January 9, 2014
By bethmordecai
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Dear Hevreh,
The Ramban, among others, teaches us that what we understand to be the Torah of the Five Books of Moses was actually created before the creation of the world as this supernal gift that was waiting for the right time to be given to God’s creations. As Walter and I learned yesterday at Yeshivat Panera, this view of the Ramban that Torah is supernal, existing beyond time and space, is epitomized by his teaching that when the Torah was given it was written as black fire upon white fire. That is to say the (black) letters and the (white) parchment of our physical Torah contains an inner flame, or passion, that when accessed has the power to illuminate hidden teachings that can connect us to the highest reaches of the spiritual world.
Today, Master Sofer Rabbi Gedaliah Druin of Sofer On Site will be coming to share his knowledge and skills on repairing and perfecting the “black fire on white fire” of one of our Torah scrolls. His expertise, which was on display last year when he checked two of our scrolls, contains a certain spiritual openness in which he invites the community to participate in his purposeful work of upholding, revering, and celebrating each jot, tittle, and letter of the Torah. It is truly a wonderful experience that exposes us to the wonder and the power hidden within the markings of our Torah (and if you are available around 11 am today, feel free to join us for this great opportunity!).
Kol Tuv,
Rabbi Ari Saks
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Tag : black fire harriet pearlman rabbi gedaliah druin ramban sofer torah white fire women yeshivat panera