Hi everyone!

 

Many students, friends and colleagues have expressed interests in Scriptural Studies. Some of you have been active with WUTSup! Today would be a good time to join us! Our text for today is Genesis 49:26 through the end of Gen. 50―the end of the stories of Jacob and Joseph. Here’s the link for today: WUTSup! Wyoming Union Torah Study - Klatch (getklatch.com)

 

WUTSup! has been meeting online and with informal Scripture discussions since March 2020. The name “WUTSup” comes from prior to March 2020, when we used to meet in the Wyoming Union on the UW campus for “Torah Study.” I hope to go back to meeting in person January 19, but will keep the online-access.

 

The Scriptural Passages we discuss are largely based on the traditional Jewish reading cycle (“Weekly Torah Reading”). I try to include traditional Jewish commentary, legends and folklore (what might be called “Bible Stories”), as well as Modern scholarship, and comparative material from Christian and Muslim sources. For example, in the past I have compared Qur’anic and Biblical materials about Abraham, Joseph, Moses and other Biblical figures. I strive for the sessions to be “ecumenical and inclusive” while remaining true to the original sense of Scripture and to Jewish interpretational traditions. This year, I am also trying to read a section from Maimonides’ Book of Commandments each week to give another way of learning about Jewish scriptural interpretation. (Time permitting, today’s passage is about the Tefillin worn today during the morning prayer.

 

I strive to keep these sessions 30 minutes (although some of us stick around to chat a little while longer). No one can complain that they don’t have an hour to spare.

 

TODAY’s link is a new platform. It requires registration, which should only take a few seconds (although I recommend registering in advance anyway). Here is the link again: WUTSup! Wyoming Union Torah Study - Klatch (getklatch.com) Please note that the website says 7PM Eastern which is the same thing as 5 Mountain. It also sets a “charge of $0.” i.e. there is no charge.

WUTS meets at 5 PM Mountain time today, Wed. Dec. 15. Looking forward to seeing you!

 

Seth Ward