Learning in a community, Praying for our National Community

While I often find it hard to write on the blog while concentrating on midterms and papers, I have a few updates to share in this period between Rosh Chodesh Marcheshvan and Election Day.

On the Rosh Chodesh end, I wrote an article about the joy of Hevruta (partnership) study for the monthly KOACH E-zine, and I wanted to share it here as well:

Culture Corner : Marvelous Hevruta

By Gabe Seed
JTS / Columbia University

"Hevruta o Mituta" – Friendship/Peer Study or Death?! (Babylonian Talmud Ta’anit 23b)

As a student at the Jewish Theological Seminary, one might think that I am inundated with Jewish studies. Although I am majoring in Talmud and have countless hours of formal Jewish learning in my schedule, some of my best Jewish education comes in the form of hevruta, informal Jewish study with a friend or two. The most wonderful element of hevruta study is that it is almost infinitely flexible, in terms of frequency and length of meeting, as well choice of topic to be studied. This year, I have two hevrutot which have greatly enhanced my Jewish learning, as we have learned so much from each other and the texts we have studied.

Starting during the previous school year, my friend Jonah Rank, a junior at JTS/Columbia, and I have been studying Masekhet (tractate) Sotah in the Babylonian Talmud, which deals with the ritual prescribed when a wife is accused of being disloyal to her husband, along with a number of other topics. In addition to honing our skills in Aramaic and rabbinic text study in general, Jonah and I have also struggled with the philosophical issues raised by the words of the Mishnah and the Gemara. Although the institution ofsotah may no longer be practiced today, it is a fascinating part of our Jewish heritage.

At the beginning of this year, I began an additional hevruta with Yossi Hoffman, a junior at NYU, with whom I had studied at Ramah in Nyack this summer. Yossi had suggested that we delve into the world of classicalmidrash, medieval works which explain and comment on difficulties in biblical texts. Some rabbis and scholars have compared midrashim to the sermons of today and it is fascinating to try and detect the rabbis’ underlying motivation in the messages they find in the text. Yossi and I have been learning midrashim related to the weekly Torah reading, from D’varim Rabbah, as well as selections related to the special portions for the holidays inPesikta D’rav Kahana, a work compiled from manuscripts by Dr. Bernard Mandelbaum, former Vice Chancellor of our very own JTS. Studying these texts, especially with the insights of a hevruta, has enhanced both my understanding of midrash and the meaning of the biblical texts when they are read.

It doesn’t take any special qualifications or background to have a hevruta like mine and it can happen on any campus around the world. Even here at JTS, an academic center of the Conservative Movement, some of the best learning takes place outside of the classroom, in a planned or impromptuhevruta session!

Gabe Seed is a sophomore at JTS and Columbia, where he majors in Talmud and history, respectively. He spent a year before college on Nativ, studying at the Conservative Yeshiva and Kibbutz En Zurim.  He also has a presence on the web at http://gabriel.seed.googlepages.com, with a blog and the Zemirot Database which he co-founded.

Looking ahead to the election, there are plenty of comments I could make from a political perspective, as I do have strong views about how Jewish tradition speaks on the hot issues of today.  However, I am choosing instead to devote this space to words of gratitude, prayer and hope that represent the feelings of American Jews on our unique opportunity to live in the open and democratic society that is the United States.

---Professor Louis Ginzburg (1873-1953), Scholar and Professor at the Jewish Theological Seminary.  Edited by Rabbi Jules Harlow, 1985:

Our  God  and  God  of  our  ancestors:  We  ask  Your  blessings  for  our  country,  for its government, for its leader and advisors, and for all who exercise just and rightful authority. Teach them insights of Your Torah that they may administer all affairs of state fairly, that peace and security, happiness and prosperity, justice and freedom may forever abide in our midst.  Creator  of  all  flesh,  bless  all  the  inhabitants  of  our  country  with  Your  spirit.  May citizens of all races and creeds forge a common bond in true harmony to banish all hatred and bigotry and to safeguard the ideals and free institutions which are the pride and glory of our country. May this land under Your Providence be an influence for good throughout the world, uniting all people in peace and freedom and helping them to fulfill the vision of your prophet: “Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they experience war any more.” And let us say: Amen.

---Yocheved Tupper , Student, JTS and Barnard College:

Please feel free to include this in your daily prayers. If you don't pray daily, please feel free to use it! Also, feel free to post it but please give me credit. The first is non-denominational and the second is specifically for Jews. Please alter it to your religious needs! Please make sure to give me credit, even if you alter it, as every time we cite our sources we bring G-d's presence into the world. (this is according to Jewish law) Also, if you do use it, let me know in the comments below just because it'll make me happy to think of us uniting in prayer for a fair election.


Non-Denominational Version:
Almighty G-d, Ruler of time and space, give all those who believe in and work for the fulfillment of the democratic promise of equality, justice, and freedom the strength and insight they need to persevere and positively influence the vote. May Your children vote tomorrow free from the prejudice that has filled this election and in the interest of their collective good. May Your felt presence enable all who have the right to vote to do so quickly and without challenge to their citizenship. May communities and individuals who have been disenfranchised be fully enfranchised. May every vote be counted accurately and swiftly. May Your love of justice guide all who are responsible for voting machines, ballots, lines, and poll places. May Your steady hand prevent the overzealous from declaring the election's finish before due time, and may the expression of true and just democracy in which every person is protected and uplifted, which is Your hope for all Your children, be fulfilled in our time.

Jewish Version:
Our G-d and G-d of our ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel, and Leah, give all those who believe in and work for the fulfillment of the democratic promise of equality, justice, and freedom the strength and insight they need to persevere and positively influence the vote. May Your children vote free from the prejudice that has filled this election and in the interest of their collective good. May Your felt presence enable all who have the right to vote to do so quickly and without challenge to their citizenship. May communities and individuals who have been disenfranchised be fully enfranchised. May every vote be counted accurately and swiftly. May Your love of justice guide all who are responsible for voting machines, ballots, lines, and poll places. May Your steady hand prevent the overzealous from declaring the election's finish before due time, and may the expression of true and just democracy in which every person is protected and uplifted, which is Your hope for all Your children, be fulfilled in our time.