Leaving the Profits of the Law for the Law of the Prophets

A guest post by Rabbi Anthony Manning

One of the reasons that I enjoy teaching at Machon Lander is the maturity of its students. There is something marvellous about expounding the world of Torah to women (or men) who have been learning different meforshim all their lives, and watching the jigsaw pieces fall into place with a satisfying ‘aaah!’

The Women’s Learning Initiative caters for women of all ages with a broad range of backgrounds. Some of the students have accumulated a lifetime of learning, while others snatch occasional shiurim whenever they find a free hour in their busy lives. The unifying factor which brings them all to Machon Lander is their thirst for broad-based knowledge and understanding.

My course this Elul will examine the impact of hashkafic issues on the development of halacha. Are the principles and applications of Jewish Law fixed and immutable – unaffected by the shifting sands of society, or can they sometimes be moulded by historical, social, philosophical and practical factors?

Take Bat Mitzvah, as an example. Different generations have chosen to mark their daughters’ 12^th birthdays in meaningful ways.  Are these all legitimate expressions of religious needs or new and dangerous innovations coming from non-halachic sources?

I used to work as a partner in a City of London law firm and give shiurim in my spare time, but I found myself increasingly drawn to a deeper immersion in the fascinating world of halacha rather than British property law! That’s why I moved with my family to Israel 8 years ago, to learn and teach full time. Without question, the more one learns, the more there is to learn. The Women’s Learning Initiative at Machon Lander has given me new opportunities to develop exciting shiurim on challenging areas of Jewish law. I invite you to join me in exploring some fascinating themes during the Elul sessions.