The Jewish people have been telling stories, listening to stories, and sharing stories for centuries, and this week, I asked our students, why do we tell so many stories. As a group we decided it was important to tell stories to teach a lesson, share a history and to let others know about something important that happened in the past. We all like to hear stories, and to tell them as well, and sometimes we believe the stories we hear, and other times we don't. Such is the case with the Torah.
This week we learned about the two creation stories told in the Torah. There is the story of GOD creating man and woman, placing them in the Garden of Eden, and telling them to rule over everything. Then, there is the story of GOD taking dust from the earth, molding man from the dust, and making Adam a partner to help him take care of all that GOD created.
Students were given the opportunity to teach the class about the passages they read, and we had quite an interesting discussion when students realized they had read two different versions of the same story. Our discussion sent us in many directions, and it was quite interesting to hear our students trying to make sense of both versions. Our take away moment was when it was decided that both stories are true...we are both partners and rulers, and it is up to us to behave in the image of GOD, doing what is right and just at all time.
Please ask you students to share what story they think is most pleasing to them, and for an interesting table discussion, ask them why GOD put both stories in the Torah.
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