Torah Means Teacher (TMT) was created as a byproduct of a class I’ve been teaching at Congregation Beth Yeshurun in Houston, TX. The “Torah” is the five books of Moses (a.k.a.: Pentateuch):
- Genesis “Breishit”
- Exodus “Shmot”
- Leviticus “Vayikra”
- Numbers “Bamidbar”
- Deuteronomy “Devarim”
My class started in 2010 as an experiment. I had been doing d’var Torah (basically sermons on Shabbat) for the last couple years, and participating in speeches and debates regarding Judaism and Jewish life. Apperantly, people liked what I had to say and were at least intrigued enough to want more. And so my Torah class was created at the Beth Yeshurun for their Akiba curriculum (adult education classes). The class was experimental in that:
- I am not Rabbi.
- Akiba classes have been traditionally taught by Rabbis, and understandably so.
- I was going to teach the Torah verse by verse.
- Most classes are thematic, or based on an overview of a Torah portion – not line by line, methodical dissection.
- I had no prepared curriculum.
- The rabbi asked that I start with Exodus, so I just started teaching with Exodus 1:1… The Torah is my curriculum.
Thankfully, I have tremendous resources to draw upon. My education and return to Judaism was initiated by the ChaBaD Lubavitch. They are a Chasidic group who does tremendous work to get Jews involved with Judaism, and Non-Jews to get involved with Ethical Monotheism. Along my way with Chabad, I rediscovered my old teacher from childhood, Dennis Prager. When I was a child living in Los Angeles I listened to Dennis Prager on the radio (Religion on the Line, and now the Dennis Prager Show). Eventually, he taught me the entire Torah as an adult through his verse by verse Torah class at the University of Judaism which is available to purchase (I think over 300 cd’s, link here). R’Prager’s classes and teachings are a wellspring of inspiration and insight into Torah and Judaism, and have been a true resource for my own class. Thank you rabbi Prager, I would not be who I am today as a man, Jew, American, husband, father, or son were it not for all you have taught, and continue to teach me as well as countless others.
Rabbinic Resources Commonly Relied Upon for Torah Means Teacher:
- Dennis Prager
- Umberto Cassuto
- Jacob Milgrom
- Nahum Sarna
- Nehama Leibowitz
- Joseph Telushkin
- Abraham Joshua Heschel
- Leon Kass
These are the modern commentaries I most draw from. Of course, I read and utilize the Chazal (Sages) as well. Rashi, RamBam, RamBan, Ibn Ezra, and Abravanel are frequently referenced, but more often I look to modern authors as they include the sages in their commentary as well.
I will include a page for reference books here.
Most of the people in class are reading from the same chumashim (Torah books), as they are supplied by Beth Yeshurun, they are called “Etz Chaim”. Etz Chaim is a decent chumash with a readable translation, and good commentary throughout. I however use many different books for class, though the ones most often relied upon (because it has the most of my personal notes in them) are the JPS Torah Commentary Series (5 separate books) EXCEPT for Leviticus. Without a doubt, Jacob Milgrom’s books on Leviticus “Vayikra” are the best in my opinion – nothing else compares. Thank you Rabbi Milgrom, you changed my life.
At this point in the class you would only need to purchase books about Exodus, as this is the book we are still working through (as of 2013.) My class at Beth Yeshurun is typically once a week (Sundays from 10:00-11:00am ~ You are invited to attend), though sometimes we miss due to Holy days or other miscellaneous scheduling concerns.
I will be posting the blog and podcast weekly. There are some classes where the audio quality is terrible. I greatly apologize… it gets better, I promise. I learned a tremendous amount about audio recording in the process of also learning how to articulate Torah insights. The quality of my class improves as well… I apologize for my poor performances.
Please continue to listen and post your questions, comments, or ideas. You can use the comment area. Or if you prefer to keep things private, you can email me at roman@torahmeansteacher.com.
Thank you and may God bless you for engaging with the Torah, the greatest instruction manual ever written. For it is a tree of life for those who hold fast to it.
I never liked Chumash class in school. Now I am looking for any bit of time I can to work on one of your classes! Please keep going with this!
Thank you so much for your kind words Leah. It really means a lot 🙂
Dear Roman,
I live your podcast.
I have listened to all if the episodes.
Since you started recording from 04:27 people who are not in your class physically have missed out 🙂
Will you make a couple of episodes that cover the verses before 04:27?
I can not understand fully what these verses mean:
24 On the way, at a place where they spent the night, the Lord met him and tried to kill him. 25But Zipporah took a flint and cut off her son’s foreskin, and touched Moses’ feet with it, and said, “Truly you are a bridegroom of blood to me!” 26So he let him alone. It was then she said, “A bridegroom of blood by circumcision.”
Thank you!
Maria S. Farber
HA! I can’t believe I did not get that one recorded. I’ll see if I can find it. If not, I’ll have to go through the debate that ensues between the commentaries. It’s hilarious. Ultimately, I have no idea what is going on here. Sarna and Cassuto (I believe those were the two who I relied on most for that portion) both make fantastic arguments, and both cases are understandable. Sorry for my delayed response… I just saw your comment in my “pending” section.
All the best and Shana Tovah!
Hi Roman,
Do you have a book/curriculum you would recommend to learn biblical Hebrew?
Thanks,
Mark
If you can already read Hebrew, then I would get an interlinear translation (i.e. Artscroll) and cross reference that with Everett Fox’s “Five Books of Moses.” Fox’s book is the most literal translation around, and the artscroll interlinear chumash is an easy way to go word for word with the Hebrew/English translation.
Here is a link for the artscroll book: https://amzn.to/2RomrOK
and Fox: https://amzn.to/2KH4d8I (as i write this there is only 1 left on amazon!)
I hope those help.
If you can’t read Hebrew yet, then I suggest visiting your local Shul or JCC and asking if they offer classes (most do.)
Thanks for listening!