Winter Semester

Find out what all the excitement is about.

The shiurim will take place on Wednesdays Wednesday’s December January 4,2012-March 7, 2012, from 9:15-1:30 at Machon Lander Rechov Am VeOlamo 3, in Givat Shaul.

The only cost is a one time 150₪ registration fee for the entire program!!

Please note: The 5% or online  or early registration discounts do not include the Womens Learning Program!!

Schedule for The  Winter 2012 Semester

Simi Peters                                                                                                                                           9:15:10:30

Topic: Insights into Megilat Esther

How do Chazal understand the unfolding of events in Megillat Esther?  Why does the Megillah conceal, as well as reveal?  What can we understand about the difference between the Jewish and pagan minds from this story?  Our close reading of selected sections of Megillat Esther will help us answer these and other questions.

Rabbi Anthony Manning (Jan 4-Feb 1)                                                                                       10:40-11:55

Topic: Who is a Heretic – an in depth examination of Maimonides’ 13 Principles of Faith

The course be in two self-standing parts at end of the fall and winter semesters and will look in depth at content of the Rambam’s 13 Ikarim and also examine more broadly the context in which they were written, how they were received by the Jewish world and the contemporary implications they have to the issue of ‘who is a heretic’.

Dr. Chana Tannenbaum (Feb 8-March 7)                                                                                  10:40-11:55

Topic:  Royal Biblical Women

The course will examine some of the Tanach’s lesser known women whose lives were affected by their interaction with royalty. Either as active participants or innocent bystanders, these fascinating characters’ experiences-positive and negative- inspire students to analyze and try to comprehend their lives, loves and challenges on a deeper level.

Rabbi Berl Wein                                                                                                                                                                        12:15-13:30

Topic:  Challenges to Traditional Jewish Belief and responses

This Jewish History course will explore challenges to traditional Jewish thought will begin focusing on the Sadducees, the Karaite and progress to the nineteenth century’s period of the Haskalah.

Rabbi Yitzchak Blau (Feb 1,8, 15 ) 12:15-13:30

Topic:  Positive and Negative Biblical Characters in the Talmud

Why do Chazal seem dedicated to denigrating Esav and Bilaam, attributing to them a myriad of sins.  Conversely, Chazal apparently whitewash the transgressions of Dovid Hamelekh and other  righteous figures.  During this three part series, we will analyze the relevant gemarot and come to a deeper understanding of Chazal’s method.