"The sum of your word is truth" - meeting about the Torah with Sister Katarzyna Kowalska, PhD

"The sum of your word is truth" - says Psalm 119, the longest of all, celebrating the Torah and its exploration.
On 23.05.2025, the 3rd meeting of our educational project ‘Hitchhiking Guide to Judaism’ took place in the Municipal Library in Mszana Dolna. Its theme was ‘T for Torah’.

Torah. More a teaching than law. The one given at Sinai, the one written down centuries ago, the one still alive when pondered by the truth-seeking heart. We were guided through the multilayered nature and various shades of meaning of the Torah by theologian, biblical scholar and Judaic scholar, Sister Dr Katarzyna Kowalska of the congregation of the Sisters of Notre Dame of Zion, who - while a committed Catholic - completed her doctorate at a rabbinical university in London. She perfectly understands that by learning about the Jewish roots of Christianity, we explore and better understand our own identity. She has been involved in dialogue for over 20 years, including as co-chair of the Polish and vice-chair of the World Council of Christians and Jews.

The written Torah, and the oral Torah, the Talmudic commentaries on the Torah, the Torah that animates the heart of man, the Torah that existed even before the creation of the world. A Torah that, according to one Jewish tractate, the God gave to Moses, and ‘was white fire written with black fire; fire mixed with fire, separated from fire and given by fire’ (J. Shekalim). These are just some of the themes raised.

Attendances had the opportunity to learn about the process of making and how the sacred scrolls were stored, decorated, celebrated with them in their arms and finally buried respectfully, like a dead person. They were also able to take a piece of the scroll, the venom for wading through the sacred letters, the scroll of Esther - the only one decorated with illustrations. Those taking part online were extremely active this time, asking numerous questions in the chat room, which the speaker answered in real time.

The event was held under the Honorary Patronage of the City Mayor, Agnieszka Orzeł.

Subsidised by the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage, from the Fund for the Promotion of Culture.