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The Game of Torah
by Velvel "Wally" Spiegler

I've heard Rabbis say many times and in many ways that Torah is our life. What could they have meant? Years ago, I decided to embark on a journey to find the meaning of that statement. At that time I thought life was about family, friends and making a living.  Later on I discovered that beyond the obvious, life is a deep mystery; so deep in fact that it resembles the metaphor of the iceberg and its tip. Torah is the Jewish expression of the profundity of life which spans the scope between conscious knowing and mystical nothingness. Through the Torah we can delve into the mystery of our own lives to discover our true identity and the potential for a better, a happier and a more joyous life.

This all comes about through the study of Torah, the celebrated Jewish practice that has become alien to so many of us. Torah is the guide that parallels life, that poetically speaks about the miracle of life, which enables us to plumb the depths of our being.
The study of Torah is essential not only for the perpetuation of Judaism but for its very existence. It transforms each and every one of us to fulfill our destiny as a nation of prophets and priests. Torah functions as a filter; it alters our beliefs and creates a world view of how life is lived with holiness, with beauty, with grace and elegance.

We need to take a fresh look at the Torah, one which would interest even the novice. We need new methodologies for learning which would make it pleasurable and interesting. Without pleasure, we quickly lose interest. Unless we have great discipline, Torah study will soon give way to the secular media and other pastimes. It needn't be intimidating to those who don't have an extensive background. We just need to maintain our own level or pace of learning; there's no contest and no final grades. The goal is not to accumulate knowledge but to develop a spiritual practice that leads to wisdom and self understanding. This is comparable to the work of psychotherapy, which unfortunately doesn't quite go deep enough; its aim is to relieve apparent symptoms.

One such method could be a game something like 'Go To The Head of the Class'; a board game called The Game of Torah. Here are the rules.
NUMBER OF PLAYERS...one or more players. The more the better.
EQUIPMENT...you'll need a chumash, the five books of Moses or a source of Torah study of which there is plenty on the Internet. Just enter 'Torah' in your search engine and you'll find a large selection.
TO BEGIN PLAY... start to learn anywhere- Torah portions related to holidays and Shabbat, the weekly Torah portion; the major themes: the desert, the Exodus from Egypt, the garden of Eden, Abraham's journey, the Revelation at Sinai are all good starting places. Decide how much material you can learn daily (one aliyah from the weekly portion is about 15-20 lines in the Hertz chumash). When you have finished learning your daily quota, draw one or several question cards.
QUESTION CARDS...any bit of Torah learning encourages questions which opens you to more questions. Learn to ask questions and keep asking them.  Let your imagination run free. As a starter, write these questions on index cards and add new cards as new questions arise. How does this story, this verse, this sentence, this word, relate to my life?  Precisely what is happening in these verses? What feelings go through me during a critical juncture in these verses? Is there something in these verses which seems contradictory or puzzling? What lines appear to be confusing, in need of further development or in need of more questions?
The answers to your questions are not the task of the sages and commentators of old. It is our responsibility to find meaning in the lines and in our lives.  Always note in what ways the verses and stories relate directly to your life, a reflection of your inner self.
OBJECT OF PLAY...to obtain some new insight into your life which will enable you to make positive changes. You will know when that happens because you will immediately experience a burst of energy, a high that feels so good that you'll want to keep on playing the game over and over again.
Have Fun!