Sunday mornings, September 7, 21 and 28
Instructor: Dr. Al Ray

One of the great mysteries of human history is that the Jewish people survived two thousand years of exile and persecution and still emerged vibrant and intact. The Talmud was instrumental in making this possible, for it allowed us as a people to adapt to new conditions and exigencies while never diminishing the sanctity of the Torah.

Take the example of “the disciplined son.” The Torah states: “When a man has a stubborn and rebellious son…all the city’s people shall batter him with stones so he dies.” (Deut. 21:18-21) Even the earliest generations of Rabbis realized that this, and many other ancient Biblical laws, were intolerable and needed to be “reasoned” out of existence. But this needed to be accomplished without diminishing the sanctity of the laws that were considered to have been handed down at Mt. Sinai.

Dr. Al Ray will discuss this and many other examples of the Talmud’s adaptability as he takes us on a journey back in time to the generation that founded Rabbinic Judaism. We’ll learn why it was not only permissible, but imperative, to interpret the laws so that the Torah could be a “living” document to its people. Dr. Ray will also provide insights into how this great enterprise speaks to us as modern Reform Jews.

Grab your bagel and coffee at Café Beth Israel on the way to class and enjoy an informal atmosphere of lively discussion and participation.

Register online below. For more information, contact Program Director Bonnie Graff at bgraff@cbisd.org or call (858) 535-1111 ext. 2597.