The Year of Living Biblically by A. J. Jacobs

The Year of Living Biblically by A. J. Jacobs chronicles a year in the life of the same guy who wrote The Know It All, about his quest to read the entire Encyclopedia Britannica in a year.

Jacobs was a self described agnostic, but took on this project with an open mind. He tackled both Old Testament (Torah to Jews) and New Testament, seeking out various authorities and clergy.

Without belittling or ridiculing any of the infinite varieties of religious experience, Jacobs seemed to respect, if not agree with, those he sought out. For example, at his Jerry Falwell's enclave, he wrote how he found the members there extraordinarly friendly, and non judgemental of him as well. Refreshing, considering the attitude of many Northerner toward Southerns, forget those of the fundamentalist religious persuasion.

I think at the end of the year, Jacobs was changed in some way. He seemed more appreciative and receptive of the spiritual.

Simeon the Just (Shimon HaTzaddik) said: "The world exists through three things: the Law, worship, and beneficence" (Pirkei Avoth 1:2). Or, as it is sometimes said, Torah, Prayer, and Acts of Loving Kindness. And the Study of Torah leads to them all.

Living a biblical life seems to work, too.

Kollel Institute

DD and I finally did something we (at least I have) been meaning to do and wanting to do for years - we signed up for the Kollel Institute's three year study program on Judaism. It is a continuous cycle that covers mysticism, Torah, Jewish history, and Jewish life cycles. There are two hour long classes each Wednesday, you can jump in any time, they just keep doing the classes on a continual basis.

The two rabbis who teach have a deep understanding of the subjects and are excellent teachers. This quarter we are studying Jewish spirituality (next week - hte Jewish view of the afterlife!), and the book of Numbers.

My next goal: learn Hebrew. I took classes about ten years ago but need to brush up!

Al sh'losha d'varim ha-olam o-meid. Al ha-torah, v'al ha-avodah, v'al g'milut chasadim.

"The world is sustained by three things: Torah, worship, and acts of loving kindness."

And some say that the study of Torah leads to them all.