Havrutah How-to
- Read the text aloud.
- Summarize the text.
- Read the text aloud again.
- What questions do you have of the text?
- What do you see in the text that might start to answer your questions?
- You can also use the questions below to get your conversation started
Please note. The texts below that have a gendered English translation are also followed by a gender neutral translation. Please choose the translation that resonates with you during the havrutah.
70 Faces of Torah: Wisdom from the 12 Steps, Step 2
Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.
(ד) בְּרֹאשׁ הַשָּׁנָה יִכָּתֵבוּן, וּבְיוֹם צוֹם כִּפּוּר יֵחָתֵמוּן. כַּמָּה יַעַבְרוּן, וְכַמָּה יִבָּרֵאוּן, מִי יִחְיֶה, וּמִי יָמוּת, מִי בְקִצּוֹ, וּמִי לֹא בְּקִצּוֹ... וּתְשׁוּבָה וּתְפִלָּה וּצְדָקָה מַעֲבִירִין אֶת רֹעַ הַגְּזֵרָה.
(4) On Rosh Hashanah it is inscribed, and on Yom Kippur it is sealed - how many shall pass away and how many shall be born, who shall live and who shall die, who in good time, and who by an untimely death....But repentance, prayer and righteousness (tzedakah) avert the severity of the decree.
70 Faces of Torah: Wisdom from the 12 Steps
Among our rapidly growing membership of thousands of alcoholics such transformation, though frequent, are by no means the rule. Most of our experiences are what the psychologist William James calls the “educational variety” because they develop slowly over a period of time. Quite often friends of the newcomer are aware of the difference long before he is himself. He finally realizes that he has undergone a profound alteration in his reaction to life; that such a change could hardly have been brought about by himself alone. What often takes place in a few months could seldom have been accomplished by years of self-discipline. With few exceptions our members find that they have tapped an unsuspected inner resource which they presently identify with their own conception of a Power greater than themselves. (Appendix II, Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous, p.567-568).
70 Faces of Torah: Wisdom from the 12 Steps (Gender Neutral)
Among our rapidly growing membership of thousands of alcoholics such transformation, though frequent, are by no means the rule. Most of our experiences are what the psychologist William James calls the “educational variety” because they develop slowly over a period of time. Quite often friends of the newcomer are aware of the difference long before they are themselves. They finally realize that they have undergone a profound alteration in their reaction to life; that such a change could hardly have been brought about by themselves alone. What often takes place in a few months could seldom have been accomplished by years of self-discipline. With few exceptions our members find that they have tapped an unsuspected inner resource which they presently identify with their own conception of a Power greater than themselves. (Appendix II, Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous, p.567-568).
Additional Questions for Discussion
1. How might actions like repentance, prayer, and righteousness (tzedakah) support a spiritual awakening or connection with a Power greater than ourselves?
2. What is the difference between a statement like "came to believe" and one like coming to believe?
3. Torah study is a foundational Jewish spiritual practice. How might Torah study support a spiritual awakening of the educational variety?
4. Why might Torah study not be listed among the three actions that can avert the severity of the decree in the Unetaneh Tokef? How might this relate to either came to believe or restore us to sanity in Step 2?