ב”ה Introduct

Monthly Package for: Adar 1 (Feb. 2016)

This Month's Theme: i on Study

he Hakhel year comes once every seven, 3. Plan a menu. While food is not necessary, it’s following the sabbatical year of shemita. always a good idea to have some snacks ready Some 2,000 years ago, Hakhel meant that when you get a crowd together. But there’s the entire Jewish nation—men, women no need to go over the top. A simple pan of Tand children—gathered together in the Holy brownies with some milk, chips or veggies with Temple to listen to the Torah being read by the dip are fine. (See below for an easy, one-bowl king. This event offered an incomparable recharging brownie recipe and some additional snack and rebooting of spiritual energy. ideas.)

These days, there isn’t any one specific time, 4. Print the Torah-study option that fits your place or style for the mitzvah of Hakhel. We don’t crowd best, and you’re ready to go! have a Jewish king or a Holy Temple, but we can still access the spiritual rejuvenation it offers by Choosing a study option: gathering together to study Torah and be inspired. Are you a group of friends getting together for a relaxed evening who want to learn something light How to Hakhel but thought-provoking? Our Light Reading option Any time that Jews gather and study Torah this is for you. It’s bite-sized, insightful and followed by year counts, so use your imagination! As long as discussion questions to help get the conversation there are two or more Jews studying Torah, you going. accomplish the goal! Looking for something with more scope and Some steps to help you get started: substance? Try the In Depth option for text-based study, followed by thought provoking discussion. 1. Decide on a location and a crowd. This can include your living room with some neighbors, Got kids in your crowd? There’s an optionFor the cafeteria with classmates or during lunch Families designed to capture the interests of break at work. diverse age groups, as well as a Story for all ages and stages. 2. Let your guests know they’re invited! No need for fancy or formal invites. You can call, text, Tweet, Facebook, use WhatsApp—whatever.

A joint project of Merkos 302 and .org 1 Learn more at www.chabad.org/Hakhel ב”ה Study Sheet

Monthly Package for: Shevat (Feb. 2016)

This Month's Theme: Torah Study

Since it was given at Sinai, Jews have studied Torah in groups. Much of the Oral Torah is a record of the discussions and debates of study partners. Studying together has kept the Torah alive over the course of our history. May we suggest that your study group take turns reading aloud from the text below, thereby joining the chain of study partners who have kept our connection to Torah strong throughout the centuries.

The relationship between the Torah and the Jewish A better understanding of the nature of the Torah people is characterized in many different ways. itself will help facilitate a better understanding of the nature of our relationship with the Torah. The Talmud refers to the Torah as a gift from G-d to the Jewish people, stating that “G-d According to Chassidus, “the laws and ethics bequeathed three gifts to the Jewish people … of the Torah are the ultimate good and truth” the Torah, the land of Israel and the world to (Inyana Shel Toras HaChassidus 3). come” (Berachos 5a). This means that the Torah is not just a book of In Deuteronomy (33:4), the Torah is described as history, tradition and law. It is a book that transforms “an inheritance for the community of Jacob.” our very essence to something meaningful and holy. When a person studies the Torah and internalizes its At first glance, a gift and an inheritance seem similar messages, he or she identifies with a life of meaning in concept. However, they actually describe two very and connection to a higher purpose. different forms of acquisition. An inheritance does not necessarily belong to the person who receives The Tanya explains that the Torah does not it; an heir simply takes over the stewardship of only affect people who study it. “Through another person’s possessions or estate. A gift, on the fulfilling a mitzvah, one draws down the other hand, transfers ownership completely to the infinite Divine light into this physical world” recipient. (Likkutei Amarim ch. 7).

Discuss: How are an inheritance and a This means that by using the world around us as a gift the same? How are they different? means to fulfill G-d’s will as expressed in the Torah, we can change the very essence of the world to one of holiness and meaning, creating a dwelling place for What, then, is our relationship to the Torah? Are we G-d in this world. heirs, with each generation taking over stewardship of an item that does not inherently belong to it, or are (According to the Medrash, the very purpose we recipients of a gift, with each one of us achieving of creation was that “The Holy One, blessed complete ownership? be He, desired to have a dwelling place for

A joint project of Merkos 302 and Chabad.org 2 Learn more at www.chabad.org/Hakhel Himself in the lower realms” (Tanchuma, Nasso, Now that we have explained the nature of the Torah 16). as both transforming and limitless, we can understand the two different aspects of our relationship with it— Discuss: In what way is the Torah a both as an inheritance and as a gift. means to transform the world to holiness? The aspect of Torah that allows us to become holy and to transform the world into a holy place is called an Beyond being a means to transform ourselves and inheritance because, just like an inheritance is taken the world into something holy, the Torah is also an over by someone to whom it does not inherently expression of the infinite wisdom of G-d. belong, the Torah allows us to take over things that The Tanya explains that “The Holy One, do not belong to the realm of holiness—our corporeal blessed be He, has compressed His will and selves and the physical world—and incorporate them wisdom within the of the into the Divine. Torah, and in their laws, as well as within the But G-d also wants us to be connected to those parts combination of the letters of the Torah … ” of the Torah that are beyond the grasp of our minds. (Likkutei Amarim ch. 4). So G-d put His essence into the Torah and gifted that This means that no matter how deeply we plumb the essence to us. depths of the Torah, and no matter how broad our understanding of its components and details, there According to the Talmud, G-d has “inscribed will always be parts we cannot grasp with our very my very self into the Torah and given [it to the finite minds, because the infinite is always beyond the Jewish nation]” (Shabbos 105a). reach of the finite. The Tanya (Likkutei Amarim ch. 5) explains that “this unity [effected when studying Torah] is Discuss: What makes certain parts of wondrous, the likes of which does not exist in the Torah beyond the grasp of the human physicality—to become genuinely united from mind? every direction and angle.”

Discussion Points

ÎÎ An inheritance is a thing of value that is bequeathed by its owner to a future generation, but the item does not necessarily have the same value to the new owner as it had for the first. A gift, though, is given with the preferences of the receiver in mind. How can this be related to our heir vs. giftee relationship with the Torah?

ÎÎ A person says that he is holding onto something even if he is touching only a small part of the item (i.e., he says that he is holding a book or bag while he is only grasping a part of the book’s cover or the handles of the bag). How is this analogous to the way we connect to G-d through studying Torah?

ÎÎ Using an object for a mitzvah transforms the item into something holy. Studying Torah is a mitzvah. What does this mean with regard to a person’s capacity for thought and speech when he or she is involved in the mitzvah of Torah study?

A joint project of Merkos 302 and Chabad.org 3 Learn more at www.chabad.org/Hakhel Light ReadingLight ב”ה

Monthly Package for: Adar 1 (Feb. 2016)

This Month's Theme: Torah Study

he Zohar says, “G-d looked into the Torah How can it strengthen our connection to the and created the world, man looks into future of the Jewish people? the Torah and sustains the world” (Zohar II 161a). The Torah is called the blueprint Pirkei Avot says, “review it and review it, for Tfor creation. Today, we’d call it the world’s spiritual everything is contained within it” (Avot 5:22). source code. Every single part of creation — from Studying Torah provides us with G-dly guidance the seemingly insignificant to the most critical in every aspect of our lives and with the G-dly parts of the world, both physical and spiritual — is answers to all of life’s questions, from the most created from different combinations of the words mundane to the most complex philosophical and of the Torah. By studying the Torah, we maintain spiritual ones. and sustain creation. How does confronting challenges through Knowing that the Torah is the source of the lens of the Torah help us to rise above every part of creation, how can we classify uncertainty? the seemingly unimportant details of the world around us relative to what appears to Studying Torah is fundamental to our relationship be most important? with G-d. The Tanya explains (Likkutei Amarim Chapter 5) that while it may seem impossible for The same at every time and in every place, our limited selves to have a relationship of quality connecting Jewish communities across continents with a limitless G-d, G-d put His essence into the and centuries, the Torah is essential to who we Torah, and when we study the Torah, it offers us are as a nation. The scene of today’s study halls is the opportunity to hold His infinite wisdom within the same as that of thousands of years ago—Jews our finite minds. coming together to discuss and debate the laws and lessons of the Torah. How does studying Torah help bridge the gap between G-d and His creations? How can studying Torah strengthen our connection to our history? How can it strengthen our connection to each other?

A joint project of Merkos 302 and Chabad.org 4 Learn more at www.chabad.org/Hakhel ב”ה Story

Monthly Package for: Adar 1 (Feb. 2016)

This Month's Theme: Torah Study

group of travelers stood on the deck of the large ship discussing their businesses. “My merchandise is fine fabrics,” said the first.

“I deal in precious metals,” proclaimed the second.

A “I am a seller of diamonds and gemstones,” said the third.

Together, the three turned to their companion, a rabbi, and asked him what his business was. “I have the very best merchandise,” was the Rabbi’s cryptic reply. Curious, the three merchants searched the ship, trying to discover what wares the Rabbi had to sell, but they found nothing.

Suddenly, as land became visible in the distance, the ship was overcome by a powerful storm and began to sink in the turbulent seas. The travelers jumped from the ship and desperately clung to the flotsam, making their way as best as they could to the port.

Upon their arrival, the merchants were forced to beg in the streets for food and lodging, having lost everything in the shipwreck. The rabbi, on the other hand, made his way to the local , where he asked to be allowed to deliver a lecture. The local community was impressed with the rabbi’s depth and breadth of knowledge, and offered him food, lodging and a position as a teacher for the community.

As he was walking with his new students one day, the rabbi passed by his travel companions, who were now reduced to begging in the streets. Seeing how his situation was so much better than theirs, the merchants inquired after how this had come to be.

“My merchandise is truly the best,” answered the rabbi, “because it has universal value and can never be lost. Torah is the best merchandise.”

A joint project of Merkos 302 and Chabad.org 5 Learn more at www.chabad.org/Hakhel ב”ה For Families

Monthly Package for: Adar 1 (Feb. 2016)

This Month's Theme: Torah Study

he Torah was given to us through Moshe, When the day to receive the Torah arrived, all the G-d’s most faithful servant. Every single Jews gathered at the foot of the mountain G-d had Jew, boy or girl, inherits the Torah for his chosen, Mount Sinai. Not only were all the Jews of or her self. Whether he has studied Torah that generation (more than 2 million Jews) all there, Tfor years or only knows just a bit, it is his or her but all the souls of all Jews of all generations were inheritance to learn and to keep—the very nicest there. present that G-d gave. That means that you and I were there when G-d (From the text of the original pamphlet of The Twelve gave the Torah. We all stood at the foot of the Pesukim, edited by the , distributed by Tzivos mountain when our nation received the special gift Hashem) that sets us apart from all the other nations. It’s Before G-d offered the Torah to the Jews (3328 not only ours when we look into it and learn it; it’s years ago), He went around to all the nations of the ours because G-d gave it to each and every one of world and asked them if they wanted the Torah. us. Each nation asked, “What does it say in the Torah?” Imagine that the king came to you and offered To the nation of Eisav, G-d said, “The Torah says do you a present. No matter what it was, it would not kill.” When they heard this, the nation of Eisav be precious to you because the king had given it said they weren’t interested in the Torah. G-d told to you. Just think how precious that makes the the next nation that the Torah says, “Do not steal,” Torah—a gift that was given to us by the King of and that nation also said they didn’t want the kings! Torah.

G-d went from nation to nation until He had gone Discuss: If you were chosen over other to all the nations of the world. Then, after they relatives to receive a valuable heirloom item had all rejected the Torah, G-d came to the Jewish from a parent or grandparent, how would nation. When He asked the Jewish people if they you treat that item? What would you do with wanted the Torah, they did not ask, “What does the it to keep it safe? How would you feel about Torah say” or any other questions. G-d was offering having been chosen to receive the item? How them a precious gift! Instead, they answered can we translate this understanding of value together, “Naaseh v’nishma,” we will do everything into the way we treat the Torah? G-d tells us to do and then we’ll learn about it.

Discuss: How did the Jews react differently than the other nations when G-d offered them the Torah? Why?

A joint project of Merkos 302 and Chabad.org 6 Learn more at www.chabad.org/Hakhel Easy, One-Bowl Brownies Activity Ideas `` 1 cup white sugar “Broken Telephone” Instructions: ` ` ½ cup vegetable oil Give instructions for an activity using the “broken `` 1 tspn. vanilla extract telephone” method. Whisper instructions into one `` 2 eggs person’s ear, then they whisper them to the next person, etc., until everyone has heard the message. `` ½ cup All-purpose flour (can be substituted with gluten-free flour) 1. Write your name on a piece of paper ` ` ⅓ cup unsweetened cocoa powder 2. Write numbers 1-10 `` ¼ tspn. baking powder 3. Fold your paper two times `` ¼ tspn. salt Put your paper into the center of the table `` ½ cup chopped walnuts or chocolate chips 4. (optional) When everyone has finished, look at the papers `` Preheat oven to 350 degrees. to see the different ways people followed the instructions (or didn’t if they were garbled by the `` Put all of the ingredients (except nuts/ time they heard them). chocolate chips, if using) into a large bowl and mix well. (Add nuts/chocolate chips, if Discuss why is it necessary to have a written using, and mix well). guidebook like the Torah to give us instructions for `` Pour into an 8x8 lightly greased or nonstick life. baking pan. `` Bake at 350 degrees for 20 to 25 minutes. A Reward and a Gift Play one of the following table games. After each `` If you’re hosting children, try making the round, the winner receives a reward card, and the brownies together and studying while gift card is given to whomever the leader chooses. they’re in the oven. Object Memory Other Simple Snack Ideas: Place 20 random household objects on a tray ` ` Chunks of fresh fruit (pen, phone, fork, etc.) and allow participants to `` Veggie sticks with hummus look at the tray for 60 seconds. Remove the tray `` Corn chips with salsa and guacamole and have participants write a list of which items they remember. The person with the most correct `` Lightly salted popcorn receives the reward card.

After a few rounds,discuss which card is more valuable to the recipient and why. Draw parallels between this and our relationship to the Torah. (Best for In Depth and For Families options).

A joint project of Merkos 302 and Chabad.org 7 Learn more at www.chabad.org/Hakhel