Course Topic: Jewish Texts & Contexts

From Buffalo to Jerusalem:
An In-Depth Look at the History of American Zionism In-Person at Hebrew College

Program: Hebrew College Me’ah Select
Instructor: Rabbi Dan Judson (Read Bio)
Dates: 7 Mondays, Winter/Spring 2024:  3/25, 4/1, 4/8, 4/15, 5/6, 5/13 & 5/20
Time: 9:30 – 11 a.m.
Cost: $315, financial aid is available
Location: Zoom
Hosted by: Hebrew College

In evaluating the complicated and varied responses the American Jewish community had to the terrorist attack by Hamas and subsequent Israeli actions, it is worth taking a historical step back and tracing the history of American Zionism. Beginning with a look at 19th century American views of the Holy Land and moving through to the present day, we will examine the Jewish community’s sometimes fractious, sometimes unified approach to Zionism. With the aid of new research and books like Walter Russel Mead’s The Arc of a Covenant: The United States, Israel and the Fate of the Jewish People, we will be paying particular attention to the way that non-Jewish Americans have been as essential to the unfolding story of American Zionism as the Jewish community.

This course is first and foremost a history course, we will examine Louis Brandeis’s centrality to the Zionist movement, the first time America goes on record with support for Zionism, the politics around Truman’s recognition of Israel, and all manner of episodes relating to the development of American Zionism. The course, however, is primarily not going to be an opportunity to discuss the current situation, while the present day will never be far from our minds (how could it be), this course is for people who want a background in how America came to this place.

Note: This course will also be offered Online at Hebrew College on Monday evenings, 7:30-9 p.m. on the following dates: 1/29, 2/5, 2/12, 2/26, 3/4, 3/11 & 3/18.  Click here to register for this Online class.

 For more information, contact meah@hebrewcollege.edu

The Ethics of War and the Pursuit of Peace in Jewish Law and Thought – In Person at Temple Beth Elohim, Wellesley

Program: Hebrew College Me’ah Select
Instructor: Rabbi Benjamin Samuels (Read Bio)
Dates: 10 Wednesdays, Winter/Spring 2024:  2/7, 2/14, 2/28, 3/6, 3/13, 3/20, 3/27, 4/3, 4/10 & 4/17
Time: 9:30 – 11:30 a.m.
Cost: $450, financial aid is available
Location: In Person at Temple Beth Elohim, Wellesley
Hosted by: Temple Beth Elohim

Jews say hello and goodbye with the word “Shalom – Peace.” Our ultimate prayers (think “Sim Shalom” or the last line of Kaddish, “Oseh Shalom Bimromav”) are likewise blessings for peace. And yet, in the unredeemed world of the Jewish past and present, Jews have had to contend with war, terrorism, and violent persecution. How does a people whose opening words and most ardent prayers are for peace defend themselves from persecution, deal with terrorism, and wage war? Jewish tradition has a rich tradition of considering and debating the ethics of self-defense and the morality of war. These existential issues have become particularly pertinent for the Modern State of Israel in its 75 years of terror-and-war-filled history. In this course, we will study Jewish ethics of war and the pursuit of peace from biblical times to the present in Jewish law and thought. The method of our text-based learning will be to focus on ethical dilemmas born of past Jewish historical circumstances, learn related Jewish views from biblical and rabbinic literature, along with medieval and modern Jewish commentary, and robustly and respectfully discuss their moral applications and historical outcomes.

Note: This course will also be offered Online via Zoom on Monday mornings, 9:30-11:30 a.m. on the following dates: 2/5, 2/12, 2/26, 3/4, 3/11, 3/18, 3/25, 4/1, 4/8 & 4/15.  Click here to register for this Online via Zoom class.

 For more information, contact meah@hebrewcollege.edu

Survey Course on the Modern Period of Jewish History: Tuesday Mornings In Person at Hebrew College

Program: Hebrew College Me’ah Classic
Instructor: Rabbi Leonard Gordon (Modern)  (Read Bio)
Dates: 11 Tuesdays, Winter/Spring 2024: 1/16, 1/23, 1/30, 2/6, 2/13, 2/27, 3/5, 3/12, 3/19, 3/26 & 4/2
Time: 9:30 – 11:30 a.m.
Cost: $360, financial aid is available
Location: In person at Hebrew College:  1860 Washington Street| Newton, MA 02466
Hosted by: Hebrew College

Beginning with the 17th century Age of Enlightenment, modernity posed a significant challenge to traditional Jewish culture, community, and identity, creating new social and economic opportunities but also threatening traditional Jewish values and society. As in each of the previous eras, modern Jews remained preoccupied with sacred texts, suggesting that however great the impact of rupture and discontinuity, their passion for reading and re-reading classical Jewish texts became the creative wellspring for modern Jewish thought.

You’ll delve into some of these modern primary texts representing differing ideological viewpoints — works of Jewish philosophers such as Martin Buber and Franz Rosenzweig, and Zionist thinkers such as Ahad Ha’am and Micha Josef Berdyczewski — that mirror the issues faced by Jews of that era.

And you’ll wrestle with the subtle points of comparison and contrast between Jewish modernity and the civilization we’ve inherited. Texts will examine the emancipation of European Jewry; the rise of Hasidism; the Jewish cultural revolution of Eastern Europe; and the birth of Modern Zionism.

NOTE: This course is part of our Me’ah Classic program that we are opening to all who wish to learn about Modern Jewry. We hope you will enjoy taking this course and then register for the other sections of Me’ah Classic.

For more information, contact meah@hebrewcollege.edu