Learning

Up to this point our attempt to reach out to God was a matter of heart, we turn our hearts toward God and seek Him with our heart, soul and might (see Ve'ahavta). But assuming you have reached God, you have communed with Him at the Amidah then what? The next step is learning and wisdom. This is the role of the next section of the siddur, as Proverbs 1:22 states, "How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity?". Other passages within Proverbs and Psalms also take a dim view of simplemindedness. Your heart might get you to God but using your mind seems both a delight to God and a good way to grow in faith.

Now that we have reached the height of the service we step back and read from the Five Books of Moses (the Torah). Looking up at the Ark of the Covenant which holds the Torah scrolls you see above it a phrase which reads "know before whom you stand". That sum up this section fairly well it is a time of learning, learning God's law and our history. The practice seems to have originated with Ezra (about 2,400 years ago) upon the return from the first exile as people realized they no longer knew the teachings of God. Eventually around 300 BCE the regular reading of the Torah became accepted practice with local synagogues leading to the ritual we are now familiar with around 1900 years ago. There were two customs an Israeli custom that divided the Torah into a three year cycle and a Babylonian tradition that was an annual cycle. Today's traditional services follow the annual cycle whereas Reform and Conservative services use a three year variant.

This section is called in Hebrew K'riat HaTorah which means the reading of the instruction. The root of reading is koreh which is related closely to the Arabic Koran and follows its meaning. Readings take place on Shabbat, Monday and Thursday mornings along with certain holidays.

The Jewish Bible is called the Tanach and corresponds to the Christian Old Testament . The Tanach is made of three sections: Torah, Prophets and Writings. The Haftarah is a reading from the Prophets or Writings.

When the Ark is opened the dramatic Va'y'hi Binso'a is sung which recounts how the enemies of Israel were scattered as the Ark was carried. As the Torah scrolls are carried around the sanctuary we kiss the Torah and follow its procession without turning our back on it.

Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach told a story that "when the Ark was first lifted it was so heavy that it seemed impossible to carry. But once the Levites had it upon their shoulders it was so light that it carried them" as a parable to our struggle to embrace the Torah yet the effect it can have upon us.

On Shabbat morning seven honors are given to the Torah reading - traditionally given first to a descendant of the High Priests (cohanim) and then to the tribe of Levi followed by the rest of Israel. (Other services get a fewer number of honors.)

Then as the Ark is returned after the Torah service the striking V'zot HaTorah is sung which asks us to return us to God. We call the Torah the Tree of Life which in Genesis is considered the key to eternal life. Indeed deeds, remembering and learning are core to Jewish life.

Up to this point our attempt to reach out to God was a matter of heart, we turn our hearts toward God and seek Him with our heart, soul and might (see Ve'ahavta). But assuming you have reached God, you have communed with Him at the Amidah then what? The next step is learning and wisdom. This is the role of the next section of the siddur, as Proverbs 1:22 states, "How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity?". Other passages within Proverbs and Psalms also take a dim view of simplemindedness. Your heart might get you to God but using your mind seems both a delight to God and a good way to grow in faith.

Now that we have reached the height of the service we step back and read from the Five Books of Moses (the Torah). Looking up at the Ark of the Covenant which holds the Torah scrolls you see above it a phrase which reads "know before whom you stand". That sum up this section fairly well it is a time of learning, learning God's law and our history. The practice seems to have originated with Ezra (about 2,400 years ago) upon the return from the first exile as people realized they no longer knew the teachings of God. Eventually around 300 BCE the regular reading of the Torah became accepted practice with local synagogues leading to the ritual we are now familiar with around 1900 years ago. There were two customs an Israeli custom that divided the Torah into a three year cycle and a Babylonian tradition that was an annual cycle. Today's traditional services follow the annual cycle whereas Reform and Conservative services use a three year variant.

This section is called in Hebrew K'riat HaTorah which means the reading of the instruction. The root of reading is koreh which is related closely to the Arabic Koran and follows its meaning. Readings take place on Shabbat, Monday and Thursday mornings along with certain holidays.

The Jewish Bible is called the Tanach and corresponds to the Christian Old Testament . The Tanach is made of three sections: Torah, Prophets and Writings. The Haftarah is a reading from the Prophets or Writings.

When the Ark is opened the dramatic Va'y'hi Binso'a is sung which recounts how the enemies of Israel were scattered as the Ark was carried. As the Torah scrolls are carried around the sanctuary we kiss the Torah and follow its procession without turning our back on it.

Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach told a story that "when the Ark was first lifted it was so heavy that it seemed impossible to carry. But once the Levites had it upon their shoulders it was so light that it carried them" as a parable to our struggle to embrace the Torah yet the effect it can have upon us.

On Shabbat morning seven honors are given to the Torah reading - traditionally given first to a descendant of the High Priests (cohanim) and then to the tribe of Levi followed by the rest of Israel. (Other services get a fewer number of honors.)

Then as the Ark is returned after the Torah service the striking V'zot HaTorah is sung which asks us to return us to God. We call the Torah the Tree of Life which in Genesis is considered the key to eternal life. Indeed deeds, remembering and learning are core to Jewish life.

Kriat Torah sections:

• Ein Komocha (None like You)
• Adonai Melech (LORD is King)
• Av HaRachamim (Merciful Father)
• Va'y'hi Binso'a (And the Ark was carried)
• Ki MiTzion (go forth from Zion)
• Baruch Shenatan (Blessed is He who gave us the Torah)
• Adonai, Adonai (LORD, LORD) Exodus 34:6-7
• Sh'ma (Deut 6:4)
• Echad Eloheinu (Our God is One)
• Gadlu l'Adonai (Exalt the LORD) Psalms 34:4
• L'cha Adonai (To You LORD)
• Birchot HaTorah (Torah blessings)
• K'riat HaTorah (Torah reading)
• Birchat HaGomeil (blessing to one who has completed a dangerous experience)
• Mi Sheberach (blessings on behalf of each person called up to the Torah)
• Chatzi Kaddish (section break)
• V'zot HaTorah (Deut 4:44, Numbers 9:23)
• Bichot Haftarah (blessings of the other readings)
• K'riat Haftarah (additional reading linked to weekly Torah portion)
• Y'kum Purkan (Shabbat only - May Salvation Come)
• Prayers for the government
• Birkat HaChodesh (special blessings only upon the new moon)
• Ashrei (Psalm 145)
• Y'hal'lu (Let them praise)
• Hodu al Eretz (Psalm 148:13-14)
• Psalm 29 (on Shabbat)
• Psalm 24 (on Festivals)
• Uv'nucho Yomar (When the Ark rested Moses said)
• Chatzi Kaddish