The Parasha Project.

Be part of this exciting new initiative, the Young Israel Parasha Project?

Long before the first book club was ever formed and even before Daf Yomi was invented, the original "daily learning program" was the communal reading of the weekly Parasha (Torah portion). The Lubavitcher Rebbe zt'l famously repeated, "מ'דארף לעבן מיט די צייט" – 'one must live with the times', meaning we should live our lives reading and living the weekly Torah portion and by doing so, we’re living the Torah each and every day. 

So what does it entail? This initiative ask us to find time each day and every week to read through the week's Parasha -- to explore every nook and cranny of our most sacred text -- the Torah! After all, we are the people of the Book -- shouldn't we have read fully what our sacred book says?

It takes, on average, just 10-15 minutes a day -- each day of the week simply read the corresponding aliya in the upcoming week's Torah portion (ex. Sunday we will read the 1st aliya...).

This initiative is for everyone—men, women and children—each at our own level. I guarantee that you will personally find this most satisfying and might even become your most meaningful learning of the week! Whether you're a seasoned learner or newer to learning, there is space for everyone to feel connected to the weekly parasha.

Sign up here to commit to learn Bereshit (beginning with Lech Lecha) and we will join our list of those undertaking this special project. Together, with God's help, we will celebrate together on Parashat Shemot. 

Plus, we have wonderful resources to help out!

• There is the ALL PARSHA app by the OU which offers daily and weekly Parsha classes and features a tracker to monitor your progress. It even provides reminders to keep you on schedule. Whether you’re sitting down to read or need to listen on the go, the app provides an array of resources to deepen your connection to the weekly Parsha. Watch an explainer video on how to use the app
• There is the remarkable Sefaria.org website with a range of commentaries, English translations and more.
• Also, we are launching a NEW Whatsapp group to share a few posts each week with different styles to enhance our Parasha learning! Click here to join our Young Israel Parasha Project Whatsapp group. 
• For more advanced learners, you can sign up here Chumash/Rashi tests that come along with cash prizes (questions are in Hebrew).

As I shared on Shabbat, the truth is that I had hoped to launch this project for our community last year with Bereishit, but we were tragically derailed. In addition to all personal and local benefits of this program, it is my hope that the virtue of this initiative and the protective merit of Torah study will be added to the collective merits of our people before the Almighty. 

Please let me know if you have any questions or if you would like to help out with this initiative. 

I look forward to starting—and finishing—the Torah with you!
 

Rabbi Tuvia Brander