Text Messages: A Torah Commentary for Teens

by Jeffrey K. Salkin (Editor)

An indispensable resource for everyone who cares about the Jewish future. "Every passage of Torah has the potential to be someone's personal story and teaching―and that definitely includes you as a teenager. If you read these stories, and if you really let these holy texts into your mind and into your soul, your life will be deeper and richer, and even happier."
―from the Introduction Young people need to be included in the struggle for meaning, for the right questions to ask and the search for useful and relevant answers. This is the book that has been missing from the ever-expanding bookshelf of Torah commentaries―a collection of messages on each Torah portion, specifically for today’s teens. It shows them how each Torah portion contains worlds of meaning for them, for what they are going through in their lives, and how they can shape their Jewish identity as they enter adulthood. Addressing the concerns of young adults, it shows how the Torah can help teens deal with issues This groundbreaking spiritual resource is truly transdenominational―including the insights of over 100 Jews who identify as Reform, Conservative, Orthodox, Reconstructionist, Renewal, post-denominational and “just Jewish.” They are rabbis, cantors, educators, authors and community leaders. Orthodox, Reconstructionist, Renewal, post-denominational and “just Jewish.” They are rabbis, cantors, educators, authors and community leaders.

304 pages, Hardcover

First published April 20, 2012

Reviews

[stella(: · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got it for my bat mitzvah
I think I was the only one who ever read it

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

Borrowed from the library, so I read it differently than I would have if I owned it (all at once, so I could return it on time, instead of one or two readings per week, related to the Torah portion of the week). Might have liked it *better* if I spread it out more, but I think my issues with it would have been the same. I was hoping for some short readings, to match my current attention span and amount of free time... thought that picking up something geared for teens might work, but really don't have the same issues anymore, so much of the insights were not helpful.

[Ari · Rating 4 out of 5]

All star cast of authors in this collection, from across the Jewish spectrum, Orthodox, Conservative, Reform, and Reconstructionist voices, Women and Men and Straight and LGBT. Two different writers comment on each Torah portion, and the writing is generally very good. Geared toward teens and full of modern references to TV shows, political events, games, and social networking. Easy to read without dumbing down the messages.

[Margaret Klein · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love the concept of this book. It is a great choice for a confirmation text or a Bar/Bat Mitzvah gift. There were plenty of insights and it is divided into small chunks. The best rabbis in liberal Judaism, representing all the movements, have a voice. However, because there are so many contributors the writing is uneven. Nonetheless I would buy additional copies.