Welcome to Torah Study

Yesterday, I went to my first Torah study group. I came away with mixed feelings.

It started out with a nice personal tour of the facilities, including the beautiful 100-year-old sanctuary and the brand new, starkly and unapologetically modern chapel, connected by the social hall named after a long-serving former rabbi. 

I joined the group in a classroom at the end of a hall. I arrived in time to find a good seat along the long table. The meeting ended up standing-room-only--probably 35 people. We had bagels with schmear and coffee, courtesy of one of the class members; a list circulated for others to volunteer this service for upcoming weeks. 

The class, I found out later, has been meeting for many years, and there were some obvious "regulars."

So, what was it like? The text for the day was the very beginning of the book of Job, from the Writings. I'd been looking forward to a stimulating, fast-moving study, but I felt there was too much nattering about trivial details before starting the actual examination of Job. I was annoyed by the know-it-all tone of a few of the class members. It reminded me of my mid-college years of sitting in a philosophy class waiting for things to move on. I didn’t have much to add on this first visit, but it seemed that we could have progressed more quickly and focused more on the meaning of the text. After about an hour and a quarter the group broke up--until next time.

There were a lot of elderly people there, and I made me uncomfortable. It felt like a diversion at the Jewish retirement home. As a member of a rock group and what I consider to be a "youthful" 58, it just felt too slow-moving. One ancient woman at the other end of the table stood up (very slowly) to announce her upcoming hip replacement surgery. Sigh. A distinguished-looking older African American man near me, wearing a middle-eastern style kippah, started going on and on about something he deemed relevant from another place in the Torah and the rabbi had to gently refocus the group.

It's quite possible that those who are interested in Torah study tend to be older folks who aren't sitting glued to their Facebook or other electronic social activities. It was only my first time there, and I brought in my own prejudices and habits. I felt that the "students" were blabbing on about their interpretations, but that may very well be what the class is about--to get different views and opinions on the material to somehow illuminate the text for everyone. Perhaps that's the ideal, but when I was a student, I wanted to hear what the teacher had to say, and I found this kind of woolgathering an inpediment. But it may be that I tend toward passivity and acceptance of the words of "experts," when one of the goals of Torah study is to actively question the material. But is fussing over the details beneficial or just intellectual fooling around?

Perhaps a smaller, younger group might work better for me. I'm not sure if I should perhaps visit this group again and try to come back with a different attitude. At the speed it was moving, though, it could take a decade to get through the Torah one time. But maybe there's no hurry.

Rabbi Small - Kemelman's Jewish Hero

I got to talking about Rabbi David Small yesterday--the hero of Harry Kemelman's series of detective novels. I am now lending Friday the Rabbi Slept Late to my friend at work with whom I've been discussing Jewish matters.

I have read these little gems for many years--since I was a teenager, I think. David Small is a young rabbi who's just arrived at a suburban Massachusetts congregation. He's wise, and besides dealing with his congregation, who fight amoug themselves and often want to do things contrary to Jewish law and practice, he ends up helping the local police chief (Catholic) to solve crimes. He uses his developed skills from Jewish Talmud study as his weapon.

In the first novel, he's actually a suspect, which starts out the relationship with the chief. This is the first novel, but there's a Saturday, Sunday, Monday, and more from Kemelman, and in them we see the rabbi mature, become a father twice, and even watch him spend a year in Israel at one point.

But what a hero he is. He's like Detective Columbo, quietly finding the truth while others blindly stumble along. He doesn't care about status, regular  haircuts or fancy clothes, but he gains the respect of his congregation as he becomes a fixture of the community.

My copy of Friday the Rabbi Slept Late is a tired, fragile paperback--the kind that used to sell for 50 cents. Its pages may be yellowed, but the book is still relevant--almost 50 years since it debuted in 1964.

Rabbi Small is still a hero for every smart, glasses-wearing Jewish kid.

Meeting with the Rabbis - Two Today

I met with two rabbis today as part of my plan to go meet Jewish leaders to get guidance for my search.

My first stop with with Rabbi Sholom Groesberg. I've played music with him before, and he's the sprightliest, sharpest 91-year-old you'll ever want to know. He's retired from active rabbi work, but he encouraged me to get involved with my local congregation sooner rather than later. He also has an exciting opportunity coming up -- The New Age Yeshivah. Taking  place in his home, it will feature great learning opportunities in Hebrew, History, Humanities, Halakhah and Holidays on Wednesday evenings.  There will be an open house on February 15, 2012 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Contact Rabbi Sholom at 925-946-1812 or RabbiSholom@Groesberg.com for more details.

I then drove over to Temple Sinai in Oakland, where I had a great conversation with Rabbi Jacqueline Mates-Muchin.I was referred to her by my Aunt, who knew the rabbi when she was working at my Aunt's congregation in Buffalo, New York. We also discussed many useful and important things. I'm now going to sit and read the book of Ecclesiastes, have two fine CDs of music to listen to as well as two book recommendations. Rabbi Mates-Muchin also suggested that I get involved somewhere, so I guess I'd better get on it! I plan to return there to attend services. The tail end of the Saturday morning one sounded great.

I spoke with Rabbi Bridget Wynne of Jewish Gateways a couple of days ago. This was the first of my rabbi talks--it was on the phone--but I got more good ideas from her, too.She recommended Judiasm for Dummies among other things. It covers things from a non-Orthodox viewpoint. I'll be keeping in touch.