How do we relate the Torah to our personal lives? With Thou Shalt Journal, you can create an Experience-Based Dvar Torah in just a few short steps.
Step 1. Find a piece of text or story.
It is incredibly helpful that Judaism has a weekly Torah breakdown, but there are many other interesting and compelling stories from the Tanach and beyond.
Step 2. Read it.
Step 3. Reread it.
Read Closely. If it feels helpful, look at what comes right before and right after. Then, examine a commentary from a trusted source (Jewish history has lots of these).
Step 4. Find a Hook. ( Identify something that interests you)
This could be a verse, a lesson, or a commentary. Ideally, the lesson or theme should connect to your own life. It is much easier to write or speak about something when you find what you are exploring to be interesting
Flip through Thou Shalt Journal to find your hook!
Step 5. Breakdown what you can learn from the text.
What is the text teaching? If you need help, there is no shortage of Jewish resources. Online tools such as sefaria.org, classic commentaries, living scholars. Tap into one of Judaism’s strengths: an abundance of sources of knowledge.
Step 6. Turn the personal into something shareable
What’s the takeaway that could speak to your audience? It can feel strange to say “Here is what I learned and what it means for you”. The key is to connect the personal insight into a shared experience.
Step 7. Practice, edit, repeat.
