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From the foreword” Studying the weekly Torah portion-Parashat hashavua- is an ancient Jewish practice that is in enshrined in codes of Jewish Law”. Whether you are a devote follower of the Jewish faith or someone like me who is not Jewish but wishes to learn more about the faith and the Torah Entering Torah is a truly remarkable book.

Three years ago I took a college class that was supposed to be a survey of world religion but ended up being a personal quest to learn more about Judaism. The history of the people, culture and religion appeals to me on a deeply spiritual level. I have read several books on Judaism and the Torah but this is the first book that explains what the Torah meant to those who wrote it and what it means to those who follow its laws today. Entering Torah is meant to be a study guide for the Torah and oh what a guide it is! Rabbi Hammer takes the reader on a journey through the Torah explaining in easy to understand terms the meaning behind the stories.

I had always wondered why G-d had to rest on the seventh day so imagine my delight when I read Rabbi Hammer’s explanation as to why this was written. G-d does not need to rest he explains but we do. For the workaholic this story illustrates the point that if G-d could take a day of rest so should man. I thought I understood the story of Cain and Abel as a lesson on anger and envy, yet Rabbi Hammer shows us there is much more to the story. “Every murder, says the Torah, is the murder of a brother. Every victim is an Abel, every killer a Cain. And the answer to the famous question ‘Am I brother’s keeper’? Is an emphatic yes” (Hammer, pg. 9). The book is 310 pages of lessons on the words of the Torah. The book brings the stories of the Torah to life and had me opening my copy of the Torah to re- read the stories with a better understanding and appreciation for them. This is the highest compliment I can give Rabbi Hammer, through his book I have learned to appreciate the Torah and what it teaches more than I had before I read his book.

This is a must have book for those who want to seek a better appreciation for the lessons found in the Torah. I would even encourage those Christians who understand the origins of what they call the Old Testament to read this book. I started the book one evening thinking it might take me a while to read, but found myself so lost in it that I finished it in three days. Rabbi Hammer is an excellent writer, his voice jumps from the pages. I felt as if he was sitting next to me engaged in a weekly lesson.

At the end of the book Rabbi Hammer says “Reading the Torah is a lifelong task, on that never ends. We no sooner finish the last book than on the very same day we begin the first one again, over and over”. I have to add that the same can be said of Entering Torah, I will read this book again and again finding new meaning in the Rabbi’s words.

Where did October go? The month slipped by so quickly I am stunned it is November 1 already. I cannot say I worked in the yard; I did the majority of my fall clean up in September. I really should not blame the slip on my school work; after all I am still holding my own. Actually I think I can blame some if it on school as I am taking three hard classes that demand a lot of my time. I am taking a class on Western Civilization, Primal Creation Myths titled Visions of Creation and a class on religion titled Mystics in America. This is one of the few semesters that demand a lot of writing on the student’s part and though writing is one of my stronger suits, philosophy is not!

Another reason time is slipping from me is due to the approach of my son’s graduation from high school. Alex has plans to attend college out of town and the idea of being alone for the first time in over 20 years scares the hell out of me. Talk about time slipping away! Wasn’t I just carrying him around everywhere I went? I will get over the stress as all parents do, but right now I am a little freaked out.
Why is this time slip bothering me now? Because back in July a good friend past away and I did not hear about it until October. I had let the time between talking to her slip away. She and I were mostly on-line friends although we did talk on the phone a couple of times. Tish was always going somewhere so when I did not hear from her during the summer months I did not worry. I had no idea it had been months not weeks since we last spoke. It made me ill for days to know I let so much time go by.

So here is what I am going to do; I am going to slow time down. I vow to spend a lot of time with my son or at least be completely present when I am with him. I vow to pay attention to my daily life and not get caught up in stress over my studies and I vow to spend more time with my friends; whether they are online or here in Carson. Oh and I called my mom to invite her over for dinner next week. Family must come first.

So dear readers have you ever let time slip by only to regret it later, or do you have advice on how to stay present and focused on the proper priorities in life?