Jerusalem Website Offers Aids for Torah Study by Christians
The Bat Kol Institute, an international ecumenical association devoted to fostering study of Torah and Jewish spirituality by Christians, has established a website offering weekly guidance for study of the Parashat HaShavuah, the 'Torah Portion' that covers the Pentateuch over the course of a year. Information about conferences and other programs of the Institute is also offered on the site.
The Bat Kol Institute was founded in Toronto, Canada, in 1984 and moved to Jerusalem in 1992. It has members in 21 countries on all six continents. Maureena P. Fritz, NDS, Ph.D., is founder and president of the Institute, with Glenn Edward Witmer, M.Div., Th.M., as director of the Jerusalem program. Members of the Institute's board include leading figures in the Christian-Jewish dialogue in Canada, Israel, and the United States.
The Institute emphasizes the 'havrutah' method of Torah study, the ancient practice of sharing the study of sacred texts in groups of two or three friends (haverim). It also fosters study of Jewish prayer and the Jewish biblical cycle, with the aim 'to facilitate the integration of these studies into a Christian self-understanding in a manner that respects the Jewish people and reveres the integrity of their traditions.'
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Bat Kol Institute: www.batkol.info