Spring Semester 2012

Parshat Hashavua - The Weekly Torah Portion

Mon 9-10:45

Reuven Grodner

This unique approach to the study of Parshat Hashavuah will encompass profound insights and in-depth analyses of two modern Torah exegetes, Nechamah Leibowitz z”l and Rabbi Menachem Leibtag.

Included in the study of text and the class discussion will be supplementary readings from the writings of Rabbi J. B. Soloveitchik ztz”l and Rabbi A. I. Kook ztz”l.

Maimonides: His Halachah And Philosophy

Mon 11 - 12:45

Reuven Grodner

 “From Moshe (rabeinu) until Moshe (Maimonides) there never arose one like Moshe”.

These immortal words engraved upon Rambam’s gravestone bear testimony to the extraordinary genius and religious impact of Rambam upon the Jewish people.

This class will survey Rambam’s writings in Mishneh Torah and The Guide for the Perplexed. Topics will include philosophy, halachah and moral values.

Power and its limits in the Bible.

Tue 9-10:45 am

Shmuel Klitsner

We will engage in close readings of various Biblical narratives in which the moral issues of  the use and abuse of power as well as the moral responsibility to avoid powerlessness are subtly implicit in the texts. Chevruta time will involve guided reading of Bible and commentaries (in translation for those with weak Hebrew and advanced assignments for seasoned students) and class time will consist of focused discussion. The literary approach will seek to unpack the latent psychological motivations of character and plot.

Elisha: The Miracle Maker

Tue 11am-12:45

Alex Israel

This course is an in-depth study of  Sefer Melakhim II/Kings 2 and its stories of the prophet Elisha who revives a dead child, heals leprosy and performs other miracles. Who is Elisha and why does he perform so many miracles? In the course of these chapters we shall study the ongoing struggle between Israel and Aram, and meet the characters of Gehazi, Naaman and Jehu.

Talmudic Personalities: Looking Beyond the Stories

Thursday 9-10:45am

Nechama Goldman-Barash

Can we find traces of Jesus in the Talmud? Was Elisha ben Abuya really such a heretic? Did Beruriah betray her husband? In this course we will explore known and less known rabbinic stories  The stories will be presented as evolving literary compositions that may or may not represent historical information of the time. We will trace back the earliest known "kernel" of the story and try to explain how it evolved into a more complex layered tale with important pedagogical messages incorporated within.