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Courses Embracing Elul
Tehillim 81: The Song of the Shofar
Thursday, September 15, 9:45 - 11 a.m.
“Their Blood Was Shed For Worthless Whim:”
Thursday, September 22, 9:45 - 11 a.m.
Year long courses Talmud Betzah
We will study various sections in the tractate, exploring the nature of holidays, comparing holidays and Shabbat, the laws of muktza (objects separated or set aside) and eruv tavshilin, the ritual that enables food to be cooked on a holiday for Shabbat. This course will teach Talmudic structure and terminology and is designed to enhance skills in reading Mishna and Gemara. The course presumes a certain facility with Hebrew text, but does not require it. One can follow the arguments by listening carefully. Sundays, 8:00 - 9:30 p.m., October 30 - May 13
The Story of Cain and Abel
We will carefully examine and compare the approaches taken by different classical commentaries in analyzing the Torah text focusing on elements of language and structure to uncover and interpret literary patterns. We will study Genesis, chapter 4, the story of Cain and Abel and the descendents of Cain; Genesis, chapter 5, the genealogy of mankind; and Genesis, chapter 6, God’s regret. Some the themes that will be discussed are divine initiative, good and evil, divine punishment, spiritual selection and survival, growth through rejection, brotherly love and envy and tikkun olam. The course encourages group discussion and inquiry. The overall goal is to teach an approach to the study of Torah text which demonstrates the richness of ideas that are contained in each verse.
Tuesdays, 7:45 - 9:30 p.m. September 13 - May 22
Prophets: Chaggai, Zacharyah, Tzefaniah, Havakuk and Malachi
A text-centered journey into Trei Asar, the Bible’s lesser known collection of twelve prophets. While relatively brief, each book has a unique character and message. We will pay close attention to the structure, content, style, historical context and unique message of each book and examine its relationship to other books of the Bible.
Chaggai Sept. 13, 20, Oct. 4
Tuesdays, 1:30 - 2:30 p.m.
Fall Mini Courses Tehillim: Exploring the Psalms
The Book of Psalms has provided us with some of the best known and widely-loved Biblical passages. It is comprised of 150 poems that express a wide variety of emotions, including love and adoration of God, sorrow over sin, dependence on God in desperate circumstances, the conflict between fear and trust, adherence to the Divine path in the face of adversity, gratitude for God’s care, and confidence in the eventual triumph of God’s plan for universal redemption. Together we will study some of the best known Psalms looking at their meaning, structure and themes. Thursdays, 10:00 - 11:15 a.m., October 27 - November 17
“Love is as Overwhelming as Death”: The Biblical View
What does the Bible have to say about love and sexuality? The narratives concerning love consistently lead to disaster indicating that love might be fraught with danger. Alternatively, a number of commandments demand love with respect to others such as the foreigner, the ‘neighbour,’ and God. Is there some connection between these laws and the narratives? How does the Song of Songs, the biblical book exclusively dedicated to love, fit in on this issue? Does it encourage passionate love or does it in fact discourage it?
Wednesdays, 8:00 - 9:30 p.m., November 9 - 23
Navigating the ‘Self’: Maimonides’ Eight Chapters
Pirkei Avot, Ethics of the Fathers, is one of the most widely studied works of Jewish wisdom. Maimonides wrote Shmoneh Perakim, Eight Chapters, as an introduction to this classical text. This short work explores the nature and makeup of the human soul and how it can achieve perfection and avoid corruption. We will study selected passages from this profound and insightful work that will help us better understand human nature and its potential.
Tuesdays, 9:45 - 11 a.m., November 1 - 22,
The following are some of the courses to be offered in 2012. Moshe, Aharon, Miriam: A Family Story
From the moment that Miriam stands watch over Moshe's cradle floating in the Egyptian reeds to the solitary deaths of Moshe, Aharon and Miriam, the relationships between these three powerful leaders of Bnei Yisrael challenge us. We will look at commentaries and Midrash that analyze and flesh out the dynamics of this First Family of Israel in the wilderness.
Mondays, 8:00 - 9:30 p.m. January 16 - February 6, 2012
Rashi: ‘The’ Biblical Commentary
Rashi’s Commentary on the Torah is, by any reckoning, the most important and influential Jewish biblical commentary of all times. In the apt image of contemporary biblical scholar Avivah Zornberg, it was “absorbed into the bloodstream of Jewish culture.” Though the Commentary has profited from extensive inquiry, systematic investigation of varied reactions to it over the ages has, with a few exceptions, been amazingly scant. We open on a window on some of these in our interactive 3-session course.
Mondays, 8:00 - 9:30 p.m., March 12 - 26, 2012
To join ongoing classes call 416-877-2050 |
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