Translation by Yehoshua Siskin
Today I want to quote an article written by my husband, Yedidia Meir:
"Something very festive starts this week and it would be a shame to miss it, especially at the beginning of such a challenging year. Immediately following Simchat Torah, we will open the most basic learning cycle in Judaism. With all due respect (and there is much respect!) for the daf yomi (daily page of Gemara), the daily Mishnah, the daily halacha (Torah law), and the daily Rambam (Mishneh Torah), this week the first installment of the most fundamental cycle begins with the Torah portion of Bereishit. The weekly Torah portion is divided into seven parts, one for each day of the week, and it is customary to learn them with Rashis’ commentary. Over the past 11 years, we celebrated Simchat Torah in the middle of the week, which did not really allow time to properly promote daily Torah study since we would have to cram seven days of Torah study into just a few days. So we started off on the wrong foot, had to play catch up and, before we knew it, the second Torah portion of Noah had already arrived. But now after 11 years, it has finally happened: a full week to give Bereishit its due. We have seven days to devote to it, one part for each day of the week. We can study alone or with a partner. We can study with the kids, by telephone with our parents, with grandma and grandpa, or with a friend in isolation. During this period in particular, we desperately need these few minutes of stability and daily sanity -- an inspiring routine. There is nothing to lose and much to gain by at least trying to begin this daily Torah study."
