Rabbi Elazar said Rabbi Hanina said: Torah scholars increase peace in the world, as it is said: ‘And all your children [banayich] shall be taught of Adonai, and great shall be the peace of your children.’ (Isa. 54:13) Do not read your children [banayich], but your builders [bonayich].” -Talmud Brakhot 64a

Today in Talmud, after over three years of study, the Talmud class finished Masekhet Brakhot, the tractate of the Talmud we have been learning since I arrived at Temple Sinai. The tractate ends with a discussion about peace (within and outside the walls of one’s home) as the goal of Torah study. The Talmud quotes Psalms: “Those who love Your Torah have great peace.” (Ps. 119:165)

When it comes to learning, children are our focus because each generation’s Torah scholars become the builders [bonayikh] of peace in the next generation. That is why I am so thrilled with the announcement of the Library Committee (see below) and their project of a new Youth Library across from our current library. Please read Jill Flanzraich’s article below and find out how to support this project as we seek to make our children into the builders of peace in the next generation.

For those of you interested in Talmud, our next tractate of study, using the Koren Steinsaltz edition will be Masekhet Shabbat. You can order Vol. 1 here.

L’shalom,
Rabbi Bair