Scholar-in-Residence Special Shabbat Weekend

We welcome Dr. Christine Hayes for a special Scholar-in-Residence Shabbat weekend. Dr. Hayes will give a guest sermon at Erev Shabbat service on June 7, and will teach Torah Study on June 8.

Dr. Hayes is Sterling Professor of Religious Studies Emeritus in Classical Judaica at Yale University. In Rabbi Stoller’s course this year on the Jewish Classics, we read an excerpt from Dr. Hayes’ award-winning book “What’s Divine About Divine Law?” A renowned expert in Talmud and rabbinic literature, Dr. Hayes will speak about how the ancient Sages believed that God invites our moral critique of the Torah and works hand-in-hand with us to bring new moral truths into the world.

Friday, June 7

7 p.m. Erev Shabbat Service
Friday night sermon: “Marriage and Other Metaphors”

Dr. Hayes’ sermon will explore how the talmudic rabbis describe God in shockingly human terms and how these metaphors express the distinctive character of Israel’s God.

An Oneg Shabbat follows.

Saturday, June 8

9:15 a.m. Torah Study with Dr. Hayes: “The Truth(s) about Torah”

Is Torah’s truth eternal and unchanging, or does it unfold over time? We will examine the talmudic rabbis’ counter-cultural approach to this debate. Attendees will examine the talmudic rabbis’ countercultural approach to the debate regarding whether the Torah’s truth is eternal and unchanging, or if it unfolds over time.

10:30 a.m. Shabbat Service and Kiddush Brunch

Click here to register for the brunch.