Help improve the parsha project process here, or catch up on logistics.

[dauer]

If anyone is interested in leading one of the discussions, please PM me. My hope was to not have any structure at all, so I'm really only asking those who lead to choose what section of the parsha to look at, maybe pose some questions about the text to stimulate conversation, and help move the conversation when it seems like it needs moving. I might be looking for a revolving group of people but if you're only interested in leading once that's okay too.

If anyone has ideas about ways to improve this system so it promotes better dialogue, this thread is a good place to put it. I'd like to hopefully have some community decision to determine what shape the dialogue takes, maybe a poll after a couple months have passed and we've tried a few different ideas out. If you think that some of the ways I have attempted to lead could have been better, please PM me.

Peace and blessings.

Dauer

[pohaikawahine]

I'm very interested dauer - thank you for coming up with this idea, I look forward to it .... aloha nui, pohaikawahine

[dauer]

It's almost Shabbos. You know what that means. I won't be online at all. But more importantly, we're moving on to the next parsha when I get back. If you all could take a moment to reflect on the shoftim thread, and also the re'eh thread if you'd like, and how that went, what could have gone better, what went horribly, what went really well, and post in this thread that would be greatly appreciated. Your post could help this project grow into something even greater. If you didn't post in the shoftim thread, don't be afraid to leave a comment here. All are welcome. Please try to be as specific as possible. Thank you.

Dauer

[dauer]

So this week doesn't seem like it's as busy, people leaving the parsha project or just not having time to post, and I want to make sure that none of this has to do with the project, and all of it has to do with your life. So if there's any improvement that could be made to the project, in your opinion, which is extremely valuable, please post here or send me a PM and let me know what's not working for you, or what could be working better, or what was working better. If you post it to this thread, there will be space for community brainstorming. I wanted this project from the beginning to remain as much based on community input as possible so I do value what I do hear.



Dauer

[Bandit]

you just have to give it time is all. it is new so that takes awhile for others to catch on. I just saw it a couple of days ago & got real busy on other threads.

some weeks will be busy & some will be slow, you know how that goes.

[dauer]

That's true. On some level I know that, but this is also my brainchild and I want it to grow, so like a doting parent I won't just let the pot boil. Thank you Bandit for reminding me of the nature of these things.

I do also want as much user feedback as possible. That is a very serious request. I think it's the best way to effectively calibrate this system.

Dauer

EDIT: Important... Come October there are a lot of Jewish holidays. So there are a few weeks I would feel better having someone else take the lead. I'll probably still participate those weeks but I will not be available enough to lead the discussion. If you feel you can be even and un-sided enough to lead, and would like to do so, please PM me and we can discuss it. It will involve minimal effort on your part.

[pohaikawahine]

aloha e dauer .... i love the project and it offers so much possibility for interfaith dialogue .... i agree however that it will just take a little time for it to catch on .... i'm working 40-48 hours a week, but i still enjoy taking a few moments to toss my few pennies into the discussion .... a few suggestions:


- perhaps you might want to post a little message in each of the forums inviting people to paticipate and explaining the project .... encourage different perspectives based on the belief's and books of others ....

- i think it was good for the first two weeks that the group was smaller .... gives us all a chance to see what is working and not working and how to organize it ...


- if the next week is going to be busy for you why don't you just post the next section (leave it open for discussion) and get back to organizing the forum when you have more time the following week .... just a thought

aloha nui, poh

[dayaa]

hi all
i'm also very interested.....but don't have enough free time. i don't think i'll be able to keep up to actually participate much, but i'll be following along and reading at my own pace.
thanks dauer....wonderful idea

[dauer]

Hello.

In al-Andalus, or Andalusia, at a time when the people of different religions were communicating, my people, the Jews, had to abandon their midrashic or often highly exegetical and allegorical approach to text in favor of close study. This is because it is the only thing that allowed for real dialogue.

I'm feeling like, in order for this project to flower, we should focus more on direct study of the text, always open to the thoughts and insights, be they positive or negative, that crop up during this process, including those that have been dug up in a book, so long as those thoughts don't eclipse the text itself. So I don't want to abandon other methods, I think they're enriching, but I just want to do some self-monitoring. But I'd like to get some feedback on this idea so that this can be fleshed out as a community of learners. Thanks.

Dauer

[pohaikawahine]

Originally Posted by dauer

Hello.

I'm feeling like, in order for this project to flower, we should focus more on direct study of the text, always open to the thoughts and insights, be they positive or negative, that crop up during this process, including those that have been dug up in a book, so long as those thoughts don't eclipse the text itself. So I don't want to abandon other methods, I think they're enriching, but I just want to do some self-monitoring. But I'd like to get some feedback on this idea so that this can be fleshed out as a community of learners. Thanks.

Dauer

I'm very committed to the project as long as it continues and will flow with the general concensus of how to proceed to keep it viable and open .... I was beginning to think that perhaps my view was keeping others away and though that I should "lie low" for awhile and see if the parsha project opens more naturally in other ways of dialogue .... the last few have boiled down to dauer and myself posting back and forth which was never the intent of the project .... it's a great idea for sharing perspectives on scripture and in my view, perfectly fitted to a site of comparative religions .... aloha nui, poh

[Bandit]

Originally Posted by dauer

Hello.

In al-Andalus, or Andalusia, at a time when the people of different religions were communicating, my people, the Jews, had to abandon their midrashic or often highly exegetical and allegorical approach to text in favor of close study. This is because it is the only thing that allowed for real dialogue.

I'm feeling like, in order for this project to flower, we should focus more on direct study of the text, always open to the thoughts and insights, be they positive or negative, that crop up during this process, including those that have been dug up in a book, so long as those thoughts don't eclipse the text itself. So I don't want to abandon other methods, I think they're enriching, but I just want to do some self-monitoring. But I'd like to get some feedback on this idea so that this can be fleshed out as a community of learners. Thanks.

Dauer

i would just remember that it is still new & not a lot of people take the scriptures serious OR are more into long winded debates than taking a close in depth look at other possibilites.
for example for me it is the most valuable thing in my life, so it becomes difficult at times because i could never view the scriptures as fairy tales or strict allegory. not saying i cant learn from the basic metaphoric approach because i do, but i kind of feel like i dont 'fit' right & the scriptures dont tie together right & something is lost in the completion of what happened.

also remember that from now until after the new year, people will be traveling & preparing for holidays where time is very valuable. then from January thru March, people will be inside a lot & have more time.

i am just wondering Dauer, do you think it would be possible to have a guest speaker from time to time? i am in reference to someone from the orthodox perspective that you could invite & give us advance notice for what subject will be covered. i think someone like that would be really neat to interact with & be a blessing for me, even if it were only twice a year.

last, if you take a good look at these religious forums, you begin to see that people keep bringing up the same old 20 topics over & over in the main forums by giving them a different title & they simply want to debate rather than discuss. so i would consider, that is what makes the parsha special & unique, because it is looking at the text first without throwing the scriptures around like dice. (so i have a deep appreciation for that).
not only the text first, but it actually uses the text for discussion without the dogma as a kick off. anyone who is deeply searching will realize the parsha is a valuable forum & not something to dismiss.

if you step back you can see, it is growing. just dont step on the seedling too early & it will blossom all in its own good time.

[Bandit]

Originally Posted by pohaikawahine

I'm very committed to the project as long as it continues and will flow with the general concensus of how to proceed to keep it viable and open .... I was beginning to think that perhaps my view was keeping others away and though that I should "lie low" for awhile and see if the parsha project opens more naturally in other ways of dialogue .... the last few have boiled down to dauer and myself posting back and forth which was never the intent of the project .... it's a great idea for sharing perspectives on scripture and in my view, perfectly fitted to a site of comparative religions .... aloha nui, poh

i would not lie too low, pohaikawahine. you have a sincere & honest approach & that is an asset to the forum. i am not posting lately because i have been out of town & will be away again soon. you have made it clear to me that the Torah is something that you truly have a desire & want to study & learn & i greatly appreciate that & has had a positive impact on me in several places around here.

[dauer]

Bandit,

i would just remember that it is still new & not a lot of people take the scriptures serious OR are more into long winded debates than taking a close in depth look at other possibilites.
for example for me it is the most valuable thing in my life, so it becomes difficult at times because i could never view the scriptures as fairy tales or strict allegory.

Please please please please please please please only view the Torah as you would normally view it. That is what I want to bring together here, is many voices. Let your voice shine. Please, don't try to take on another one, unless you feel so suited to. That is what will bring life into this project. Your own voice will be a blessing. I'm actually hoping we can move a little away from allegory because it makes it harder to communicate from person to person.

i am just wondering Dauer, do you think it would be possible to have a guest speaker from time to time? i am in reference to someone from the orthodox perspective

I want this project to be interfaith, and not particularly Jewish, or Christian, or Muslim, or Buddhist, or anything else. But rather open for anything. So if someone who is Orthodox wants to join the conversation I am totally open to that. I would be happiest if I didn't have to lead the conversation because there was actually a flow that developed of dialogue. I don't want to be here to lead, just to open the floor. My questions are always just suggestions for rabbit holes that need not be followed. If you can find an Orthodox Jew who wants to take part that's great. The more the merrier.

last, if you take a good look at these religious forums, you begin to see that people keep bringing up the same old 20 topics over & over in the main forums by giving them a different title & they simply want to debate rather than discuss. so i would consider, that is what makes the parsha special & unique, because it is looking at the text first without throwing the scriptures around like dice. (so i have a deep appreciation for that).

So insightful. That you for your well thought-out post.

Dauer

Poh,

yes, don't lie too low. Without you it's usually just me posting. And you offer a lot of insight. I just want to create an environment that's more open to dialogue.

Dauer