By Howard Warner

A Global Day of Jewish Learning event will be held on Sunday, November 9, at 10 am, at Temple Israel. The theme of this year’s discussion will be “The 70 Faces of Torah.” The event is co-sponsored by Beth David Synagogue, the Jewish Federation of Greater Binghamton, Temple Concord and Temple Israel. Breakfast will be served and prepared by Victor Torres. A suggested donation of $5-20 is requested. Financial support has been provided by the Eisenberg Fund. To register for the event, call the Temple Israel office at 607-723-7461 by Tuesday, November 4.
This year’s theme is “The 70 Faces of Torah,” which refers to the multifaceted interpretations of the Torah. This concept can be found in the kabbalistic work “Tikkunei Zohar.” Each interpretation can be categorized into four types: peshat (plain meaning), remez (allegorical), derash (moral) and sod (mystical). The local rabbis will lead the discussion of the source materials. “This theme celebrates Judaism’s embrace of multiple and competing perspectives to enrich our understanding of the world, Torah and ourselves,” said organizers of the event. 
One day every year, more 10,000 people around the world participate in the Global Day of Jewish Learning. In hundreds of synagogues, Jewish Community Centers and other communal institutions, Jews of all backgrounds seek to connect with one another through the shared study of Judaism’s sacred texts. Held annually since 2010, the initiative is inspired by the vision of the late Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz. The event is held in groups and congregations across the country, and is powered by Limmud, which supports the creation of “a diverse, cohesive Jewish community rooted in the importance of celebrating and learning from differences.”
This year, Sepharia is joining the event as a partner to Limmud, NA. (More information on Limmud can be found here.)
“The Global Day of Jewish Learning brings the community together to explore basic Jewish principles,” said Shelley Hubal, executive director of the Federation. “That fulfills the mission of the Federation and I am excited that we can bring this opportunity to Binghamton. I hope everyone will come out to learn and shmooze.”