Rabbi Begins 15th Year of leading Bible Studies at Chabad

CONEJO, CA — Rabbi Moshe Bryski began his 15th year of teaching the Bible this week at the Conejo Jewish Academy, 30345 Canwood St., Agoura Hills.

The academy’s Wednesday study group started with two people and has now grown into several groups with hundreds of participants.

The class studies the Torah (Bible) verse by verse and discusses the literal meaning as well as the moral lessons and implications for today. The class allows for discussion and questions.

“My goal is to make the Torah a relevant guide to living life as a Jew,” said Bryski, executive director of Chabad of the Conejo. “It is a gift from (God), and each of its words are sacred and full of meaning. The gift can only truly be appreciated if it’s unwrapped and studied.”

Bryski has compiled more than 5,000 pages of notes in his research of the Torah. In 15 years of study, the group has made it through the Book of Genesis and midway through the Book of Exodus.

“The joke around the study groups is the pace of the class,” he said. “At the rate we are going, we figure we will complete all five books of the Torah by the year 2025. And then we’ll start over again.”

The group is currently studying the period after the Golden Calf in a class titled “The Reunion of (God) and the Jewish People.”

There is no fee to attend. A dairy lunch follows the one-hour class.

Additional study groups for the fall semester include classes on prayer, Chassidic philosophy, Kabbalah and a women’s only study group.

For more information, call the Conejo Jewish Academy at (818) 991-0991 or visit www. jewishacademy.com.