New Year, New Torah Cycle, New Practice
What'ssospecial aboutthisShabbat?
This week, in Parashat Bereishit, Jewish people all around the world begin the annual Torah cycle anew. In Bereishit, we read that the world is created in an evolution of seven days: six days of work that culminate in the seventh day, Shabbat, a day of rest Here at OneTable, we focus on Friday night Shabbat dinner. This is the week for us to truly lean into and understand where we get the tradition of Shabbat from and why it matters. Shabbat is not a postscript. It is as important a part of bringing the world into being as any of the days of active creativity The Simchat Torah Challenge invites you to begin reading the weekly Torah portion each Shabbat which makes for a perfect table topic at your Shabbat dinner tables. You’re invited to join the Challenge to begin this new Torah cycle with Jewish people from around the world.
Parashat Bereishit, the Torah’s first portion, is fascinating because it not only asks the seminal question about human existence namely, what, exactly, are we mortals supposed to do here in this world, or what, put simply, is the meaning of life but it then proceeds to tell two different stories that give two very different answers.
WhatistheTorah?
The Torah is one of Judaism's foundational texts, consisting of the first five books of the Hebrew Bible. These books are Bereshit (Genesis), focusing mainly on the story of Abraham’s family; Shemot (Exodus), telling the story of that family becoming a nation and leaving Egypt; Vayikra (Leviticus), describing central mitzvot (commandments or deeds) and the work of the ancient Temple's high priests; Bamidbar (Numbers), detailing the preparations for entering the Promised Land and building a more perfect society there; and Devarim (Deuteronomy), Moses’s final speech, an epic poem that reminds the Ancient Israelites of their miraculous heritage and origin story
Whatisaparsha?
TheTorahisdividedintoweeklyportions, calledparashot;wereadoneparshaper weekinacyclethattakesusthroughthe yearwhichconcludes(andrestarts)onthe holidayofSimchatTorah(literallymeaning “rejoicingwiththeTorah").
WhatdoestheTorah havetodowithme?
The Torah is one of, if not the most, central texts in Jewish tradition It’s the foundation for Jewish law, ethics, and identity. It has been studied, debated, and discussed for thousands of years, shaping the way Jewish people understand their relationships with each other, the world, and the Divine.
Beyond Judaism, the Torah has had a profound impact on the Abrahamic religions (Christianity and Islam) as well as contemporary culture, inspiring art, literature, philosophy, and more. Its timeless teachings resonate far beyond the Jewish community, making it, without exaggerating, one of the most impactful texts of all time. Meaningful engagement with the Torah means wrestling with life’s deepest questions about meaning, morality, and what we owe to ourselves, our communities, and each other.
Nowwhat?HowdoI incorporatethisparsha intomyShabbatdinner?
Step 1: Identify your group and plan your Shabbat dinner!
Who would appreciate joining this week's read and discussion? Who do you Shabbat with? Invite those folks to join you in the oldest book group in the world!
Step2:Read&Reflect!
Decideifyouwantyourgrouptoreadthis week'sparshaorasectionofitinadvance orifyoujustwanttoprintoutaportionto haveavailableonthetableforyourguests toreadtogetheratthedinner.Visit SimchatTorahChallenge.orgtoread parshaanalysesandpartnercontentthat canbroadenyourknowledge,bothof Torahandlife.
Step3:Eat,Bless&Discuss!
InadditiontoyournormalShabbat blessings,here'saspecialblessingto includewhichissaiduponstudyingTorah, feelfreetosayitbeforeyougetstarted withyourdiscussion:
Barukh atah Adonai Eloheinu melekh ha’olam asher kid’shanu b’mitzvotav v’tzivanu la’asok b’divrei torah.
Blessed is the Oneness who makes us holy with our actions and honors us with words of Torah.
Here are some questions to get your discussion going:
What do you make of two totally different accounts of creation appearing back to back?
Which creation story do you find more meaningful and why?
Which stories or characters do you wish you knew more about?
How does reading about the origins of Shabbat impact your Shabbat practice?
