The Torah is divided into 54 sections called parshiyot and one parsha (singular) is read each week throughout the year (two occasionally). Reading the weekly Torah portion is a hallmark of the learned Jew: new insights emerge each time one engages in the pursuit of Torah. The cyclical nature of the parshiyot reflects Judaism’s connection to time and season.  A great online Torah resource can be found here: Torah Readings.

There are thousands of parsha commentaries out there, some of which speak to me, some of which don’t. Here, I have included those commentaries that I find meaningful, that make me think, that make me question, that answer my questions, and that make me wonder.  As I was lucky enough to start this blog just before Simchat Torah, I have begun the Torah readings from the beginning, with Genesis and Parsha B’reishit. Hopefully, you will accompany me through the year as I make my way through all 54 portions.

While reading the Torah and scouring the internet for Torah commentary, I had to become familiar with a range of terms used within the context of Torah study. Here is some basic vocabulary:

Sefer (plural Sefarim): Book

Perek (plural Perukim): Chapter

Pasuk (plural Pesukim): Verse

Meforesh (plural Meforshim): commentary on a specific book

Pardes: the metaphorical term used to refer to the four levels of Torah interpretation: pshat (the literal meaning of the text), remez (its allusions), derush or drash (the homilies that can be derived from it), and sod (its mystical secrets).

Nach: the books of the Prophets, Neva’im.

Shiur (plural Shiurim): a detailed lesson on any Torah topic, usually led by a rabbi. Traditionally, a shiur refers to the type of learning that takes place in a yeshiva. Typically, yeshiva students attend a daily shiur yomi (daily lecture) given by a maggid shiur (literally, “sayer of the shiur”) and a weekly shiur klali (comprehensive lecture, which sums up the week’s learning) given by the rosh yeshiva (head of the yeshiva).

Targum (plural Targumim): spoken paraphrases, explanations, and expansions of the Jewish scriptures that a Rabbi would give in the common language of the listeners, which during the time of this practice was commonly, but not exclusively, Aramaic. 

Gemara: literally, “[to] study” or “learning by tradition,” is the component of the Talmud comprising rabbinical analysis of and commentary on the Mishnah.

Sugya (plural Sugyot): the basic unit of organisation in Talmudic literature.

Daf Yomi: literally, “the page of the day.” A daily regimen of reading the Talmud, or Oral Torah, in which the entire Talmud is completed, one day at a time, in a cycle of seven and a half years. Other similar study cycles include: Yerushalmi Yomi – daily study of the Jerusalem Talmud and Mishneh Torah Yomi – daily study of the Mishnah.

Machshava: Jewish thought, philosophy.

Tzarich Iyun: discussion on a concept that requires further study.