Happy New Year! We just finished the yearly cycle of Tishrei holidays. Beginning with the magestic Rosh Hashanah, then the intense Days of Awe which culminate in the fast of Yom Kippur. A quick break for building the Sukkah, and we were in the week-long autumn harvest festival of thanksgiving. The Sukkah has not yet come down, and we find ourselves once again in the sanctuary for Simchat Torah, this time dancing our hearts out with the Torah scrolls. And then.... routine returns, as we begin anew from Genesis -- the final beginning.
And with that, I have completed a year of Torah commentaries. So what's next?
In addition to a weekly reading of Torah, it is customary to read a chapter from one of the Prophets, which usually has a similar theme to that week's Parsha. This custom originated when the Jewish people were in exile and forbidden to read Torah. These alternate readings were substituted as a subversive practice. And then continued when it was no longer necessary. This year, I will write about these additional readings in the Haftorah Beam feature.
Why "Beam"? I like the double-meaning. I will try to illuminate these readings with a beam of light; and they are supporting and connecting beams that scaffold our understanding of Torah.
I am not very familiar with the Haftarot. This will be a real learning experience for me! Look for the first installment in the next few days.....
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