Said to Myself

Acquiring Torah

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This week we start reading the book of Numbers.  In Hebrew, the book is Bemidbar, the wilderness. We learn in the Midrash,

There are three ways to acquire Torah, with Fire, with Water, and with Wilderness. (Midrash Numbers Rabbah 1:1)

The midrash could be understood to mean that we acquire Torah through passion (fire), the immersion (water), and through a long trek through the unknown (the wilderness).  This next month with bring us Shavuot (the fire of Torah),  many children having immersive Jewish experiences at  camp (passing their swim tests), and the many trials and tribulations of the Israelites wanderings in the wilderness ( as we read the book of Numbers).

On Shavuot we will celebrate the receiving of the Torah. While the event happened a long long time ago, we get to acquire  it anew every time it comes around again on the guitar, in harmony and with feeling.

Hag Sameakh-

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Quote of the week

But now, please forgive their sin—but if not, then erase me out of the book you have written.

~ Exodus 32:32

Said to Myself

About

My name is Rabbi Avi Katz Orlow. I have always had a deep love for the Jewish people and making the world a better place. It was while building community in the Former Soviet Union for YUSSR that I realized the transformative power of being a rabbi. After spending time learning in Israel, I moved to New York to be a charter student in Yeshivat Chovevei Torah, the Open Orthodox Seminary. After graduating in 2004 until 2008 I served as the Rabbi and ran the program at St. Louis Hillel at Washington University. Now I have the great pleasure of thinking about how Judaism is seriously fun. In my mind I am up at camp every day in my work at the Foundation for Jewish Camp. My wife, Cantor Adina Frydman, and I are the proud parents of Yadid, Yishama, Emunah, and Libi.

Said to Myself

When my son Yadid was four years old he came home from daycare and reported to me that he got into trouble. He got put into timeout for throwing sand at another child. Yadid said,” Myself said to myself, I do not want to be in timeout. Myself said to my cry, I do not want to cry”. And with that we started a conversation about his conscious life. It seemed only fitting to continue that conversation with a blog with the same name.

אָמַרְתִּי אֲנִי בְּלִבִּי

My son spoke in the words of Ecclesiastes, “I said in my heart: ‘Come now, I will try you with mirth, and enjoy pleasure’; and, behold, this also was vanity.” (Kohelet 2:1) My mission is to model a life that is personally meaningful, universally relevant, and distinctly Jewish. I aspire to be frank and to speak of Torah in real life.

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