STORAHTELLING leader Rosana Berdichevsky points to Nehemiah 8:8, the passage from which the idea arose for mavens to translate the Torah portion during services. The line reads “And they read in the book, the Torah of God, distinctly; and they gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading.”

Neveh Shalom invites community to Storahtelling services

By DEBORAH MOON

article created on: 2009-02-01T00:00:00

In honor of the 10th anniversary of Storahtelling, Congregation Neveh Shalom will bring this innovative translation of the Torah reading onto center stage during services Feb. 7.

Based on the custom from the Middle Ages of having an interpreter translate the Torah portion into the vernacular as it was read aloud, Storahtelling combines theatrical interpretation and storytelling to enliven and enhance understanding of the Torah portion.

“We are always looking for new ways to explore the implications of these biblical stories,” said Neveh Shalom Senior Rabbi Daniel Isaak. “I think Storahtelling … explores how these stories are relevant. It’s an interactive opportunity for people taking roles in the performance and for the congregation, who can participate in the discussion that takes place.”

Typically, Neveh Shalom’s Storahtelling troupe performs periodically at the downstairs minyan. But to celebrate the endeavor’s 10th anniversary, the troupe, with the aid of the congregation’s sixth-graders, will perform during the reading of Beshalach (song of the sea) at the bat mitzvah of Carolyn Dickerson, daughter of JoAnn and Chris Bezodis.

Ten communities in the United States, United Kingdom and Israel have committed to celebrating the anniversary that Shabbat. Storahtelling was created by In 1999, Amichai Lau-Lavie revived the role of translators (called mavens) by developing the Storahtelling methodology.

In 2003 he trained the Neveh Shalom troupe led by Rosana Berdichevsky, who was on the Storahtelling faculty at Brandeis University to train a new group of mavens last July.

In addition to leading the adult troupe, Storahtales Northwest, Berdichevsky also teaches the Storahtelling Cool Tool curriculum to her Neveh Shalom sixth-graders. Storahtelling has trained nearly 50 institutions to bring Cool Tool into their classrooms.

“The Cool Tool gives students skills towards becoming a maven,” said Naomi Less, Storahtelling’s director of education and training. “We train adults and b’nai mitzvah to become mavens (from the Hebrew word mivinim—to enable folks to understand) the official translators/interpreters of our sacred ancient texts.”

Berdichevsky said students learn to translate, connect, create and reflect on the Torah portion.

“Those are the four things we need to communicate the story of the Torah,” she said.

At the end of each semester in sixth-grade, students use the tools to create and perform a Storahtelling skit, which they perform in front of parents, peers and teachers.

“We have done three kits where the students translated, interpreted, connecting with characters and wrote their own skit to perform,” Berdichevsky said.

However, with a new semester having recently started, Berdichevsky said she wrote the skit for the Feb. 7 performance herself. She said about 18 sixth-graders will participate in the dramatization of the third aliyah.

Neveh Shalom invites the community to come see and participate in the unusual services at 9 a.m., Feb. 7. For more information, call the synagogue at 503-246-8831.