Debates—philosophical, spiritual, ethical, and cultural—are at the heart of Judaism and Jewish life. Are religion and reason compatible? Can Jewish law change based on context? How do we teach and talk about the Holocaust and the State of Israel? Should we prioritize Jewish causes or universal causes in our giving? Is Jewish tradition intrinsically patriarchal and ableist? Is our relationship with God defined by human obligation or divine compassion?

The Jewish Theological Seminary's Beyond Dispute is a substantive, text-based exploration of how these debates have been manifested over the course of Jewish history, and to lead rich discussion about their continued resonance for contemporary Jewish life. The course enables students to go beyond the conflicts themselves to uncover the essential questions that underlie them, and to build a more inclusive view of the Jewish past, present, and future.

Each unit of the course includes a short video lecture, classical and contemporary study texts, and more.

All courses will be accesible on ZOOM:

Please click here or follow the link to join class on ZOOM: https://zoom.us/j/5403365269
Password: CBI2020
Audio Only Call-In: +19292056099
Meeting ID: 540 336 5269
Phone Password: 149321

Course Contents

I. INTRODUCTION

1. Does Dispute Unite Us or Divide Us? The Complex Legacy of Debate in Jewish Tradition
    

II. DISPUTING JEWISH PRACTICE

2. Is Judaism Particularist or Universalist? Giving Tzedakah in a Global Era: Rabbi Jan Uhrbach
3. When Can We Legitimately Modify Tradition? Waging War on Shabbat: Rabbi Eliezer Diamond, PhD
4. Do We Need to Mean What We Pray? Sacrifices in the Siddur: Rabbi Daniel Nevins
5. Who Wields Authority in Jewish Ritual? Smashing Wine Barrels and the Patriarchy: Dr. Marjorie Lehman
    

III.  DISPUTING THE ESSENCE OF JUDAISM

6. What Defines Our Relationship with God? A Tale of Two Covenants: Dr. Benjamin Sommer
7. Does the Torah Contain Everything We Need to Know? The Maimonidean Controversy: Dr. Alan Mittleman
8. Is Judaism a Religion of the Heart or the Mind—and Who Decides? Hasidism and its Opponents: Dr. David Fishman
    

IV. DISPUTING THE JEWISH FUTURE

9. What Do We Mean by Jewish Continuity? The Legacy of “Be Fruitful and Multiply”: Dr. Michal Raucher
10. How Much Should Tragedy Define Us? The Holocaust in Contemporary Jewish Life: Dr. Edna Friedberg
11. Can Commitment and Critique Coexist? Teaching Israel in the 21st Century: Dr. Alex Sinclair