Dear Mitzvah folks,
Thanks for the engaging class this past Shabbat. It was the first time this year that we had everyone having a Mitzvah celebration with us for class, and that was very meaningful.
Below, you will see last week's email as a reminder. In addition, there is further homework for the Mitzvah teens. Parents, please make sure that your students are receiving these emails and doing their work accordingly.
Homework:
- It’s time to start writing a more full draft of your D’var Torah! Here’s what to do:
- Review and make sure you are happy with your summary and your question(s).
- Choose and explore your one (or two) big question(s) and topic with your tutor, your parents, a trusted teacher at home, friends, anyone that will listen to you!
- Here is the outline of a D'var Torah/the elements that should be included.
- CONTINUE TO EXPLORE COMMENTARIES: From the highlights section in the back of your blue parashah books, SEFARIA.ORG, BimBam, Google, etc. Try your best to find some commentaries that address your specific big question(s) and summarize them.
- Begin piecing it all together as one draft. The more you do now, the less pressure there is as we get closer to the big date.
Rabbi David
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Dear Mitzvah makers,
Looking forward to this Saturday's second class on How to Write a D'var Torah. I loved our first class and am excited to see what comes next for our learning together. Don't forget:
Homework for Mitzvah students
- Create a google doc called “D’var Torah - YOUR NAME” and type up all of your questions about your Torah portion (over 10 big and small questions), start thinking about what your one big question might be. Also write a 1-2 paragraph summary of your entire Torah portion.
- Read the back section of your Torah portion booklet called "Highlights from your parashah". Summarize 3 points that the commentators make about your Torah portion that you agree with or that you want to challenge.
- Bonus: Start reading commentaries online about your Torah portion. Google your Torah portion’s name and see what you find out and include some other commentaries.
- On a separate google doc called “Welcome Speech - YOUR NAME,” describe in 1-2 paragraphs to your families and guests at the Mitzvah ceremony why this day is special for you/why you are having this day…
- All of this needs to be prepared and printed out for our next How to Write a D’var Torah class on March 25.
- Below is a description of elements of a D’var Torah.
- Finally, all recordings of prayers for the Shabbat morning service can now be found here:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1SveJLjD7W6z81WKBJJ-3EunUzmpodTzR?usp=sharing
Those with an asterisk * are the primary ones for you to learn. The others are supplementary and would be good for you to accustom yourselves with so they are more familiar. All pages correspond to the red Siddur Lev Shalem.
Happy learning!
Rabbi David
Elements of a D’var Torah: NOT NECESSARILY IN THIS ORDER.
***NOT JUST A SUMMARY. MUST HAVE A LESSON/MESSAGE.***
a. Intro
i. “Shabbat Shalom”
ii. Trigger: Story, joke, question...GRAB PEOPLE’S ATTENTION
iii. Summarize your entire Torah portion
iv. Summarize the particular story/passage you will be talking about (Be specific in a few short sentences.)
b. Share your key question(s) and elaborate
c. Answering your question
i. What have previous commentators said about your Torah portion and your key question?
1. Offer different rabbinic answers and expound upon them, why you agree/disagree with 2-3 particular commentators.
2. Offer the answer you like best, and say why
d. Personalize (What does this question I am asking/parashah mean to me?)
i.Tie the ideas to your life and greater society:
1. Tell a story or two about your life that relates.
a. Show how you:
i. Look at that story based on what you learned from your Torah portion, or
ii. Look at the Torah portion based on that story.
2. Explain how the parashah connects to the greater world/a pressing issue.
3. Explain how you will act as a responsible Jewish adult, now that you know the teaching from your Torah portion
4. If your Torah portion ties in with your Mitzvah project, speak about your Mitzvah project
e. Thank people
f. Offer a blessing that expresses your hope that people will live by the lesson/take away/key message
