TUESDAY NIGHT SYMPOSIUM 7-8:30 P.M. The Song of Songs: Classical and Modern Interpretations of the Bible’s Most Scandalous Book Rabbi Brian Stoller & Rabbi Jerry Blum (of Temple Isaiah of Great Neck) April 2, 9 & 16 As erotic love poetry, the Song of Songs’ meaning as a sacred text has been hotly debated by religious readers for centuries. For these 3 weeks leading into Pesach, the holiday on which the Song is customarily read in synagogues, we will study various interpretations of this scandalous book and how they can enrich our spiritual lives in the 21st century. You will be invited to read material outside of our weekly meetings to enhance our class discussions. For more information, call 516-587-0900. Join us in person or online via zoom. No registration is needed. Join Zoom Room (Meeting ID: 858 6898 6205 Passcode: shA8B1). Not Your Average Women in the Bible Rabbi Megan Brumer March 19 & 26 We talk frequently about the main female characters in the Bible, but have you ever thought about the women who might only show up for a chapter or two? In this class, we will explore the stories of lesser-known women in the Bible, like Shifra, Puah, Yael, Rahab, and others, who had significant impacts on our Jewish story. For more information, call 516-587-0900. Join us in person or online via zoom. No registration is needed. Join Zoom Room (Meeting ID: 858 6898 6205 Passcode: shA8B1). Intro to the Jewish Classics: History, Politics, and Personalities from the Talmud to the Shulchan Arukh Rabbi Brian Stoller 10 weekly sessions through February 20 (no class on 12/26 or 1/2) Originally designed by Rabbi Stoller for his seminary students at Hebrew Union College, this course is being offered separately at TBE as an opportunity for congregants to engage in higher-level study. We will gain basic familiarity with the major classical texts of Judaism from Late Antiquity to the Middle Ages—Midrash, Talmud, Biblical Commentary, Philosophy, and Law Codes—including a general understanding of what they are, the historical contexts in which they were produced, their literary features, and how to navigate them in the online Jewish library Sefaria.org. Because the goal is to introduce you to a more sophisticated level of adult study, you will be invited to read and prepare material in advance of each session to enhance our learning in class. |