Beth Elearning's mission: to provide you with an eclectic assortment of
web-based Jewish learning content and original articles that are relevant, stimulating and suitable for people at all stages of learning.
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 Online Weekly Torah Portion Class has begun...You can still register!
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Wouldn't it be great to learn about the weekly Torah portion right from the comfort of your home?
Each Wednesday at 1:30 p.m., Rabbi Sowalsky presents a 15-20 minute synopsis of the weekly Torah portion.
After that there's time for questions and discussion.
Class members sign in remotely, and may participate either over the Internet, or by telephone. (There is no actual class in the Beth El Temple building) This class is free.
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We are most appreciative for the guidance provided by Rabbi Rosen, Rabbi Garber, Rabbi Rosenbaum,
Rabbi Sowalsky and Cantor Ness.
Lifelong Learning Committee:
Rabbi Howard Rosenbaum, Amy Goldman, Roz Hahn, Lois Koteen, and Steven Stier
The Beth Elearning Newsletter is available to members and non-members.
To add e-mail addresses or to opt out, send an e-mail request to beth.elearning@gmail.com
Newsletter Editor: Steven Stier
Newsletter layout: Amy Goldman
(Logo design assisted by Leah Goldman)
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A Process For Life
January 23, 2013
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 By RABBI JAMES ROSEN
Our deepest thanks go to the co-chairs of our Life Long Learning Committee Dr. Steven Stier and Roz Hahn along with Amy Goldman, Lois Koteen and Rabbi Howard Rosenbaum for their hard work in producing another engaging and thought provoking e-learning magazine for our Beth El family. This time the theme is Torah itself which is especially appropriate as we now embrace the privilege of helping to create the new Beth El Torah.
It has been so moving to witness the joy that so many have felt as they have learned the beauty and mystery of the letter they help inscribe in the scroll. Experiences of genuine sanctity are not easy to come by in our always-on-the-move world. Yet, this gives us all a moment of pause as we help to forever place sacred text into our scroll knowing that generations to come will gaze into these ancient words we helped reproduce this year.
In other contexts many of us have questions about Biblical texts. Are the six days of creation in Genesis meant literally? Is the Bible historically accurate? [click to continue...]
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Reflections of a Torah Reader
By DAN KULAKOFSKY
Thirty years passed between the first time and the second time I read Torah. I don't recall much about my own Bar Mitzvah, but I remember clearly what a special part of my older son Benjamin's Bar Mitzvah it was for me to share the bimah and read Torah with him. Something clicked for me that day, and after I read at my younger son Jonathan's Bar Mitzvah two years later, I knew I wanted to read Torah on a regular basis. Since then Beth El has given me the honor of reading for the congregation more than 100 times.
All at once the experience is awesome, rewarding, challenging, peaceful and scary. In fact, reading Torah on a regular basis led to a great benefit I never expected. [click to continue...]
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Origin and Sanctity of the Torah [top]
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A great in-depth article about the origins of the Torah.
(from aish.com)
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More than the Five Books of Moses, Torah is the guide to living.
(from aish.com)
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An insightful commentary on Numbers Rabbah 13:15 by Rabbi Ed Romm.
(from koach.org)
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A very interesting piece detailing the rituals and customs of handling sacred Judaica texts and items.
(from aish.com)
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Soferet Julie Selzer shares many unique facts about the ancient profession of scribing in this video.
(uploaded by thecjmsf.org on Youtube)
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Rabbi Michal Shekel writes this article about many sacred text basics.
(from myjewishlearning.com)
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Insights into laws that govern the writing of a Torah.
(from soferonsite.com)
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A fascinating closeup view of the writing of a line of Torah (sped up times 2) to a drumbeat. Check it out!
(uploaded by Max Malkiel on Youtube.com)
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In this classic 1995 monograph, Rabbi Ismar Schorsch enunciates 7 core values of Conservative Judaism. The Torah specifically accounts for 2 of the core values, but the other 5 values are also permeated by Torah. Some details have changed since this was written; however the principles endure.
Owing to the length and richness of this piece, consider making a print out and reading one of the core values each day for 7 days.
(from jtsa.edu)
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There are a large amount of idiosyncrasies, or scribal oddities in the writing of the sacred texts. Learn more about them in this article!
(from sofer.co.uk)
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