Sample Summer Class Descriptions

 

Daf Yomi: Masekhet Megillah
How was the Torah translated into Greek? Was the relationship between Mordekhai and Esther one of an uncle and niece or husband and wife? Is one permitted to read the Megillah while sitting down? Should certain parts of Tanakh be censored? We will examine these and many other compelling questions as we study the entire tractate Megillah, one page each day, being exposed to a wide array of topics and familiarizing ourselves with Talmudic terms and logic. There will be a siyyum celebration on the last day of the program.
Yedidah Koren
Monday – Friday, 8:45 – 9:30 a.m.; Wednesday, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.

 

Nach Yomi: Five Megillot
Through our study of the Five Megillot we will be confronted with a range of questions. Why is there a love poem in the Tanakh? How far would you go to save the lives of others? What would make someone leave their home and family and convert to Judaism? How do people respond to destruction and suffering? We will study a short section of the megillot every day, paying close attention to the language, themes and genres of each book. There will be a siyyum celebration on the last day of the program.
Devorah Wolf
Monday – Friday, 8:45 – 9:30 a.m.; Wednesday, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.

 

Talmud I and II – Tractate Megillah
Are you allowed to sell a sefer Torah? Can you use the money to buy a new house? How about selling a shul? What makes an object holy? Learning this perek will address these questions and more, while also developing the skills to read and understand the text of the Gemara.
Level I: Sara Wolkenfeld
Level II: Joshua Schreier
Monday – Friday, 9:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

 

Rabbinics Elective I - Piyyutim: Biblical Commentary or Innovative Prayers?
From the temple period through the middle ages, melodious poetry filled the synagogue service as piyyutim were composed and inserted into Jewish liturgy. We will study the history of piyyutim and explore how some of these poems and even melodies became incorporated into our fixed liturgy. By examining the structure and content of several piyyutim that respond to biblical stories and text, we will reveal the ways in which a piyyut may serve as musical midrash.
Etta Abramson
Monday and Wednesday, 1:00 – 2:45 p.m.

 

Rabbinics Elective II - The Making of the Wicked Sons: Ishmael and Esau in the Rabbinic Tradition
Ishmael and Esau are often depicted by the rabbis as wicked Biblical characters immersed in sin, eventually becoming progenitors of evil nations. Does this negative portrayal coincide with the characters of Ishmael and Esau in the Bible? If not, how did the rabbis interpret the Biblical texts? We will trace the evolution of Ishmael and Esau from rival siblings of Isaac and Jacob to paradigms of wickedness. We will also examine the characters' connections with rabbinic portrayals of the perceived threats of Christianity and Islam over the course of Jewish history.
Ruth Balinsky
Monday and Wednesday, 1:00 – 2:45 p.m.

 

Jewish Thought Elective I - Biblical Responses to Crisis
In the face of tragedy, our response as Jews is often to cry out to God. What may one say in these conversations with God? How may these prayers offer comfort or guidance? We will look at how biblical figures- such as Noah, Moshe, and Habakuk- responded to unfortunate and difficult events and how they grappled with God. Our study will culminate with a look at Job's internal struggle after his personal tragedy, and what the book of Job can offer us in our own struggles and prayers to God.
Atara Lindenbaum Bressman
Tuesday and Thursday, 1:00 – 2:45 p.m.

 

Jewish Thought Elective II- Here and See O' Israel
How can we hear God’s voice? What does God look like? Is a Jew even allowed to ponder these questions? This class will explore the various ways in which Jewish thinkers have struggled with trying to conceive of God's image and God's voice. We will explore texts from Tanakh, the Talmud and later thinkers such as Rambam and Maharal as we attempt to figure out who and what the Jewish God is.
Ben Skydell
Tuesday and Thursday, 1:00 – 2:45 p.m.

 

Halakha I and II: Whose Body Is It, Anyway?
Our Sages teach us that our bodies are gifts from God o be protected and cared for. But practically speaking, to what extent does halakha restrict how we treat our bodies? May one smoke? Get a nose job? Forgo life-saving treatment? We will explore these questions and more through a study of classic and modern halakhic texts.
Level I: Daniel Reifman
Level II: Gila Hoch
Tuesday and Thursday, 3:15 – 5:00 p.m.

 

Parashat HaShavua
We will study key themes in each week’s Torah portion and use midrash and other forms of biblical commentary to deepen our analysis.
Aviva Stern
Friday, 1:00 – 2:45 p.m.

 

Talmudic Tales – Moral and Ethical Norms in Rabbinic Culture
Although the Talmud is most often categorized as a legal text, each tractate is replete with stories of Hazal, recounting seemingly miraculous occurrences as well as more mundane affairs. We will study a selection of these tales, raising many of the essential questions these stories present to us. What is the proper relationship between a teacher and student? How may one find a balance between religious and worldly pursuits? Through these texts we will discuss the ideological world of Hazal and its implications for our own lives.
Dudi Goshen
Monday, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.