Tamid of Hebrew College Adult Learning Tamid Faculty Spotlight:
Rabbi Benjamin Samuels
As part of our new Tamid of Hebrew College faculty spotlight series, we recently spoke with Me’ah Classic instructor Rabbi Benjamin (“Benjie”) Samuels about his teaching, his love of rabbinic Judaism, and how he hopes to empower his students to chart their Jewish paths. He has been a member of the Hebrew College Me’ah faculty since 1996.
Q. What do you like best about teaching at Hebrew College and particularly teaching adult learners?
Adult learners are highly motivated, sophisticated thinkers. They all have different Jewish learning and general knowledge backgrounds, but what they share in common is the earned wisdom of life experience. This grants them new perspectives on ancient Jewish texts, especially when they study them for the first time.
Q. How have Hebrew College students inspired you?
As it says in the Talmud (Taanit 7a): Rabbi Ḥanina said: “Much have I learned from my teachers, more from my colleagues, but from my students most of all.”
Q. What is your specialty and why did you choose it?
I have rabbinic ordination, a masters in Bible and Medieval Jewish history, and a PhD in Science, Philosophy, and Religion, and have been blessed to have studied deeply many disciplines and Jewish textual canons. I teach broadly from these and other disciplines.
Q. What is a text you love to teach and why?
I particularly enjoy teaching Meah Classic Rabbinics. No matter what kind of (post-)modern Jew we identify as, we are all heirs to the rabbinic tradition. People think the Hebrew Bible is the Sacred Scripture of the Jewish people, and it is, but only through the lens of rabbinic Judaism. My students are grateful to be introduced to their textual heritage.
Q. What is a text you love that is unrelated to teaching adult learners?
I love to study and love to teach, both of which are inextricably entwined.
Q. Outside of teaching, what is something you love about Judaism?
A life of service and purpose.
Q. An adult learning instructor can play multiple roles. How would you describe your role in a few words?
I actually only try to play one role as a Tamid teacher — a teacher of Jewish wisdom in all its varieties who aspires to empower his students with skills and knowledge to proudly own their own Jewish heritage and chart their own Jewish destiny.
Learn more about Tamid adult learning programs and view the online course catalog.
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