Dear Friends,
This week we begin reading the Torah from the beginning. We will read about the creation of the world, Adam and Eve, and Cain and Abel. These are stories that many of us are familiar with and have read before. Reading them over and over again, year after year, may seem somewhat redundant. Which is why I want to suggest a few reasons as to why I think it is important to read and re-read these stories year after year.
We all have a favorite book, or a movie, that we have seen or watched from beginning to end multiple times. Each and every time we see it, we may see something that we missed the time before. We notice these nuances, not necessarily because we weren’t paying attention, but because the eyes through which we are looking are a year older, a year more experienced, and a year wiser.
The same is true for the Torah. Every year, when we read the Torah, it speaks to us differently; not because the text has changed but because we are different. It is my hope and prayer for all of us, that however it is that the Torah speaks to us this year, we are open to hearing it, and being inspired by its words.
I hope to see you tonight at Kol Tefillah!
Wishing you a Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Josh Dorsch
