Torah for Teens: Growing up Spiritually with the Weekly Sidrah »

The fruit of more than 40 years' experience in religious education at all levels and for all ages. Rabbi Dr Jeffrey Cohen has written an accessible book underpinned by his belief that the Torah speaks to all, teenagers included. Organised into bite-size instalments, it is specifically designed to deepen the understanding and heighten the relevance of the weekly sidrah for the young adult and student generation, and to provide ethical and religious guidance for confronting the vicissitudes of life and handling the situations in which today's teenagers may find themselves. His novel, informative and inspirational sidrah insights will also be studied and quoted by all who teach or address young people. A Bar and Bat Mitzvah gift to be treasured; a gateway to lifelong study of the Torah.

Foreword the Chief Rabbi, Sir Jonathan Sacks ix

Introduction xi

Glossary xv

Part 1 Bereishit

1 Bereishit: The name Adam 3

2 Bereishit: Learning from Adam's mistakes 5

3 Noach: Mixed blessings 8

4 Lech Lecha: A blueprint for Jewish history 10

5 Vayeira: Religious enthusiasm 13

6 Chayei Sarah: Learning from both saints and sinners 16

7 Chayei Sarah: Moving on into adulthood 20

8 Toldot: Who is the real 'me'? 23

9 Vayeitzei: The age of Bat Mitzvah 26

10 Vayishlach: The Jewish attitude to violence 29

11 Vayeishev: Combining privilege and responsibility 32

12 Mikeitz: On being 'one of God's miracles' 35

13 Vayigash: Converting adversity into advantage 38

14 Vayigash: On being comfortable with oneself 41

15 Vayechi: How we earn blessings 43

16 Vayechi: The strength to become a man 45

Part 2 Shemot

17 Shemot: Countering old and new propaganda 49

18 Va'eira: The challenge of Jewish leadership 52

19 Bo: Tefillin and our 'work-driven' week 54

20 Beshalach: Messages from the manna 57

21 Beshalach: Women's religious equality 59

22 Yitro: Rushing in where others feared to tread 62

23 Mishpatim: How not to make a slave of oneself 65

24 Terumah: Lessons from the Mishkan 68

25 Tetzaveh: Destroying the racism of Amalek 70

26 Ki Tisa: Putting wealth into perspective 73

27 Vayakheil: The holiness of work 76

28 Pekudei: Acquiring skills we never dreamed we had 78

Part 3 Vayikra

29 Vayikra: Sacrifices ancient and modern 83

30 Tzav: Why so many mitzvot 86

31 Shemini: The message of 'the strange fire' 88

32Tazria-Metzorah: Why girls reach religious maturity before boys 91

33 Acharei Mot: Saying 'sorry!' to God and man 93

34 Kedoshim: Sex, restraint and marriage 96

35 Emor: Making every day count 99

36 Behar/Bechukotai: Shemittah and our philosophy of life 101

Part 4 Bemidbar

37 Bemidbar: When and when not to be a protester 107

38 Naso: The name at the top of the list 109

39 Beha'alotchah: The lasting effects of a Bar/Bat Mitzvah 112

40 Beha'alotchah: Don't be a murmurer! 115

41 Shelach-Lecha: Resisting the influence of the wrong kind of friends 117

42 Korach: The wisdom of women 119

43 Chukat: The relative value of mitzvot 121

44 Balak: Let Bilaam be your guide! 125

45 Pinchas: Moses and the JWTK 127

46 Mattot: A shared future? 131

47 Massei: Women's rights in Judaism 135

Part 5 Devarim

48 Devarim: The importance of learning from history 141

49 Va'etchanan: Freedom from parental control? 145

50 Eikev: Consideration for the disabled 147

51 Eikev: Picking and choosing mitzvot 150

52 Re'ei: Making the right choices 152

53 Shoftim: Valuing every human being 154

54 Ki Teitzei: Ever on the move 156

55 Ki Tavo: Youth, self-restraint and loyalty to Israel 158

56 Nitzavim: The Israelite nation's Bar/Bat Mitzvah 161

57 Vayeilech: The Jewish model of leadership 163

58 Ha'azinu: Not every situation is reversible 165

59 V'zot Ha-brachah: Being a fully-rounded Jew 169

Part 6 Special Occasions, Festivals, Anniversaries and Interests

60 Bar/Bat Mitzvah - not Bar/Bat Torah or Bar/Bat Mitzvot 175

61 Baruch shep'tarani: A father's blessing 178

62 She'asani kirtzono: The challenge of the Women's Blessing 181

63 For tennis-loving youth 183

64 For football-loving youth 186

65 For cricket-loving youth 189

66 For American baseball-loving youth 193

67 For a budding actor 198

68 For a young Kohein: 'All you need is love!' 201

69 'The Three Weeks': You can always find time 203

70 A Kristallnacht anniversary: Guilty spectators 205

71 The run up to Rosh Hashanah: A truly 'good year' 208

72 Chanukah: Being totally 'dedicated' 210

73 Chanukah: The Maccabean struggle lives on 212

74 Shabbat Zachor: Remembering and proclaiming 214

75 Purim: A time to speak out 217

76 Purim: A minor festival with a major message 220

77 Is Haman foreshadowed in the Torah? 222

78 A Parashat Ha-Chodesh Bar/Bat Mitzvah: The first month of your new life 226

79 Pesach's call to all young adults 228

80 Pesach and open-minded enquiry 231

Index 233