A Year of Building Torah

A Year of Building Torah is a volume of parshanut (Torah commentary) accompanied by #VisualTorah. The volume features a variety of voices (both clergy and lay) from across and beyond the denominations, and each essay is accompanied and uplifted by Steve Silbert’s #VisualTorah sketchnotes.

Built on the foundation of Bayit’s animating principle — that the Jewish future is always under construction and that all of us are tasked with building that future — the essays in A Year of Building Torah explore Torah through a building-focused lens.

What does Torah teach us about building the Jewish future wisely and well? What tools do we inherit from Jewish tradition that can help us build? How can we skillfully build on history’s foundations to meet the spiritual needs of today and tomorrow? This volume contains a year’s worth of answers to these questions and more.

Contributors to the volume include R. Wendy Amsellem, R. Rachel Barenblat, R. Bella Bogart, Steven Green, R. Cyn Hoffman, R. Evan J. Krame, R. David Evan Markus, R. Mike Moskowitz, R. Ben Newman, Shoshanna Schechter, R. Alana Suskin, Steve Silbert, and R. Jennifer Singer.

Available now for $18.

Introduction to sketchnoting

Praise for A Year of Building Torah

A Year of Building Torah is a cornucopia of delight and inspiration! This volume truly integrates the Jewish past with contemporary visions of the Jewish present and future. The contributors convey their messages with artistic flair, an optimistic tone, and good humor. And the glue that binds each weekly Torah commentary is Steve Silbert’s delightful sketches.

— Dr. Tamar Kamionkowski, Professor of Bible at the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College

In this book, see how Torah, expert commentary, and sketchnotes are woven together into a beautiful tapestry of understanding that amplifies Torah’s impact in our lives. Plus, a book that can integrate Torah and Star Trek is always a winner in my eyes.

— Mike Rohde, author of the bestselling books The Sketchnote Handbook and The Sketchnote Workbook

Deep and accessible teachings illuminated by vibrant images, A Year of Building Torah provides a way into the powerful wisdom Torah has to offer our troubled souls in these turbulent times. This book is an invaluable resource for those of all Jewish walks of life (and beyond) who seek the spiritual tools with which to rebuild our world anew.

— Rabbi Adina Allen, The Jewish Studio Project

At Bayit we create and curate tools for “building Jewish.” If you want to support our work, including this volume, we welcome your donations!