Within the vast inner-spaces of the human body and soul lies divinely inspired possibility. Read and reflect with us. Virtually walk hand-in-hand with the great minds of yesterday and discover new creative and compassionate paths for living today and tomorrow.

Register for one of our classes by June 19 and take advantage of our special online summer registration rate of $100; bring a friend for an additional $50.

Let your mind play this summer!

Summer Semester 2020
22 June 2020 – 23 August 2020

                                    Classes Open to the Public

Tuesdays
         2:00 – 3:00         Rabbi Daniel Vaisrub, Professor of Talmud
         The Art of Talmud
         text from BT Avodah Zarah 40b-41a

We will journey our way through a fun Talmudic sugya on Judaism and Art History. Side trips include visits to Egypt, Iraq, Afghanistan, Rome, Troyes, and Ramerupt.

Topics include:

Intro: what is the Talmud, and why should I care?
Ancient idolatry, modern idolatry
Judaism emerging in the midst of a Graeco-Roman civilization
Judaism as layered, emerging tradition
Reading and rereading our ancestors’ teachings
Changing circumstances, changing practices
History of Science — Tosafot, Maimonides, Alexander the Great, and flat earthers
Art and philosophy: what does it mean for something to mean something?
Post-modernism and the Talmud: did the Talmud really beat European philosophers by 1200 years?

Sundays
         1:00 – 2:30         Rahmiel Hayyim Drizin, Professor of Kabbalah
         Studies In Zohar
This class will examine classic Zohar sections that appear in the beginning of the Holy Zohar, using Daniel Matt’s wondrous translation as a side text.  Continuing from last Semester, with context provided for new students, we will move through the Zohar with an eye towards meditative connection and personal transcendence. 

For questions and to enroll, call 847/ 679-4113 or email, info@hebrewseminary.org