Courses

HEBREW SEMINARY FALL SEMESTER 2024 COURSE OFFERINGS

September 3, 2024 – January 17, 2025
No classes Sept 30-Oct 4, Oct 14-18, Oct 24-25, Nov 28-29, Dec 24-Jan 1
(All class times are listed in Central Time & are held online via Zoom)

Monday

9:30am – 11am CT
Introduction to Jewish Philosophy

Instructor: Rabbi Dr. Michael Gold

Tuesdays

5:30pm – 7:00pm CT

Parashat Hashavua
The Weekly Torah Portion
Instructor: Rabbi Shari Chen

Wednesdays

10:00am – 11:30am CT
Biblical Hebrew II
Instructor: Rabbi Shari Chen

1:30pm – 3:00pm CT
Labor Law in the Babylonian Talmud and Halakhic Literature Instructor: Rabbi Daniel Vaisrub

Thursdays

9:30am – 11:00am CT
Chasidic Readings of the Talmud Instructor: Rabbi Jonah Rank

Click below to go to registration section

Introduction to Jewish Philosophy
Instructor: Rabbi Dr. Michael Gold

Mondays 9:30am - 11:00am CT (Begins Sept 9, 2024)

This is a survey course of Jewish philosophy, beginning with Biblical thought and continuing to contemporary Jewish thought. It will explore how Judaism interacts with the Greek philosophical tradition, looking at the philosophy of such thinkers as Philo, Saadia Gaon, Judah HaLevi, Maimonides, Spinoza, and a number of modern Jewish philosophers. It will also explore the Jewish mystical tradition. Finally, the class will consider such contemporary issues as Zionism, post-Holocaust theology, Jewish feminism, and postmodern Judaism. Students taking the course for credit will be required to write three brief papers on various topics in Jewish philosophy.

Tuesdays 5:30pm - 7:00pm CT (Begins Sept 3, 2024)

Parashat Hashavua The Weekly Torah Portion Instructor: Rabbi Shari Chen

Whether you are becoming a pulpit Rabbi giving sermons, or an officiant conducting life cycle events or a teacher or a student of the meaning behind Divrei Torah (the words of our Torah), it is necessary to become familiar with our weekly Torah portion. Each week we will read select passages from the Parashat Hashavua and explore the different levels of meaning of the portion as well as the Hebrew and grammar found in it, and how to incorporate its teachings into your life. Come join us as we learn, analyze and discuss Divrei Torah (the words of our Torah. This class is open to all students.

Biblical Hebrew II
Instructor: Rabbi Shari Chen

Wednesdays 10:00am – 11:30am CT (Begins Sept 4, 2024)

In this course we will continue to explore and learn key Biblical Hebrew concepts that we began studying this summer. We will continue to use The First Hebrew Primer Third Edition textbook by Simon, Resnikoff and Motzkin, published by EKS Publishing Company. Enrollment in this Zoom course will be based on completion of Hebrew Seminary’s summer’s Beginning Hebrew II course, or permission from the Instructor is required to enroll in this class.)

Labor Law in the Babylonian Talmud and Halakhic Literature
Instructor: Rabbi Daniel Vaisrub

Wednesdays 1:30pm - 3:00pm CT (Begins Sept 4, 2024)

We will read through a contemporary analysis of classical Rabbinic texts on social justice, read the source texts in their original languages, see how the author reads and interprets these texts, and apply their teachings to our world today. We get to wear both our Talmud hats and our political economy hats at the same time!

Chasidic Readings of the Talmud
Instructor: Rabbi Jonah Rank

Thursdays 9:30am - 11:00am (Begins Sept 5, 2024)

In this course, we will study samples of mystical interpretations of passages of the Babylonian Talmud. Although many regard the Talmud as a heavily legal work, the spiritual mind never ceases to excavate religion—or the world—for spiritual meaning. Such was the case for the Chasidic masters who trained under and in the generations that followed the Ba’al Shem Tov (1699-1760), the founder of Chasidism. This course will concentrate on the Talmud-inspired teachings attributed to Menachem Nachum of Chernobyl (1730-1797) in Yesammach Lev, edited by Eliyyahu ben Ze’ev Wolf of Yurevitch and first printed in 1798. Familiarity with basics of Hebrew grammar and vocabulary required.