Curious?
Newsletter January 2, 2023 Together, we're #keepingitsacred... |
“It made me more curious,” said my 7 year old after a week of studying a page of Talmud each day, a practice known as Daf Yomi.
The section of text that we discussed brought up questions that stimulated deeper thinking, and encouraged more intentional living. The subject he jumped into, for example, was the topic of vows. If a person swears off eating milk, does this include cheese? What about whey? Or if a person swears off eating meat, does this include chicken? What about fish? Exploring the contours of the promises we make to ourselves and others in such depth has great implications for the ways we live our lives more intentionally.
The best part of studying Talmud with him was seeing my kid named Yehuda reading the opinion of Rabbi Yehuda (who lived 1800 years ago!), and wrestling with it. He, and other thinkers on the page jumped out and grabbed the attention of my kid who felt like he was able to bring his own set of questions and insights.
What’s more is that when he recently attended our weekly (usually all adult) Daf Yomi review that I host every Thursday (register HERE), our KITS community participants welcomed his questions and insights just as we do with and for everyone else. In the group we hear one another’s perspectives, build upon their assertions, learn from their perspectives and sometimes push their thinking, all from a place of love and building up. It is an important to have sacred spaces like this where our voices are heard and sharing is encouraged. I know my kid thinks so. And I know how much more enriched our lives are building community with this kind of activity at its center.
This Thursday, the Keeping It Sacred community will celebrate 3 full years of studying Daf Yomi, a page of Talmud every single day. That’s 1,095 pages where we have challenged our minds and made connections. Committing to regular study like this is not child’s play, but it certainly awakens a childlike curiosity in all sorts of subject matter (from the afterlife to buying and selling, holiday observance to how to visit the sick). And these questions lead to more intentional living.
I’d like to wish a hearty MAZAL TOV to all of our Daf Yomi participants and extend a sincere invitation to all who are now curious.
Together, we’re #keepingitsacred… Rabbi Heather Miller Founder, Keeping It Sacred |
The above is an excerpt from a Keeping It Sacred newsletter. If you want to read the entire newsletter or any from our archives, please head over to: keepingitsacred.com/news And if you'd like the newsletter delivered to your inbox every week, please share your name and email address in the fields at the bottom of the page in the purple boxes. Thanks for your interest, and thanks for #keepingitsacred… |