How to Prepare your own D'var Torah

Beth Tzedec Family Service, Information Handout

A D’var Torah literally means “a word of Torah.” We take it to mean a brief discourse on the weekly parasha (Torah reading portion).   1. Read the entire weekly parasha, preferably using the Etz Hayim Bible, which has relevant notes.   2. Summarize the portion in a few short paragraphs.   (For home, synagogue, or school use)   (For a Bar/Bat Mitzvah) 3. Select a theme, idea, sentence, word, problem in the weekly portion that is of particular interest to you, and upon which you would like to expand.   4. Consult the commentary on the relevant passage you have selected, and add to your summary two or three thoughtful paragraphs on the selected theme that you think will be of interest.   5. Conclude with any relevant personal experience that relates to the weekly portion and that would be instructional to the others present. 3. Select a theme, idea, sentence, word in the weekly portion that has personal meaning to you (applies to your life), and tell us what it is.   4. Develop two or three paragraphs expanding on why and how your choice has personal meaning to you.   5. Conclude with a paragraph that begins with the words, “On this day of my Bar Mitzvah (Bat Mitzvah), I . . . .” In this paragraph, you will relate the personal meaning you have already discussed to the experience of Bar/Bat Mitzvah and your goals for the future.    6. The entire presentation should take no longer than five minutes.    One last word, allow yourself to enjoy the experience of preparing and delivering the D’var Torah.

For Rabbinic assistance, contact rabbi meirovich at 416-781-3514, ext 296 or email: ravharvey@beth-tzedec.org Torah4Kids our own Beth Tzedec comments good for your family Shabbat table. for another good guide to informal table discussion, see Torah Sparks for our "Best of the Web" commentaries, click here.