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National Conservative council
introduces daily study program.

SHELLI DORFMAN
StaffWriter

W.

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Le ar

I n a never-ending cycle,
W
the final Torah chapter
is immediately followed
by the re-reading of the
first. We celebrate the comple-
tion of yet another cycle dur-
ing the holiday of Simchat Torah (Rejoicing in the Torah).
We sing, we dance, we hope for the honor of carrying a
Torah scroll. Then we go home.
This year, the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism
proposes to keep the joyous momentum going. The reading of
the first chapter is a jumping-off point for its Perek Yomi Bible
Study program, in which one' section of the Tanach (Torah,
Prophets and Writings) is read each day for the entire year.
Dr. Marilyn Wind, chair of the USCJ Council of Regional
Presidents, says the program originally began as a challenge
by Rabbi Jerome M. Epstein, USCJ executive vice president.
In spring 1998, he proposed that council members begin the
daily study. Wind suggested the group of about 50 "take him
up on his challenge."
They agreed, but decided not to study in a vacuum. So Dr.
Morton Siegel, USCJ senior vice president and director of the
Department of Conferences and Special Events, devised a list
of study questions to keep them on the same track. The pro-
gram was expanded internationally this year, with funding
provided from the council to supply Conservative congrega-
tions with study materials. A resource panel is available for
questions and discussion by mail, e-mail, fax and phone.
The official onset of Perek Yomi will be on Simchat
Torah, Sunday, Oct. 3, with the USCJ recommending Joshua
I as a starting point.
Although there's agreement about the merits of the pro-
gram, not all Detroit-area Conservative synagogues have intro-

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Conservative movement introduces Perek
Yomi project for daily Tanach study.

Shaarey Zedek Torah

4

10/1
1999

Detroit Jewish News

33