Explore the complex divisions within Jewish communities today and throughout history, from political rifts in the U.S. to religious and ideological tensions in Israel.
ONLINE
THURSDAYS, 10:00-11:30am (ET) February 13 - April 3, 2025
For three years, the House of Hillel and the House of Shammai argued. One said, 'The halakha is like us,' and the other said, 'The halakha is like us.' A heavenly voice spoke: "These and these are the words of the living God.”
(Babylonian Talmud, Eruvin 13b)
Course Description :
In this eye-opening course, we’ll explore the growing divisions within Jewish communities, from the diverse views of Jewish Americans to the deep religious and political rifts among Jews in Israel. Recent political turmoil in the U.S. has highlighted how Jewish Americans navigate their identities through differing perspectives on social, economic, and foreign policies. Meanwhile, Israel’s Jewish population faces its own struggles with unity. Is this fragmentation a modern challenge, or does it reflect a long-standing pattern in Jewish history? Join us as we dive into the complexities of Jewish identity, community, and division throughout time.
1. Birthrights and Birth Wrongs
2. North vs South: Jewish Civil Wars
3. Solomon's "Bayit": Myths and Realities
4.Prophets and Loss
5. Sects, Violence and the Challenge of Christian Universalism
6. Rabbinic Judaism: Mishna and Memory
7. Radical Reconstruction by Talmudic Judaism--Why and for Whom?
8. "The Shul I Don't Go To": Reflections on the future of Jewish peoplehood
THURSDAYS, 10:00-11:30am (ET)
Dates: Feb. 13, 20, 27; Mar. 6, 13, 20, 27; Apr. 3
