Last week's Torah portion, from Genesis, "The Life of Sara":
And Isaac went forth to pray in the field towards evening, and he lifted his eyes and saw, and behold, camels were approaching.
And Rebecca lifted her eyes, and saw Isaac, and she let herself down from the camel.
With the help of our teacher and assorted ancillary texts, we uncovered the information that the line, “She let herself down from...” is widely interpreted as, “Rebecca fell off the camel.”
Here is what happens to a line like that when you toss it around a women’s yeshiva for a week:
“So she saw Isaac and she fell. Falling off the camel must be the same as love at first sight.”
“How was your date?”
“Meh, it was ok. I didn’t fall off the camel or anything.”
Alternate version:
“How was your date?”
“Oh man, it was awesome. It was off the camel.”
And my favorite, which came out of nowhere several days after the camel frenzy had died down, when one of our teachers decided we were too distracted:
“Girls, it’s time to get back on your camels and get to work.”
I am loving this blog, but hating this post a comment thingy, because it changes the rules on me every time I try to log in! Just want you to know that, while I APPEAR to be silent, I write to this thing regularly and am one of you faithful followers. You are not writing into space with no readers! Love, Mom
ReplyDeleteYAY! I'm back! I can talk! Love, Mom
ReplyDeleteThis is too funny! So this is how the Biblical translations that are passed down through the ages are first conceived, huh? Your teacher has a good sense of humor. Has she been able to determine the ring-leader of this off-task diatribe? I think I know... Love, Mom
ReplyDeleteYou crack me up! Love you! Laines
ReplyDeleteI keep meaning to tell you: every time I open your blog page, I say its name to myself in my head. In a Russian accent. "Seer-coos neen-jah". I thought you'd like to know. :)
ReplyDelete