The First Read Aloud

October 19, 2014

THE FIRST READ ALOUD

At Mirowitz, our students appreciate the opportunity to sink back into a beanbag chair and enjoy a delicious read-aloud. Little do they know that the read-aloud is not the creation of modern literacy educators, but of our ancestor, Ezra, who is credited with starting the first read-aloud, the public reading of Torah.  Unknown-1

Each Thursday, our students gather, like the ancient Israelites, for a Torah read-aloud and discussion led by our students. Just as it was for our ancestors, this reading is our opportunity to gather around and learn about the stories and the values that define us.  Unknown-2

This week, our students had an up close and personal look at the Torah with Reb Scott. Today we unrolled the Torah on tables that were lined up in the connector. I wish you could have heard their excitement as they spied the first letters of their own names and learned about the painstaking work that goes into writing a Torah.

Along with Jews around the world, we end and immediately begin our never-ending cycle of reading the Torah on Simchat Torah.  It’s a symbol of our people’s ongoing commitment to Jewish learning… a commitment that you demonstrate by sending your children to Jewish day school. 

We invite you to join us on Thursdays from8:45-9:15 a.m. in the Wolf Beit Midrash to study Torah with our elementary school students.

Chag Sameach,
Morah Cheryl