Search -
54 Torah Talks: From Layperson to Layperson
54 Torah Talks From Layperson to Layperson Author:Brian Weinstein The author, a social scientist by training, discusses one or more interesting and sometimes controversial points in each of the 54 sections into which the Torah or first five books of the Hebrew Bible is divided. — Despite the time period covered by the Torah (from Creation to the arrival of the Israelites at the edge of the Promised Land), there... more » are consistent important themes recurring in the text which Weinstein deals with. They include: The Torah is a source of Jewish identity, direction and civility from the ancient past to the present. The sages of the Talmud, the rabbis and intellectuals have great moral authority in Judaism, and they must be studied along with the Torah. Jewish laypersons and well as professionals, study the Torah to improve the quality of their existence in the here and now and to renew their relationship with God. Israel is central to Jewish identity as the land promised by God. Jews do not live isolated from the rest of the world; in Israel and in the Diaspora Jews have always learned from other peoples.« less