From the Mishna to the Machzor
We will aim to enrich the Yamim Noraim experience by studying the development of select t’fillot. We will study relevant Mishnayot in Rosh Hashana and Yoma and then trace how our Machzor evolved based on the Mishnaic formula for the t’fillot.
From the Mishna to the Machzor: Lesson 1
WHAT IS A YOM T’RUAH?: The Torah provides us with very little information about Rosh Hashana. Yet the Mishna contains a fairly detailed description of the T’fillot and Shofar blowing ceremonies. We will, with the help of select sugyot in the gemara, trace how the Mishna derives all of this information. Through the sources we will seek to appreciate the symbolic underpinnings of the day.
From the Mishna to the Machzor: Lesson 2
FROM THE MISHNA TO THE MACHZOR: In our last class, we discussed how the Mishna elaborates on the Torah’s extremely terse description of Rosh Hashana. We will now study the debates in the Mishna and Gemara about the precise nature of the T’filla (and of the day).
From the Mishna to the Machzor: Lesson 3
AVODAT YOM HAKIPPURIM: We will begin with a brief survey of Vayikra 16 – the chapter which describes the service of Yom Kippur. We will then focus on verse 30. How many sentences are in this verse? How should the verse be divided? The verse is quoted twice in the Mishna and in the Mahzor. We will examine how these citations shed light on the meaning of the verse.