What if each and every part of the Torah came and introduced itself? As in, it walked up to you, told you about itself, and asked if you wanted to connect more? Sound odd? This is exactly how one midrash describes what our ancestors experienced when they stood at the foot of Sinai to receive the Torah. This midrash is one of the inspirations for Devash, Hadar’s weekly parashah newsletter for children and families:

Shir Hashirim Rabbah 1

"He would kiss me from the kisses of his mouth" (Song of Songs 1:2)...Each element of the Torah would make the rounds to each and every Jew and say to each one: Do you accept me? I contain this set of commandments, these are the rules and the consequences I carry, here are the finer points of my observance and here are the benefits I offer. And they would all say, "Yes! Yes!" Right then and there, this word of Torah would kiss the person on the mouth..."This matches the verse: ‘Never forget the words that your eyes saw’ (Deut 4:9). The words that your eyes saw - as the words spoke to you.”]

This fantastical and vivid midrash imagines a very personal encounter between each and every Jew and each and every part of the Torah. It is not enough to have a collective revelation—each person must encounter and accept the Torah for themselves, not just as a package deal, but by carefully analyzing each aspect and accepting it individually. And it is not enough to discover this on one's own; someone—and in this case, God—must animate the Torah so that all of its parts can introduce  themselves and be accessible.

This is not just an imaginative retrospective on an ancient encounter; like all pictures of Sinai, it is paradigmatic. This midrash provides a sketch for nothing less than a program of serious Torah education: breaking the Torah down into its component parts, illustrating them in all their glory, and then compellingly and personally introducing them to people, one by one. That is the only sort of learning that will really sink in, says the midrash, and the only sort of education that can result in true covenantal commitment.

This midrash brings the Torah to life, and this is exactly what we aim to do in Devash. Geared to kids ages seven and up, Devash strives to speak their language using an informal style, rich illustrations, and opportunities for engagement and interaction throughout. But more importantly, it is a weekly endeavor that allows the Torah to introduce itself, piece by piece, to its readers. Through Midrash, Biblical commentary, practical halakhah, and modern Hebrew language, Devash simulates our midrash's festival-like atmosphere of personalized learning that is inviting of a child's attention and, ultimately, commitment.

Our dream is for children to be protagonists in the story of Torah. They can get there by engaging with stories, characters, and traditions on a personal level and by seeing that their own interpretations and arguments have value. Entering into dialogue with the Torah on both a deep and age-appropriate level brings children into the story and makes them active players in the project of the Jewish people and our ongoing narrative. The goal of Devash—and of Jewish education—is not merely that children learn substantive content. While that is surely a necessary prerequisite for being a functioning member of society, we need the next generation of kids to see themselves as the subjects of this grand story, capable of speaking its language and personally connecting to all parts of the Torah. The words of the Torah first introduced themselves to our ancestors back at Sinai, and these bonds of friendship are waiting to be renewed with each generation.