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Makom Torah - A Place of Torah

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A Month of Talmud Study With Rabbi Suskin.........posted Mar 2, 2007

As you may know, in addition to the major and minor public fast days observed over the course of the year, there is one additional fast day on the Jewish calendar that applies to just one segment of the community--Ta'anit Bechorim, the Fast of the Firstborn, observed this year on Monday, April 2 (the day before Pesach) by all firstborn Jews, both male and--in our egalitarian tradition--female.

The fast, though, may legally be broken at the conclusion of morning services on April 2 IF the firstborn children complete that morning a unit of study in Torah, Mishnah, or Talmud. This may be done because the mitzvah of holding a celebration honoring study overrides the requirement to continue the fast.

We are pleased to announce that our fellow congregant, Rabbi Alana Suskin, will this year lead study of one chapter of the Talmud tractate Baba Metziah over the course of one month, leading up to April 2. Study sessions will be held on consecutive Monday evenings in the synagogue library, starting on Monday, March 5, immediately following evening minyan (approximately 8:00 p.m.).

The study sessions are open to the entire congregation, but firstborn children (of all ages) are especially encouraged to attend. Study will be in English with some Hebrew when appropriate, but they will be geared to all participants, and you do not need any prior knowledge of Talmud to participate. Baba Metziah is a tractate dealing primarily with civil laws, and it is notable in its reliance on logic rather than on Biblical proof-texts. The topics it deals with should be familiar and readily understandable to all participants.

The remaining three evening sessions will be held on March 12, 19, and 26, also in the library. Please participate in our evening minyanim, which begin at 7:30 p.m.

Finally, on Monday morning, April 2, immediately following shachrit service, we will hold a siyyum, a celebration and festive meal--literally a break-fast--to mark the completion of a course of study. More details on the siyyum will follow as that day approaches.

Please e-mail Sam Freedenberg at sfreeden@yahoo.com, if you are interested in participating in this exciting educational experience with Rabbi Suskin.