Talmud Study
This weekly class on Zoom uncovers how the Talmud and later rabbinic texts have defined Jewish thought and practice from antiquity up to today. Using core Talmudic texts as a foundation, we see how the earliest rabbis thought deeply about issues of Jewish ritual, philosophy, spirituality, and civic life. We explore how those ideas evolved over the millennia and across the globe to influence Jewish life today. This class essentially asks versions of the big question: “How did it come to be that certain Jews do [fill in the blank]?” We learn about the key periods, figures, and texts in rabbinic history; the intellectual and spiritual diversity of global Jewish life; and the ways that Halakha (Jewish law) has developed and evolved to this day.
Classes are a mix of close-text reading, group reflection and questions, and several lectures on introductory concepts. This class is ideal for beginner and intermediate learners - no prior knowledge is assumed, and all texts are provided in both English translation and their original language (Hebrew and Aramaic).
Recordings of past classes are available if missed or for newcomers.
OUR TEACHER - RABBI JESSE PAIKIN
Rabbi Paikin is the Executive Director for Base, a division of Moishe House. Prior to his current position, he served as a rabbi at Washington’s Sixth & I Historic Synagogue, where he held a Fellowship from the Jewish Emergent Network – a group of seven upstart, independent spiritual communities. He also recently served as a Research Fellow with M², the Institute for Experiential Jewish Education, where he researched and designed new pedagogies to influence the ways that Jewish educators teach.
Rabbi Paikin is honoured to be teaching at Kol Ami, where he grew up, celebrated his Bar Mitzvah and Confirmation, and was a leader in TAKAY, our youth group.
