Simchat Torah Challenge
Dear Torah,
Part of the global Simchat Torah Challenge, Ashreynu's Dear Torah, is a yearlong invitation to explore the weekly parsha together. We pitched Dear Torah, as a way to make Torah accessible and part of our everyday lives through creativity, conversation, and community, and we're excited to explore this together.
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Sign up to join us : we’re looking for 20 people to begin the journey with us. Not ready to sign up? Follow along in our Friday email and join us at any pop-up.
Our weekly email will include a link to the parsha text and one guiding prompt that makes the parsha feel relevant. We’ll also post these prompts on Instagram. Each week we’ll ask you to respond in different ways: a letter, a photo, a puzzle, a conversation, or even an adventure!
We encourage you to share your responses by email, drop it here, or physically bring it to Ashreynu. Selected responses will be shared in the following Friday email and on social media.
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We’ll match you with someone in the community to build learning, accountability, and creativity.
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Throughout the year, we'll gather for pop-up activities at Shabbat, trips into museums and neighborhoods, and a final siyyum (a celebration marking the end of our learning).
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Have you ever wanted to feel more connected to Torah and Jewish identity? Do you want to better understand our own stories? Are you looking to find a meaningful practice in this era of digital overwhelm?
Dear Torah is a way into all of the above. And Torah is its own reward. To recognize your commitment, we’ll recognize all participants at our siyyum (closing ceremony) with honorary mentions for outstanding participation of all sorts.
A Note From Rabbi Pearl
Getting to know Torah is at the heart of Jewish life and living. We do this in various ways, including study and mindful good daily living. In embracing and engaging in this project together, we hope to all be inspired to enhance these in our personal and Ashreynu community lives.
Dear Torah,” represents the relationship we are building with Torah throughout this endeavor. Torah is dear and precious to us, as conveyed in the Book of Mishlei (Proverbs): “She [Torah] is more precious than rubies; and all the things you desire cannot be compared to her.” Paart of nurturing a relationship with Torah is communicating with Torah, which, as part of our creative project, you will have many creative opportunities to do! As we engage Torah over the next months through “Dear Torah,” we look forward to more learning, absorbing, understanding, and living Torah with great Jewish pride and joy!
Dear Torah, Prompts
