingly beautiful, infinitely complex, and differently configured each time we look at it anew.
Rabbi Amy Eilberg, first woman ordained by the Conservative movement, Jewish Theological Seminary		Torah is like a path in the woods. It guides your way, leading you to places of great beauty, filling you with awe. It brings you through dark shadowy places, until suddenly you find the most magnificent vista before you. It points you in directions you might not have found on your own, offers you views you'd otherwise not have seen. If you only trust this path, not knowing what lies beyond the bend, you will find that you know where to go, that you will be protected from danger. On this path you will never be lost, and you will never be alone. You may be tempted to try another path. But this one is yours.
Rabbi Mordechai Kaplan, z"l, founder of the Reconstructionist movement		Torah is like a piano: A music critic wrote: 'When an average performer sits down before the piano, he becomes smaller and smaller and the instrument becomes larger and larger. When [a great player] sits down to play, suddenly the piano begins to diminish and fades into a miniature, until it seems to disappear altogether- and you are left alone with the man and the music.' The Written Torah is the piano, the Jewish folk spirit is the performer. When those who incarnate the Jewish folk spirit interpret the Written Torah, the latter fades into a miniature, and you are left alone with the Jewish folk spirit and the Divine music.
Allan Gould, Jewish humourist, lecturer, and author of over two dozen books, including 'The Unorthodox Book of Jewish Records and Lists' and 'What Did They Think of the Jews'.		Torah is like a teenager: It talks back to you, it reminds you what a hypocrite you are, it makes you realize how much better you could be, it drives you out of your mind, but it fills you with pride and wonder at G-d's creation.
Reb Zalman Schacter-Shalomi, "zaydie" of the Jewish Renewal movement		In which way is Torah like Litmus paper? You dip what you learn in your mind juice and it discloses whether you are base or sour on God's teaching.
Rabbi Barbara Penzner, President of the Reconstructionist Rabbincal Association.		Torah is like a family album. As you leaf through its pages you can reexperience events, meet familiar faces and discover unfamiliar ones. It is a treasury of tales and lessons, sorrows and joys in living color.