The Torah (the first five books of the Bible) is the foundational story of the Jewish people. Each new year, on the holiday of Simchat Torah (Hebrew for “rejoicing with the Torah”), it’s traditional to roll the Torah scroll all the way back to the beginning and to start a fresh reading of the Torah, week by week over the course of a year – starting with the Creation story in the Book of Genesis. Each year we grow and change, and so our reading of the Torah also grows and changes.
Is your family interested in reading, discussing and/or re-enacting Torah stories this coming year? Here are several resources that may help you along the way:
Videos For Kids:
Here are a few sample videos that introduce Torah stories and ideas, for kids and parents. You can search online for more videos by the same producers.
Shalom Sesame:
Genesis: The Creation story
Genesis: Abraham and Sarah welcoming guests
BimBam:
The first light
Abraham’s antenna
Blogs For Families to Explore Together
Here are sample blogs with Torah story summaries and prompts for family conversations. 929 is a project that makes all 929 chapters of the Bible accessible to everyone. Rabbi Jonathan Sacks was a leading contemporary thinker and Torah commentator.
Beginning With the Good via 929
The Three Stages of Creation: Family Edition via Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks
Blogs and Articles For Parents
Here are sample blogs that relate the weekly Torah portion to our lives as parents and reflective adults. You can search these sites for more blogs.
The Creation Story via Kveller
Genesis Chapter 1 via 929
The Genesis of Justice via Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks
Print Magazine
Here is a sample magazine (for age 7 and up) that explores content and ideas for each week’s Torah portion. You can contact the Hadar Institute to learn more.
HADAR INSTITUTE’S “DEVASH” (Honey Magazine)
More
Follow PJ Library on social media for more videos and podcasts depicting stories and personalities from the Torah.
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September 20, 2023