A year through the torah a weely journey for christians, by john j. Charity is integral to the christmas holiday season. I recently listened online to a lecture by marc shapiro and ended up giving small class in my neighborhood. Studying the torah was not meant to be an end in itself. Ive seen the torahpentateuch classified as an epic, but to me the genre seemed much less straightforward than in homer. On the other hand, as shapiro notes in his article torah study on christmas eve, apostates jews who converted to christianity in the 16th and 17th centuries are not known to have mentioned the practice in their antijewish polemics, which in and of itself indicates that they did not know about it. Before tonight, the closest i ever came to a christmas eve service was driving by a church on my way to a chinese dinner and a movie.
On the other hand, as shapiro notes in his article torah study on christmas eve. Introduction to torah beginners lessons in scriptural. In this torah portion, god commands aaron and his sons to make the burnt and sin offerings at the tabernacle. He says that eve encouraged adam to eat the fruit and that god gave the command to be fruitful and multiply to adam when the bible says he was talking.
So nitl nacht is the eve of nitl, analogous to christmas eve. Dec 24, 2015 how hasidim pointedly dont observe christmas eve during the hours leading up to christmas or nittel nacht, some ultraorthodox jews perform more than a few fantastical counterculture. Torah in motion 3910 bathurst street, suite 307 toronto, on m3h 5z3 canada tel. For a discussion of the bakharakh quote, see idem, 344. But this is a good beginning for those who are new at torah study. Considered in the context of the jewish tradition alone, these practices are. The books also relate the history of the jewish nation from its earliest stage, through the giving of the law at. How many christmas eves does the year bring to jewish boys and girls.
A rabbis christmas eve sermon jewish xmas our jewish. Yiddish folklore about christmas exemplifies the complex understanding that east. Jiddische weihnachtstraditionen aus osteuropa, in weihnukka. On the other hand, as shapiro notes in his article torah study on christmas eve, apostates jews who converted to christianity in the 16th and 17th centuries are not known to have mentioned. Renowned scholar gordon wenham offers story as torah, a succinct monograph demonstrating how old testament narratives can indeed function as torah, informing ones ethical choices. Jointly authored by professors of judaism and christianity, the torah. In jewish sources, christmas eve is known as nittel nacht. Judaism, along with christianity and islam, is an abrahamic religion.
Yes, the jewish boy must even rejoice over the depiction of a christmas eve. In much of the diaspora the jewish communities outside the land of israel, shemini atzeret the eighth day of sukkot is followed directly by a second special day, simchat torah literally, joy of the torah. Marc shapiro, weinberg chair in judaic studies, university of scranton, leads a live online interactive class torah study or lack of it on christmas eve. His stated grounds are the same as given by adrian for abstaining from torah study on ascension day. According to rabbinic judaism, the oral torah or oral law hebrew. Throughout, careful attention is taken to demonstrate how yeshua jesus is. Torah on christmas eve as a standalone practice or at. Torah study sort by featured best selling alphabetically, az alphabetically, za price, low to high price, high to low date, new to old date, old to new filters. The rabbis view eve, the first woman, as embodying the qualities of all women, and of femininity in general. Jews are no immune to the increasing chorus of books and opinions that. African studies american studies ancient near east and egypt art history asian studies book history and cartography biblical studies classical studies education. After 22 years, a synagogue study group finishes reading the.
Hasidim dont study torah on christmas eve luke ford. Each week there is a sabbath evening, and each season brings a festival evening. As torah students, we need to be aware of which kind of literature we are studying. Marc shapiro discusses learning torah on christmas eve, bnai torah congregation, 465 patricia ave. This article explores some of the strategies used by late mediaeval and early modern jews living in german lands to counter powerful and ubiquitous christian images, symbols and holidays. The five books of the torah contain just about every type of literature imaginable, including historical narrative, legal material, poems, and songs. How to study the torah by ariel berkowitz ny one who has attempted to read and appreciate the torah has discovered that sometimes the torah is not east to interpret. Marc shapiro, torah study on christmas eve, journal of jewish thought and philosophy 8. Messianic weekly subscription torah portion for family. Torah study on christmas eve in the journal of jewish thought and. R yose ben yose hakohen lived in the sixth century in eretz yisrael.
In a lecture for torah in motion on christmas eve, 2009, professor marc b. Torah in motion 3910 bathurst street, suite 307 toronto, on m3h 5z3 canada. Why some jews dont study torah on christmas eve jewish world. He and his colleagues wrote liturgy whose purpose was to teach torah at a time when open torah study had been outlawed by the byzantine emperors. Torah that is on the mouth represents those laws, statutes, and legal interpretations that were not recorded in the five books of moses, the written torah hebrew.
He wrote approximately 70 books on halachah, kabbalah, chumash, bibliography and other subjects. Interestingly, there are traditions surrounding the words invoked by european jews to describe christmas. Pastor and torah messianic teacher, joel allen digs into old and new testament connections to the weekly torah parsha. Shapiro s lecture on torah study on christmas eve, delivered on christmas eve, 2009. The essential talmud by adin evenisrael steinsaltz, tanach. Some of you might have seen slate magazine which had a piece by benyamin cohen that. The torah teacher who does not encourage his students to practice what the torah says is not accurately teaching the torah. Tis the season vayechi 5776 rabbi elie weinstock how did. Shapiro, torah study on christmas eve, journal of jewish thought and philosophy 8 1999, 319353. Advanced search help torah study on christmas eve in the journal of jewish thought and philosophy. Discover yeshua in the torah with shadows of the messiah. David bourget western ontario david chalmers anu, nyu area editors. Each week in synagogue, we read or, more accurately, chant, because it is sung a passage from the torah. The first parashah, for example, is parashat bereishit, which covers.
The first explicit reference to the practice of avoiding torah study appears in rabbi yair bacharachs mekor chaim, composed sometime between. A beginners guide takes a unique approach, exploring the interplay and dynamics of how these two religions share this common scripture. Torah club is a unique and comprehensive messianic bible study resource spanning the whole of scripture, consisting of extensive written and audio commentary. Shapiro s lecture torah study on christmas eve, delivered on christmas eve, 2009. Vayechi 5776 rabbi elie weinstock how did you spend thursday night. How to study the torah torah resources international. Marc shapiro s new article is modern orthodoxy moving towards an acceptance of biblical criticism is the subject of much online discussion. Marc shapiro, torah study on christmas eve, journal of jewish thought and philosophy 8 1999. In his article entitled torah study on christmas eve, scholar and theologian marc shapiro maintains that the word christmas never appears in all of rabbinic literature. Shapiro in the spirit of inyana deyoma, torah in motion is offering, free of charge, dr. On christmas eve in 2007, rabbi robert barr delivered the christmas eve sermon at first unitarian church of cincinnati. Torah study on christmas eve free torah in motion lecture by dr.
He and his colleagues wrote liturgy whose purpose was to teach torah at a time when open torah study had been outlawed by. Ive seen the torah pentateuch classified as an epic, but to me the genre seemed much less straightforward than in homer. Shapiro cites the writings of the apostate johann adrian from 1609, who wrote that jews do not study torah on ascension day, not christmas. Each chapter of this lifetransforming book covers a single torah portion, and provides a wealth resources, including selections of torah text with english transliterations as well as portions from the prophets and new testament. Shapiros lecture torah study on christmas eve, delivered on christmas eve, 2009. Jewish music in the synagogue and images of women in jewish religious life. Charitable organizations and agencies call upon citizens to open their hearts and their checkbooks to help the disadvantaged during this period. He uses the books of genesis and judges as test cases, working with texts that offer clear moral guidance as well as those in which the ethical teaching is at. Torah study on christmas eve in the journal of jewish thought and philosophy. Marc shapiro great rabbinic thinkers series 198 medieval 27. Some of you might have seen slate magazine which had a piece by benyamin cohen that came out yesterday on this practice. After 22 years, a synagogue study group finishes reading the torah from beginning to end rabbi stuart weinblatt leads a group of congregants at bnai tzedek synagogue in potomac, md.
Jews are no immune to the increasing chorus of books and. What happens in synagogue on simchat torah my jewish learning. The torah, prophets, writings the twentyfour books of the. Shapiro demonstrates that orthodox rabbis are increasingly embracing various facets of biblical criticism, including in particular the issue of torah authorship. Proper torah study will help them to understand the mitzvoth 1 in the torah and their proper application in our everyday lives. How to study the torah students who are new to the study of the torah need some fundamental principles to help them how to properly study and interpret the torah. How hasidim pointedly dont observe christmas eve during the hours leading up to christmas or nittel nacht, some ultraorthodox jews perform more than a. This approach accurately reflects the disproportionate seasonal importance conferred upon the practice in the twentieth century as other christmas eve prohibitions fell by the wayside. Historically speaking, however, the prohibition on study. In the terminology of those communities, christmas is referred to as nittel. Ella burakowski, the cjns ask ella columnist, has written a novel based on her uncle david golds experiences during the holocaust. Sep 17, 2011 torah study or lack of it on christmas eve. So it became the jewish custom not to learn torah so as not to give the appearance of learning on behalf of jesus on his birthday which of course, christmas is notit was a pagan holiday long before jesus that christians adopted as a way of integrating pagans into chritianity.
How hasidim pointedly dont observe christmas eve the times. The five books plus appendices of shadows of the messiah follow the synagogues annual torah reading cycle, providing messianic jewish commentary and insights on. For more than 150 years, americans have attached special significance to giving charity and volunteering on christmas as ways to fulfill the holidays spiritual mission. This series that goes through the whole year will give you key questions, topics, and discussions on the hebrew language as well as the torah. Call 8007754807 or visit the heart of our approach why each volume of torah club is important ignite your faith. But mostly its a shopping day, great for small shops and big companies, practically invented and adapted for that. In the spirit of inyana deyoma, torah in motion is offering, free of charge, dr. As gods handiwork, she is portrayed as the most beautiful woman who ever lived, and there was no fairer creature but her husband adam. After 22 years, a synagogue study group finishes reading.
Torah study on christmas eve free torah in motion lecture. Protective covers were placed over holy books or vessels containing liquids and. Christmas is a wonderfull almost magical day of the year for some people, a reason of encounters of family and friendships, gifts, decoration with red and green colors, toast and wishes for peace between families and country and a hope of prosperity and happiness for all. Shapiro, torah study on christmas eve, journal of jewish thought and philosophy 8 1999. This has got to be the strangest thing that hasidim do and they do a lot of strange things. For a discussion of the possible meaning of the name nittel, see. African studies american studies ancient near east and egypt art history asian studies book history and cartography biblical studies classical studies education history jewish.
Judaism is alive for him, in all the festivals and celebrations. A year through the torah bookcd hebrew for christians. The purpose of this study is to help the student with some important pointers, which should make the study easier and more rewarding. Silent night that is without the learning of torah. Marc shapiro of the university of scranton, who conducted the most. Every seventh yearat the feast of booths you shall read this teaching aloud in the presence of all israel. Why some jews dont study torah on christmas eve jewish. Torah on christmas eve as a standalone practice or at least as the principal custom of the season. Nov 01, 2011 it is the source of widely known characters like joseph, moses, and noah, and timeless stories such as the garden of eden and the exodus. Marc shapiro discusses rav ovadiah yosef and the revival of sephardic halachah, or chaim yeshiva, 7. It is the source of widely known characters like joseph, moses, and noah, and timeless stories such as the garden of eden and the exodus. It is a jewish custom to learn torah on the birthday or yahrzeit of the deceased.
The specific prohibition on studying torah on christmas eve first appears in writing, according to shapiros research, in 1614, in the writings of the apostate samuel friedrich brenz. In his article entitled torah study on christmas eve, scholar and theologian marc shapiro. Centuries before yahshua walked the earth, ezra the scribe and the 120 elders of the great as sembly divided the torah into 54 portions so that in the course of a year beginning and ending on simchat torah the entire scroll would be recited during services. Marc shapiro, torah study on christmas eve philpapers. After exodus, what story there is often gets lost in endless demographic info, rules for hygiene, and of course constant threats by god to kill everyone. Torah that is in writing, but nonetheless are regarded by. Reading old testament narrative ethically wenham, gordon j.