Rabbi Michael S. Beals, Temple Beth El
Why we should we study Torah? Why should we study Midrash? Why should we study Mishna? Why should we study Ketuvim? All these questions are connected because Jewish sacred texts are like the mansion we own, and it’s our right—and perhaps our responsibility—to enter and explore every room.
Most Jews don’t get past the Torah—the Five Books of Moses—which is like setting up your bedroom in the entrance way of your mansion. There are other rooms. One of those rooms is the Talmud—a combination of the third century CE Mishna—a compendium of Jewish laws written in an easy-to-read Hebrew and Gemara, a far more complicated commentary on the Mishna written in the same language as the Mourner’s Kaddish, Aramaic. The Mishna and Gemara were combined to create the Talmud, codified in Babylonia (modern day Iraq) in the sixth century, in a version called The Babylonian Talmud—the Bavli; and one hundred years earlier in the Galilee, in Israel, in a version called The Jerusalem Talmud—the Yerushalmi.
The Talmud covers every aspect of Jewish life—both ancient, when the Temple still stood, as well contemporary—in its time and even for today. One of those tractates is called “Ketuvim,” which means wedding contracts. As Jewish weddings are relevant for those who are married, and those of us who might, one day, wish to be married, and as Ketubah is a required part of a Jewish wedding, it seems only sensible that one might wish to study this text in particular.
But when studying Talmud, it’s not just the subject at hand which is interesting, but all the other stuff which the rabbis throw in, which has nothing to do with the subject. So here is my favorite part of Tractate Ketuvim which I still remember from rabbinical school some 30 years ago.
The rabbis ask, “what should you say to a bride on her wedding day?” Rabbi Hillel says, tell her “she is beautiful.” Rabbi Shammai says, “what if she is NOT beautiful? The Torah commands us, ‘thou shalt not lie.’” Rabbi Hillel says, “tell her she is beautiful.” Rabbi Shammai counters: “perhaps we can compliment an aspect of herself which is beautiful.” He suggests something like her toe, or her ear. Hillel counters that she will see right through that. Hillel finishes the argument by saying, in the eyes of her husband, she IS beautiful, or else why on earth would he be marrying her?! The argument ends with a formula which we say to all brides, regardless of their own individual attributes.
And perhaps, most important of all, Jewish brides should know, based on Tractate Ketubah, that their husbands are obligated, by law, to provide food, clothing, and sexual satisfaction to his wife.
THAT’S why one should study Ketuvim!
Rabbi Peter H. Grumbacher
The third section of the Hebrew Bible is Ketuvim, the Writings. We have Torah, Nevi’im and Ketuvim, their first letters joined to form TaNaKh. The three parts present us with some of the most significant literature of any faith community across the centuries.
Ketuvim is made up of various Books such as Esther, Ruth, Ecclesiastes (Kohelet), Proverbs, and perhaps the most read of all, the Psalms. There are more for sure, but the point is that it is worth your while to open your TaNaKH (purchase one if you do not own one) and read more than one Book among the Writings.
As far as the Psalms go, there are no more varied “poems” found in one literary volume. Just the 23rd alone is an example if how universal and influential the Psalms have become. Even though I consider it to be the religious mantra, par excellence, with the cadence in English often overshadowing its multiple meanings, few could imagine its absence at funerals.
And then there’s Esther which has palace intrigue, seduction, identity confusion and so much bloodshed at the end, revenge as it were, by the Jews of Persia against Haman’s followers. It’s got everything! Well, almost everything, because what it’s missing—and the only Book in the TaNaKH in which this is absent—is God. Not once is God mentioned. There’s a hint to be sure, but you’d think our sages would want a real reference to include it as part of sacred scripture.
On Succot we read Kohelet/Ecclesiastes, perhaps the most cynical book of the Bible. Succot celebrates the insecurity of our People in our wanderings, yet ultimately under the protection of God. The succah itself is precarious, open on top to let the rain in. Well, the message of Kohelet is evident right from the start, “Vanity of vanity, all is vanity.” And we also have “To everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven,” also the first line of the Byrds’ hit “Turn, Turn, Turn.”
You will find a great deal of spiritual content if you study the Ketuvim. Remember, the TaNaKh is the repository of law, lore, poetry, history, life itself. It’s worth your while to read and study all the components: Torah, the Nevi’im/Prophets, and Ketuvim/Writings.
