As we approach the festival of Simchat Torah and prepare to roll the Torah back my mind wanders to images of circles and spirals. We are indeed circling back to our beginnings – to the first stories of Torah and the first steps on our collective journey.
The opportunity before us is to not see a circle but rather a three-dimensional spiral. Our challenge is to see Torah as a tool which guides us higher so that even as we inevitably come to the same or similar situations we approach them in new and more insightful ways.
We can sit this Shabbat and once again hear the story of creation, or we can challenge ourselves to listen for something different about trusting leadership even in a time of free will. We can, in a few weeks, join Abraham on his journey of relationship building and seek a new way to foster our own relationship with G-d. We can think about the challenges we face as we try to work with others to build community and seek new insights from the experiences of our ancestors as they journey through the wilderness.
When we recite the blessing before Torah is read, we thank G-d for giving us Torah. It is a present participle – a continuous action. G-d gave Torah to our ancestors and gives it to us today. What we do with the gift is up to each one of us.
In Pirke Avot, Rabbi ben Bag Bag reminds us to Turn it and turn it for everything is in it. Reflect on it and grow old and gray with it. Don’t turn from it for nothing is better than it. (Pirke Avot 5:24) Even as we roll the Torah back to the beginning and hear familiar stories we can, if we choose, turn our perspective and questions just a bit. When we do so we will see the world anew.
As we enter into the new Torah cycle may Torah guide our growing in ways we never imagined. May it guide us as individuals and as a community to act with grace, compassion, and wisdom, reminding us always to treat others in the ways they wish to be treated.
Chag Sameach v’Shabbat Shalom.
Prior to her position with the Grinspoon Foundation, Iris served as a synagogue educator in Syracuse NY, the Central New York PJ Library Program Coordinator and as a national consultant for PJ Library.
Iris holds a bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood, Elementary, and Special Education, a master’s degree in Special Education and Reading, and Advanced Certification in School Leadership and Administration. Her experience as a secular educator and educational leader in congregational and community settings spans over 20 years. She is also a lay leader in Jewish organizations on the local and national levels. Iris served as the President of CAJE – the Coalition for the Advancement of Jewish Education, which was the largest member organization for Jewish educators in the country.
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