ourselves but also how, as a society, Judaism remains important and relevant for us.  Your Bar/Bat Mitzvah is scheduled on a specific Shabbat and every Shabbat is named for a specific Torah portion.  If your Bar/Bat Mitzvah is set for an afternoon (Mincha) service then the Torah portion is for the following week.  This is the portion that you will need to read to begin the process of writing your D'var Torah.

 

Click on the above image to open the link to the Torah.  Your tutor will give you the reference (book-chapter-verses) that make up your week's parsha.  In the left hand column simply click on the book and number chapter where the parsha begins.  All the verses for that chapter appear linearly.  If you need to progress to the next chapter simply click on the next number until you have read the entire parsha.  The blue words in the text indicate where commentary is available.  If you click on the commentary and then want to return to the text simply click on the back arrow at the top left of the computer screen.  

 

Your first D'var Torah assignment is to read the entire parsha two times with a partner such as your parents, grandparents, etc. During the second reading create an outline of all the events/information that the parsha covers.  Outlining helps you to see the Torah portion in ways that simply reading cannot.  You may wonder, "Why do I have to do this with a partner?" This is because Torah is best studied in pairs and not alone.  In a group there is more opportunity for free exchange of ideas and opinions.  Also, because the Torah is a document intended for adults, you may need at times some further clarification from your partner if you don't understand something that you've read.

 

Once you have read and outlined your Torah portion you are ready to begin the next step.  Go to the tabs and click on MORE>Torah Links to continue.