No, I haven't been ill. That's not why it's been almost 3 weeks since my last post. I've been chained to my computer, at least that's what it feels like. My publisher expects the final draft of RAV HISDA'S DAUGHTER by November 15, and I've been working like crazy to make that happen. Actually I've also been partying, having various and sundry guests in our sukkah nearly every night of the eight-day celebration.
But finally something happened that I must share. Last night I attended the first session of Professor Rachel Adler's "Liturgy and Talmud" class at my synagogue, which focused on the Amidah prayer and the explanation for it in the fifth chapter of Tractate Berachot. As many of you know, my initial entry into the wild and wonderful world of Talmud was with Rachel Adler almost twenty years ago. I, along with perhaps ten other women, studied Tractate Berachot with her for almost five years.
It was certainly a déjà-vu moment to be studying the same text with the same teacher, but 20 years later. Especially since I've been studying Talmud almost continuous since then and have a completely different level of expertise.
Many of my fans ask where/how they can study Talmud. Well, now's your chance to study with Rachel too. You don't need to live in LA or even leave your home to attend, as the classes will be live streamed from the BCC website. Attend all or a few sessions Tuesdays: Oct 25th, Nov. 1, 8, 22, and 29th, 7-9pm [Pacific time]. If you can't make it during the live sessions, you can watch the video later in the week, using the same link.
As Yom Kippur approaches, I want to share a piece of Talmud that has found its way into many HHD prayerbooks, one that coincidentally comes from the 4th-century Talmudic sage Rava, hero of my upcoming novel [RAV HISDA'S DAUGHTER] and my heroine's second husband.
Here is a modern translation from Rabbi Laura Geller via Beth Lieberman [I include a more literal translation in parentheses]. The quote comes from BT Shabbat 31a, where Rava states that after our death we will be called by the Heavenly Court to account for our lives by answering these questions:
Did you conduct your business affairs faithfully [honestly]?
Did you set aside time [fixed times] to study Torah?
Did you have children or care about children? [engage in procreation or facilitate procreation in others]
Were you hopeful about the future? [await salvation]
Did you debate wisely? [delve into wisdom by inferring one thing from another]
And did you live your life with consciousness of the presence of God? [did you have fear/awe of God]
Rabbi Geller interprets Rava's questions for a contemporary Jew, asking us to consider: Do I treat other people kindly? Do Jewish tradition and learning enrich my life? Have I nurtured my family? Have I worked to repair the world? How compassionately do I listen to people who disagree with me? In other words, have I crafted a life worthy to be lived in the presence of God?
G'mar tov [finish well].