Soul of Torah – Hasidic Commentaries
NEW SERIES
Fridays, 10:00–11:30 am (Pacific Time); 3 sessions on zoom
April 12, 26, and May 10, 2024
Tuition is on a sliding scale of $60–$90.
To register, email beitlavey@gmail.com
I am pleased to announce that I will be teaching one more three-session series of Soul of Torah before the summer. In this community of learning, we discuss Hasidic commentaries and interpretations on various Torah portions with two goals in mind: to understand the deep ideas and spiritual teachings of the Hasidic world, and to explore how these ideas and teachings might enrich our spiritual lives. As the Hasidic masters sought to unveil deeper meanings of Torah, together we will create our own deep and vibrant spiritual insights.
If you have not participated in this class, or experienced Hasidic teachings in the past, this is the perfect opportunity to get a taste of these profoundly meaningful texts.
“We do not stand outside and look in at Torah. We are to give our whole self to Torah, to bring our souls into Torah… We learn the mysteries of Torah when our souls that remain hidden from us are revealed from within the Torah through our learning.”
—Reb Kalonymus Kalman Shapira of Piaseczno
Guided by the Jewish mystical wisdom of earlier ages, the early Hasidic masters sought to unveil innovative meanings of Torah that go beyond rabbinic Midrash, deeper meanings they understood as the soul of Torah, meanings they believed would serve as guidance for our own spiritual growth.
In each class we will study two or three Hasidic teachings on a parasha (portion) of Torah with two goals in mind: to understand the deep ideas and spiritual teachings of the Hasidic world, and to explore how these ideas and teachings might serve as spiritual invitations and instructions for our own lives.
No prior Jewish knowledge is necessary. All you need to bring is your curiosity. All texts will be studied in English, and will be sent to students in advance. Each session will be recorded and provided to everyone registered.
Email beitlavey@gmail.com to register and for more information.