D’var Torah assignment on Deuteronomy 21:10-25:19
A D’var Torah – literally a word of Torah is actually a mini sermon or homily. Something like you did with the Joseph assignment. Start with a Biblical Torah portion that will be assigned by lottery and read the text. It will be helpful to spend some time looking at the entire portion.
#1) Write it in your own style and focus on one or two specific aspects of the portion. You can say something like, “My Torah portion deals with x,y and z, but for the purpose of this assignment I am going to focus on y.”
#2 Make it better by finding some additional Torah commentaries from those I’ve placed on reserve in the library, or from the Alter Book we’ve been using in class or from a couple of the websites listed below. (Best not to do a straight google search, but if you do make sure that what you find is reflective of a course entitled Jewish Interpretation of Scripture. You can use Christian sources, and in some cases that might be a good contrasting approach, but note in your writing that you are aware of the perspective from which it comes.
#3 Then – an important part. How do I make this text relevant by connecting it to my life. Tell a story about you or the world today that connects to the portion? What insights and messages can I draw and what contemporary meaning can I give to an ancient and in some cases archaic part of the Torah? The more creative and specific the better – as you add your own spark or midrash to the text!
The paper (not including the AI text) should be 4 -5 pages. I will think most highly of papers which combine books, on line resources with the AI material.
Please remember to cite sources and quote when appropriate. You should provide a footnote or end note for any perspective that is not your own, even if you are not quoting directly.
reformjudaism.org/learning/torah-study (scroll down and on the right hand side you’ll find drop down boxes -click on Torah portion “any” to find a list of them all)
myjewishlearning.com/torah-portions/ (scroll down to find your portion)
Ajws.org/dvar-tzedek (scroll down till you find your portion)
rabbisacks.org/covenant-conversation (in the archive box at the top of the page put in your portion – and then scroll down)
Chabad.org (put your portion in to the search engine)
Feel free to look at the cartoon video — bimbam.com/torah-texts/
Books on reserve in the library include The Torah a Modern Commentary; The Women’s Torah Commentary; Etz Hayim.
