What The AP Reading Taught Me About Traditional Judaism

by Ruth Wunderlich

Exodus 18 - Parsha Yitro13. It came about on the next day that Moses sat down to judge the people, and the

people stood before Moses from the morning until the evening.

…17. Moses' father in law said to him, "The thing you are doing is not good.18. You will surely wear yourself out both you and these people who are with you for

the matter is too heavy for you; you cannot do it alone.

…21. … you shall choose out of the entire nation men of substance, God fearers, men

of truth, who hate monetary gain, and you shall appoint over them [Israel] leaders over thousands, leaders over hundreds, leaders over fifties, and leaders over tens.

22. And they shall judge the people at all times, and it shall be that any major matter they shall bring to you, and they themselves shall judge every minor matter, thereby making it easier for you, and they shall bear [the burden] with you.

Hevruta - a pair of people studying Jewish texts together

Lithuanian Yeshuvot, Rabbi Chaim ben Isaac in the 1800’s

Widespread use began during the beginning of the twentieth century after WWI.

Possible Advantages

Eliminates the need of a Rav (Rabbi) in order to fully understand the Talmudic text.

Aids in memory or learning. Inclusion of the masses Cooperative Learning!

But why sustained pairs? not found. Possibly efficiency and focus ??

From the Babylonian Talmud“Two scholars sharpen each other in [matters

of] halakhah”Ta’anit 7a; Shabbat 63a

Halakhah = Jewish Law

A Page of Talmud

Mishnah + Gamara = Talmud

Mishnah = Oral Torah - Jewish Law200 C.E.

Gamara = Commentary on the Mishnah500 C.E.

Rashi’s Commentary on the Talmud1040-1105 C.E. Inside Column

Tosafot (Additions) Commentary on Rashi1100’s and 1200’s Outside Column

Numbers 27 - Parsha Pinchas 1. The daughters of Zelophehad … came forward, and his daughters' names were

Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah. 2. They stood before Moses and before Eleazar the kohen and before the

chieftains and the entire congregation at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting, saying,

3. "Our father died in the desert, but he was not in the assembly that banded together against the Lord in Korah's assembly, but he died for his own sin, and he had no sons.

4. Why should our father's name be eliminated from his family because he had no son? Give us a portion along with our father's brothers. ”

5. So Moses brought their case before the Lord. 6. The Lord spoke to Moses, saying: 7. Zelophehad's daughters speak justly. You shall certainly give them a portion of

inheritance along with their father's brothers, and you shall transfer their father's inheritance to them.

8. Speak to the children of Israel saying: If a man dies and has no son, you shall transfer his inheritance to his daughter.

A Board Note?

Other Talmud Analogies

Simpsons Episode: “Like Father Like Clown”http://www.e-ark.net/simpsons.html

Comparison of the Talmud with the Internethttp://www.technorhetoric.net/3.1/coverweb/porush/contra4.html

MLK’s “I have a dream” speechhttp://www.hillel.org/NR/rdonlyres/D794B132-1593-486B-BEA2-9EEDB532E955/0/MLK3.pdf

My Sources Rabbi Stephen Folberg Norma Fowler The Internet, including:

“Havruta Study: History, Benefits, and Enhancements” by Aliza Segal 2003

“Interactive Text Study: A Case of Hevruta Learning” by Orit Kent 2006 Jewish Virtual Library Chabad.org