Shapiro december 22, 2011 admin comments 6 comments in the spirit of inyana deyoma, torah in motion is offering, free of charge, dr. Judaism, along with christianity and islam, is an abrahamic religion. In her devotional commentary, keren hannah pryor gives you a taste of the sweetness of gods word and the inspired instruction of his torah. The lubavitcher rebbe related in a talk in the name of his fatherinlaw, the rebbe rayatz. The tanakh is the jewish bible it comprises torah, prophets, writings. A common theme in the antijewish writings by medieval apostates in germany is that on christmas eve specifically. Christmas eve occupies a special place on the hasidic calendar as a kind of silent night, when torah study ceases and then resumes full force at midnight. Messianic weekly subscription torah portion for family. Torah study on christmas eve free torah in motion lecture by dr. The most predominant and logical of explanations for the origin of nittel nacht customs, namely, the abandonment of torah study and the closure of batei midrash on christmas eve was in fear of possible pogroms. Explain to me how it is blasphemous if one decides to set aside time for remembering, in the past, we had to hide in the house and not be caught studying torah during a christian holiday.
Torah that is on the mouth represents those laws, statutes, and legal interpretations that were not recorded in the five books of moses, the written torah hebrew. Wordless picture books are not just for your nonreaders. The yiddish word nittel for christmas is likely derived from the medieval latin name for christmas, natalis, although it is also often associated with the hebrew nitleh the hanged one, which was used in medieval times to refer to jesus customs. Concept fiction, 16 words, level aa grade k, lexile br30l. In fact, they can sometimes be more difficult because they require a reader to dig deeper and use higher level thinking skills. Today christmas eve doesnt pose any more of a risk to jews than any other day, at least in most places. The surprising traditions of jewish christmas eve newser. Red is for the blood of jesus that covers all our sins. Here are some of my favorite wordless picture books for kids. And the wordless book and its message raced to the forefront of my mind as my eyes drank in the colors of the ornaments.
Summary of the passover torah readings on the first day of passover we read from the book of exodus 12. Shapiros lecture torah study on christmas eve, delivered on christmas eve, 2009. There is a custom among some chasidim not to learn torah on nittel nacht in order not to contribute positive spiritual powers to idolatry. The chicago tribune praised him as a master of wordless picture books. Pastor and torah messianic teacher, joel allen digs into old and new testament connections to the weekly torah parsha. In their simplest form, the twentyfour books of the jewish bible the tanach present a history of the first 3500 years from creation until the building of the second temple in jerusalem. This christmas bible study lesson can be downloaded for free. A few members in our church are being led to believe that it is wrong to celebrate christmas and easter with a musical and that we should be following the feasts of the old testament and not the pagan holidays. Christmas eve christmas eve christmas eve christmas eve. Your first choice is the snowman by raymond briggs. When adam and eve chose to sin, the whole world became dark with sin. Learn the many chapters that make up the tanach and find out where you can find more information about each. All of these cautions aside, here is a list of some of the most important hermeneutical rules which the torah student should practice.
Wordless picture books allow opportunities to observe, ask questions, make inferences, draw conclusions, and more. On the other hand, as shapiro notes in his article torah study on christmas eve, apostates jews who converted to christianity in the 16th and 17th centuries are not known to have mentioned the practice in their antijewish polemics, which in. Come and see jewish hasidim celebrate christmas in. He uses the books of genesis and judges as test cases, working with texts that offer clear moral guidance as well as those in which the ethical teaching is at. The novel starts out with eightyearold tess who has decided that this year she is actually going to meet santa this year.
Marc shapiro, torah study on christmas eve, journal of jewish thought and philosophy 8. Jul 01, 2005 the five final chapters comprise a study for each section of the five books of the written torah it took me over three months read this book and to complete my studies of its contents but, of course, what is that to those jewish scholars who have spent a lifetime studying the written torah, the mishnah, the talmud, and the important jewish. Ancient frescoes, medieval illuminated manuscripts, and paintings by contemporary ethiopian jewish artists in the copic style grace these pagesmaking this an excellent gift for a child studying for the bar or bat mitzvah. Torah study on christmas eve free torah in motion lecture by marc b. Many, though not all jews, observed this custom, both hasidim and nonhasidim, including wellknown talmudists. Though given recent increases in antisemitic rhetoric and violence, who even knows. It a simplified version of the nativity story with a dove as a narrator. Torah in motion 3910 bathurst street, suite 307 toronto, on m3h 5z3 canada tel. The word torah is a tricky one, because it can mean different things in different contexts. Ridding ourselves of ancient prejudices san diego jewish. Sometimes, the word chumash simply refers to a collection of the five books of the torah.
Dec 21, 2015 icelanders have a beautiful tradition of giving books to each other on christmas eve and then spending the night reading. Also note that traditionally, since torah study is forbidde. In its most limited sense, torah refers to the five books of moses. Others say torah study was avoided on this night so that the heavenly merit of torah learning would not be accrued by jesus or those celebrating. Centuries before yahshua walked the earth, ezra the scribe and the 120 elders of the great as sembly divided the torah into 54 portions so that in the course of a year beginning and ending on simchat torah the entire scroll would be recited during services. Apr 28, 2009 jesus would have read and studied the tanakh. Dec, 2016 christmas is a wonderfull almost magical day of the year for some people, a reason of encounters of family and friendships, gifts, decoration with red and green colors, toast and wishes for peace between families and country and a hope of prosperity and happiness for all.
For a discussion of the possible meaning of the name nittel, see. On christmas eve on whichever date they celebrated it on in that community, the christians would get. The first explicit reference to the practice of avoiding torah study appears in rabbi yair. A year through the torah now you can understand the scriptures that yeshua jesus and the apostles read. According to rabbinic judaism, the oral torah or oral law hebrew. The talmud, torah study and christmas eve veterans today. The most prominent custom commonly observed on nittel nacht is to abstain from torah study, although historically some read the. But often, a chumash contains the entire first five books, divided up by the weekly parashiyot, with the haftarah portion inserted after each weeks parashah. Jta christmas is a day like any other in most hasidic neighborhoods in new york. Here is an elegant, authoritative gift edition of the sacred torah illustrated with jewish art and iconography from around the world. Buy on christmas eve reissue by peter collington isbn. Torah books and texts from jewish used books used torah.
What eastern european jews did on christmas my jewish. Working knowledge of the torah is essential for every serious student of the scriptures. The first book in this series contains over 100 pages and is now available and includes content from creation to the tower of babel bereshith genesis 111. Kriyas hatoire is a jewish religious tradition that involves the public reading of a set of passages from a torah scroll. The first mention of such a cycle appears in the bible, in deuteronomy, where moses instructs the tribe of levi and the elders of israel to gather all the people for a public reading from portions of the torah. The colorful, supportive illustrations and use of the highfrequency word the make this book a good. Where to find podcasts, videos and essays on the weeks portion.
Keren, 36, cohens neighbor and a stayathome mother of three is one of cohens success stories. In the united states, he ruled that torah study should be banned on the night of december 24, when most christian americans celebrate christmas eve. Chassidic legend relates that wild dogs would visit those who violated the custom and studied torah on nittel nacht. How hasidim pointedly dont observe christmas eve the times. Remember, 2500 years ago, at the time that our rabbis were deciding which books to include in the tanach bible, there was no printing press, no photo copier and certainly no cd rom drive. In current usage, most jews designate the books by titles that are derived from their opening words.
Torah for children is a series of books, assisting torah observant parents and those new to the hebraic faith to teach their children the way of yhwh in a hebraic environment. For centuries, jews in eastern europe generally spent christmas eve and day in. Torah study on christmas eve in the journal of jewish thought. Join our small group fellowship as we study the key points on the birth of christ a mother and daughter were window shopping in new york on christmas eve where they came upon a nativity scene in macys window. What eastern european jews did on christmas my jewish learning. How hasidim pointedly dont observe christmas eve the times of. Although torah study was forbidden, some privately studied whats called toledot yeshu a medieval manuscript that tells the story of jesus from a nonchristian perspective. Essential torah is the most comprehensive of the new group of bible commentaries. The names of the books of the torah there are five books that make up the torah, and the title is usually indicated clearly at the top of each page. The christmas story by igloo books this is a sweet book with bold engaging pictures.
This simple story about a favorite winter holiday will familiarize students with things they might see on christmas eve. Renowned scholar gordon wenham offers story as torah, a succinct monograph demonstrating how old testament narratives can indeed function as torah, informing ones ethical choices. On the upcoming first night of chanukah, chasidic and some observant ashkenazi jews will forgo torah study, choosing instead to play games or pursue other leisure activities. Even religious violence between people in the same religion is too common. Christmas eve is one of the few occasions when hasidim refrain from torah study, do not conduct weddings or go to the mikveh. Special kiddush for siyum torah followed by special study class. Concept fiction, 19 words, spanish level aa grade k, lexile br. The previous lubavitcher rebbe rabbi yosef yitzchak schneersohn 18801950 explains concerning this hassidic tradition of christmas eve, it is our custom to refrain from studying torah on. The books also relate the history of the jewish nation from its earliest stage, through the giving of the law at mount sinai, and until the end of the first commonwealth.
This custom is so deeply ingrained in the culture that it is the reason. The essential talmud by adin evenisrael steinsaltz, tanach. Why some jews dont study torah on christmas eve jewish world. Learn how to make your own wordless book to share the gospel with kids. The torah, prophets, writings the twentyfour books of the bible, newly translated and annotated the artscroll series by. Some of you might have seen slate magazine which had a piece by benyamin cohen that came out yesterday on this practice. A very easy to use evangelism tool thats extremely effective. Roving bands of christians were known to attack jews on christmas eve, and safety concerns led to the closure of study halls. Apr 26, 2020 messianic torah portion including torah, haftara and brit chadasha new testament readings. This series that goes through the whole year will give you key questions, topics, and discussions on the hebrew language as well as the torah. It reminded me of a story from eli plauts book, kosher christmas. First used by charles spurgeon in the wordless book has become a very popular tool used all over the world to present the gospel to children. A devotional study through the five books of moses.
According to israel abrahams in his book jewish life in the middle ages. And yet you dont feature in the book, only in the film. Simchat torah itself is the celebration dedicated to both completing the yearly cycle of public torah reading and starting it again. Both the new testament and old testament were created by the church. So wearing our golden crowns and hitchhiking to bethlehem seemed like the natural thing to do. Known as nittel nacht, the hours leading up to christmas include a few peculiar traditions in hasidic communities.
On christmas eve, known in jewish circles as nitel night, the klipot shells are in total control. Those who saw belief in the trinity as a form of idolatry believed christmas eve was a time when dark forces were about, rendering it unfit for the purity of torah study. If you know my article on the topic, youll recognize that he took much of his article. Christmas is a day like any other in most hasidic neighborhoods in new york. For a discussion of the bakharakh quote, see idem, 344. Why some jews dont study torah on christmas eve haaretz. Still, since the majority of jews today still live in christian countries, many of us often feel, at the least, othered on christmas christmas is. Shapiro in the spirit of inyana deyoma, torah in motion is offering. The torah is full of deep and beautiful meanings even without the use of such methods.
Hasidim dont study torah on christmas eve luke ford. Hate and violence are essential parts of the various manmade revealed religions. Book christmas tree christmas photo christmas program christmas tree crafts childrens christmas christmas activities kids christmas holiday crafts christian christmas crafts. Parashiot from the torah and haftarah, with suggested readings from the brit chadashah and holiday selections. A taste of torah offers traditional insights, as well as inspiring, fresh perspectivesreflections of the riches the author has received through her personal study of the scriptures. Children go to school, shops are open, and tinsel and holly are nowhere to be seen. In other words, if a book was to be spread around and read, it had to be copied by hand a huge job, when you consider that they didnt have the types of. When speaking to alan king, he quipped, men mahk a leben, which means, a man has to make a living. Find torah texts and torah books used and at the cheapest prices at jewish used books. Wordless book christmas tree a place that encourages others in their walk with the lord and is intent on sharing the good news of jesus christ to all the world.
A year through the torah bookcd hebrew for christians. A year through the torah a weely journey for christians, by john j. According to medieval jewish belief, for his crime of apostasy teaching laws to the jews that were not in the torah jesus is confined to a pool of sewage in hell for eternity. Messianic torah portion calendar, readings and litrugy. Some authorities recommend that the eve of december 25, as is christmas in most of the western world, is to be observed as nittel nacht, referred to as nittel hakatan.
How to study the torah torah resources international. An amazing article published in haaretz by shahar ilan that describes the way jewish hasidim celebrate christmas. She gleans from the wisdom of jewish sages and commentators as well as christian insights into the tanach old testament, and conveys them in a gentle but profound manner that will inspire and inform. Many rabbis also believed studying torah helped the. So it became the jewish custom not to learn torah so as not to give the appearance of learning on behalf of jesus on his birthday which of course, christmas is notit was a pagan holiday long before jesus that christians adopted as a way of integrating pagans into chritianity. Each chapter of this lifetransforming book covers a single torah portion, and provides a wealth resources, including selections of torah text with english transliterations as well as portions from the prophets and new testament. Children go to school, shops are open, and tinsel and holly are nowhere. Shapiro says this has got to be the strangest thing that hasidim do and they do a lot of strange things. Others suggest of course that the true nittel nacht is to correspond to the january 7 celebrations, the christmas of the greek orthodox. See more ideas about books, christmas books and childrens books.
Christmas may also have served as an occasion for gambling while playing chess or cards because it was not a jewish holiday or the sabbath, the times in which the prohibition against these games was enforced, though neither of the two authoritative books on jews and chess entitled chess, jews and history and chess among the jews both. How the five books of moses are divided up into weekly portions. What hasidic jews do and dont do on christmas eve the. African studies american studies ancient near east and egypt art history asian studies book history and cartography biblical studies classical studies education history jewish studies literature and cultural studies languages and linguistics. The curious tradition that hasidic jews adhere to on christmas eve. Summary of the passover torah readings passover parshah. In a lecture for torah in motion on christmas eve, 2009, professor marc b.
Originally from a secular home in beit herut that only. The beautiful icelandic tradition of giving books on. These are the titles that are employed in all jewish bibles, including ther mikraot gedolot. Robinson takes the reader through not only the five books of moses. The torah, prophets, writings the twentyfour books of the. Wordless book ideas wordless book, book crafts, sunday. A common theme in the antijewish writings by medieval apostates in germany is that on christmas eve. The specific prohibition on studying torah on christmas eve first appears in writing, according to shapiros research, in 1614, in the writings of the apostate samuel friedrich brenz. It is a jewish custom to learn torah on the birthday or yahrzeit of the deceased. It can most specifically mean the first five books pentateuch or five books of moses of the 24 books of the hebrew bible. Dec 24, 2015 christmas eve was a time when dark forces were about, rendering it unfit for the purity of torah study others cite spiritual reasons for avoiding torah study on christmas eve.
Martin is a holiday novel revealing the true effects of what christmas magic can do for someone. The content was drawn from the notes she collected over the years from a wide variety of sources, which greatly inspired her own observations. How hasidim pointedly dont observe christmas eve the. We have a mobile friendly version of the torah cycle available. Genesis, exodus, leviticus, numbers, and deuteronomy. At the time jesus lived, there were no other scriptures. Religious violence between jews, christians, muslims, buddhists and hindus has been a reality for thousands of years. Now, many christmases after we first read it, they are. If you have a modern web browser, this page should print well without much difficulty, however if you prefer, we also have a pdf version of the torah cycle you can print. Some hasidic sect leaders and members have refrained from torah study on both christmas eves, and the most meticulous of them even suspended torah study on new years eve as well. What happens in synagogue on simchat torah my jewish learning. Creating that kind of meditative awareness insights gratitude, especially when the current parsha is building up to the actual giving of the torah to our people.
1454 597 21 1210 7 933 420 468 1522 12 224 232 120 654 524 832 294 593 599 883 889 499 1389 1032 255 61 761 1409 696 1324 528 786 737 497