with Rav Aubrey L. Glazer, PhD (Beth Abraham Synagogue)
DESCRIPTION: What makes Jewish learning so compelling while so seemingly unique? Jewish Thought touches on universal themes of spirituality, ethics, psychology, and society using a uniquely Jewish vocabulary drawn from Torah. Every historical era creatively uses Torah stories, metaphors, and teachings to advance our understanding. In this course we will become acquainted with these many facets of Torah as they appear, evolve and transmit wisdom across Jewish history. We will sample from a tasting menu of Great Books on the Jewish bookshelf, classic texts from Biblical Poetry, Narrative and Law as well as Talmud, Midrash, Philosophy, Medieval Torah commentary, Kabbalah, Hasidism, and Poetry. When we learn the multiple lenses of Jewish thought, we gain keys to vast resources of spiritual teaching that will create more colors to paint upon the canvas of our thinking for the journey of self and community. Consider this course a tasting menu of the banquet of Jewish learning that awaits you on the next step of your journey. Learning how to learn is an invitation to exploring the treasure troves of Great Books on the Jewish bookshelf.
INSTRUCTOR: Rav Aubrey L. Glazer, PhD (Beth Abraham Synagogue) rav@bethabrahamdayton.org
Competencies: Students who complete this course should be able to:
REFER TO: the course syllabus below.
Book: Holtz, Barry W. Back to the Sources: Reading the Classic Jewish Texts. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1992. [BTTS] (A synagogue member has purchased a limited number of copies of this book. They are available on a first come/first served basis via request to bas@bethabrahamdayton.org.)
BOOKMARK: Ecclesiastes (Qohelet) in all its 12 chapters available for each session in these formats:
HEVRUTA: This is the name for the classic mode of dyadic learning. Each week we will be studying materials during class-time together interactively downloaded from the Beth Abraham website as PDFs. A link to the PDF pages will be sent to you.
ZOOM CLASSROOM: Our permanent class Zoom Room: https://tinyurl.com/mryfd93b
Meeting ID: 844 4077 4349
Passcode: 170087
What is a good glossary?
Our weekly challenge is to share a good glossary definition of the salient term in Jewish Thought. This is an exercise in summation and precision. Read the assigned Back to the Sources section for the key term of the week, and then in your own words, in a total of 5 clear sentences, define and summarize the term, explaining or defining difficult or unusual words and expressions used in the text. Your task is to share with our group a helpful definition or explanation so that we understand what we are learning in Jewish Thought together.
Reviewing Syllabus, Texts, Formats, Expectations, Backgrounds & Glossary Challenge
Reading Jewish Texts: Define Method of PaRD”eS = Peshat + Remez + Derash + Sod
Hevruta: *1_Essence of Torah_Matt_EKZ” (Zohar II: 176a-b)
Hevruta: *see above (Zohar III: 98a-98b)
Glossary: BTTS, Holtz, 11-30
Bible 1: Biblical Poetry— How can we define the peshat of “havel havalim” Qohelet 1:2?
Hevruta: *PDF1: 2_Biblical Poetry in Qohelet ch1 v2.docx
Hevruta: *PDF2: 2_Poem by Richard Wilbur_Ecclesiastes ch11 v1
Glossary: BTTS, Lichtenstein, 105-128, Padlet
OPTIONAL ADVANCED: Alter_Art_of_Biblical_Poetry
Bible 2: Biblical Law —On tithing, charity and donations in Qohelet 11: 1
Hevruta: *PDF1: 3_Teshuva of R. Shmuel Ariel on Qohelet ch11 v1.docx;
Hevruta: *PDF2: 2_Poem by Richard Wilbur_Ecclesiastes ch11 v1
Glossary: BTTS, Greenstein, 83-104, Padlet
Bible 3: Biblical Narrative—What is the story behind the darkness of death? How can we arrive at a coherent narrative if this narrative is to be understood allegorically? literally? or eschatologically?
Hevruta: Biblical Narrative on Qohelet 12 1 to 8
Glossary: BTTS, Rosenberg, 31-82, Padlet
Rabbinics (Talmud)—Astrology, Divination & Mazel Tov?
Qohelet 11:1
Hevruta: *PDF1: 5_Rabbinics_Talmud on Qohelet ch11 v1;
Glossary: BTTS, Goldenberg, 129-176, Padlet
6.Exegesis (Midrash)— Being born… dying
Hevruta: 6_Exegesis on Qoheleth ch 3 v2.docx
Glossary: BTTS, Holtz, 177-212, Padlet
Medieval Commentary (Parshanut) — Politics, Power, & Patience
Hevruta: PDF: 7_Parshanut on Qohelet ch8 v1, also 7_Parshanut on Qohelet ch10 v4
Glossary: BTTS, Greenstein, 213-260, Padlet
Medieval Jewish Philosophy (Mahshevet Yisrael)—Why light is only “sweet” to angels
Qohelet 11:7
Hevruta: *8_Medieval Jewish Philosophy on Qohelet ch11 v7.docx
Hevruta: *PDF2: Rabbeinu Bahya ben Asher on Qohelet 11:7 (link to come)
Glossary: BTTS, Samuelson, 261-304, Padlet
Medieval Mysticism (Kabbalah)—Upper & Lower Garden of Eden
Qohelet 4:2
Hevruta: *9_Zohar 182a on Qohelet 4_2
Glossary: BTTS, Fine, 305-360, Padlet
Pietism: Hasidism—Walking that Narrow Bridge Between Insanity & Exalted Consciousness
Qohelet 5:11, 10: 3
Hevruta: *PDF1: 10_Hasidism on Qohelet ch5 v11
Hevruta: *PDF2: 10_Hasidism on Qohelet ch10 v3
Glossary: BTTS, Green, 361-402, Padlet
Hevruta: *PDF, The Sun Qohelet Knew Not_tr