One Word Torah: Poems and Insights from These Words

Poet-Liturgist Alden Solovy will read from his new book – These Words: Poetic Midrash on the Language of Torah – and will explore the Torah learning behind several of the poems. These Words pairs 70 divrei Torah on one word of Torah with poems based on each of those words. Alden will also talk about his process to create the book and will take questions.

Alden Solovy transcends the deficiencies of simple words by offering us inspired poetry. – Rabbi Angela Warnick Buchdahl, Senior Rabbi, Central Synagogue, NYC.

In These Words, Alden Solovy dives deep into the vocabulary of the Torah, extracting–with the aid of centuries of interpreters–pregnant meanings that still have resonance in our lives. Equally impressive, and speaking with his unique voice, are the wondrous poems that accompany these ruminations. – Everett Fox, PhD, translator of The Five Books of Moses.

Alden Solovy engages our rational minds in analysis of our tradition’s most impactful Hebrew words before transitioning to poetry that elevates our spirits. This groundbreaking volume touches both brain and soul, offering new meaning for all who engage with our sacred vocabulary. – Rabbi Barry H. Block, editor of The Mussar Torah Commentary and The Social Justice Torah Commentary.

Alden Solovy breathes new life into these beautiful Hebrew words, these divine gifts of inspiration. This is the holy practice of midrash. – From the foreword by Rabba Yaffa Epstein, Senior Scholar and Educator in Residence, Jewish Education Project.

Alden Solovy is a liturgist, poet, author, journalist, and educator. Alden offers a fresh Jewish voice, challenging the boundaries between poetry, meditation, personal growth, and prayer. His teaching spans from Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in Jerusalem to Limmud and Leo Baeck College in the UK, and synagogues throughout North America. He is the author of four volumes from CCAR Press: These Words: Poetic Midrash on the Language of Torah (2023), This Grateful Heart: Psalms and Prayers for a New Day (2017), This Joyous Soul: A New Voice for Ancient Yearnings (2019), and This Precious Life: Encountering the Divine with Poetry and Prayer (2021). The Jerusalem Post called his writing “soulful, meticulously crafted.” Huffington Post Religion said “…the prayers reflect age-old yearnings in modern-day situations.” Solovy made Aliyah to Israel in 2012, where he hikes, writes, teaches, and learns. His work has appeared more than 25 collections. He is a three-time winner of the Peter Lisagor Award for Exemplary Journalism. His writing appears on ReformJudaism.org, Ritualwell.org, Ravblog.ccar.org, TimesofIsrael.com and tobendlight.com.