Jewish Library
Building a Jewish Library -
An Important First Step From Sinai
Shaarei Kodesh has a wonderful Jewish library, but we encourage each Jew to build their own home Jewish library. The article below written by Rabbi Baum and re-printed from our Bi-Monthly newsletter, highlights the importance of this holy act and gives you some tips on how to build your own Jewish library.
The Dreaded Summer Reading
(Published in our May/June 2010 Edition of Chai Lights)
You might remember this from childhood, or you might be experiencing this now. As school ends, teachers give their students summer reading lists. Please do not think that summer reading lists were invented by teachers to ruin their students’ summers because of bad behavior during the year. Summer reading lists are actually tools to make sure that although students are taking a break from being within schools, they are not taking a break from the activity at school: learning. Research has proven that just as athletics, music, and other endeavors require attention to year-round physical fitness and skill development, academic fitness requires year-round attention to the practice of reading and the development of a rich background of experiences and knowledge.
What I would like to do is to introduce our own summer reading list, and the reasoning behind it is an called Torah Lishmah. Torah Lishmah literally means, Torah for her own sake (Torah is a feminine noun in Hebrew). In this type of study, we do not study Torah so we can pass a test or get a degree, rather we study because it gives reward on its own.
In the last chapter of Pirkei Avot, Rabbi Meir, a famous Rabbi from the Talmudic period, presents us with the reasoning behind why we should study Torah Lishmah in his famous Braitha (teaching). The Braitha of Rabbi Meir states:
Whoever engages in Torah study for its own sake (Torah Lishmah) merits many things; and furthermore, the creation of the entire world is worthwhile for his sake alone. He is called “friend, beloved.” He loves God, loves God’s creations, he makes God happy, he makes God’s creations happy. The Torah clothes him in humility and fear of God; it makes him fit to be righteous (tzadik), devout (hasid), fair, and faithful. It moves him away from sin and draws him near to merit. From him people enjoy counsel and wisdom, understanding and strength, as it is said: “Mine are counsel and wisdom, I am understanding, mine is strength.” The Torah gives him kingship, dominion, and analytical judgement; the secrets of the Torah are revealed to him; he becomes a steadily strengthening fountain and like an unceasing river. He becomes modest, patient, and forgiving of insult to himself. The Torah makes him great and exalts him above all things.
Torah Lishmah, for its own sake, might give us the impression that there are no rewards, but the answer is not so simple. Rabbi Meir is not telling us the rewards of Torah study for its own sake, rather, he is giving us the results of Torah Lishmah.
In my own life, I have seen and merited some of these results, and the great news is, each Jew is capable of some form of Torah study for its own sake. Each one of us can enjoy the rewards of a life of Torah study and ma’asim tovim (good deeds), all we have to do is take that first step.
How can we begin?
We are approaching the holiday of Shavuot which is known as Zman Matan Toratenu, the time when we received our Torah. In Abraham Joshua Heschel’s own words, “The decisive event in the spiritual history of our people was the act that occurred at Sinai.” This holiday is the anniversary of that event that reverberates with us to this day.
During this holiday, we will have a Tikkun Lel Shavuot, a special night of learning that will hopefully last until sunrise! I will teach, but we will also learn from our many talented and educated congregants. If you would like to be involved in this special night, please email me.
You can take your first steps into a life of Torah learning by attending this event, and afterwards, you can buy a book on our Amazon.com website. I have started a Jewish library starter list, a list of books that I think every Jew should have on their bookshelf. This will be your summer reading.
CLICK HERE TO VIEW RABBI BAUM’S LIBRARY STARTER KIT
After you find a book you want to read, find a partner to read with. In our tradition, this partner is called a Chevrutah, from the root of the word chaver (friend). This person can be your spouse, a child, a friend, or someone who you do not know so well at all! A Chevrutah gives you guidance, support, and an extra motivation to learn.
If you would like some help developing a learning plan, please contact me and I will gladly help you.
Our lives are journeys. Bnei Israel only had to journey through the wilderness for two years before they received their Torah, but it took them thirty-eight more years to learn how to live it. Torah study is a life long process, but the cost is low, and the benefits are immeasurable.
May God be with you on your journey from Sinai.
