Dr. Shmuel Shields taught the first session of Basic Judaism in the Yeshiva Kesser Torah Beis Midrash on Sunday morning, December 8. The classes will be ongoing every Sunday morning at 11 a.m. at the Yeshiva. Please encourage any beginners you know to join this inspiring, informative class.

Dr. Shields began by sharing his own journey to becoming observant. Before he became observant, he felt something was missing in his life. He was searching for something to fill the void. He saw a small add in the Pennysaver (neighborhood circular) for free classes on Judaism. He decided to attend. The classes were sponsored by Project Identity and took place in the Young Israel of Great Neck, which was directed by Rabbi Yaacov Lerner, and he taught classes as well. This opened a whole world for Dr. Shields, and he felt he’d found what he was missing in his life. From there, he made a connection with Yeshiva Kesser Torah, were he had formal learning with the Rosh Yeshivah, Rabbi Elyakim Rosenblatt zt”l, and Rabbi Gedalyah Meyer, Rabbi Yair Hoffman, and Rabbi Menachem Diamond. He learned part time in the yeshivah for the next decade. “I loved the learning,” he shared.

Next, Dr. Shields explained the reason for starting this class. He felt a need in the community to give those with little or no background a way to connect with their heritage.

One participant shared that she is delighted as she has no background in Judaism. Dr. Shields plans to gear the class to the level of the attendants.

He then began by teaching from Parshas B’reishis. He pointed out that when Hashem created man, the Torah says something different about his creation. Hashem formed man of the dust of the earth and blew into his nostrils, and man became a living being. Dr. Shields said Hashem blew a neshamah into man. Hashem did this special act only in the creation of man and not in the creation of any other being. That Divine spark is an aspect of Hashem that makes us unique among the creations of the world.

So, we have to know what to do with that Divine spark. The Torah is a blueprint that teaches us how to live in Hashem’s world.

He shared an analogy to buying an electric hot plate that comes with instructions. The instructions teach how to clean and use the hot plate.

If an inanimate object needs an instruction booklet, then all the more so, do we need guidelines how to live our lives. The Torah is an instruction manual for us to know how to live in Hashem’s world.

Someone asked what about non-Jews. He shared that they have the Seven Laws of Noach that are required. We have 613 mitzvos to follow. Our responsibility is to make sure they do what they need to do, as well. We are supposed to be a light to the nations. If we do what we are supposed to do, then the other nations will be influenced by us.

He taught that this holy spirit inside of us is the most valuable thing we possess. The Torah teaches us how to keep this valuable soul pure in a world that is impure.

Again, he shared an analogy. In a department store, the most valuable jewelry is kept inside a glass case, and the even more valuable jewelry is kept in a vault. So, we need to protect what is valuable. Our neshamah is on loan from Hashem and we are responsible to protect it.

Hashem gifts us with our neshamah in a pure state. Eventually, it will go back to the source. We want to bring it back as pure as possible. He then shared some ways we can do this. We keep kosher, for example. Non-kosher puts a blemish on our neshamah that blocks our connection to Hashem.

Hashem gave us the process of t’shuvah, which is a wonderful gift that enables us to wipe away blemishes on the neshamah.

After this, Dr. Shields handed out siddurim and the class reviewed the first two Articles of Faith of the Rambam.

The participants shared how meaningful the class was and how they look forward to more classes.

If you are interested or would like more information about the classes, please contact Dr. Shields (347-453-7658).

By Susie Garber