Other Adult Education Classes

Members of Or Zarua are sometimes involved in sharing their learning with the rest of the Congregation.

A prime example of this are the classes taught by Congregant Marc Ashley each year, on the Sunday mornings between Pesah and Shavu'ot, exploring various historical and theological issues attendant to classical notions of the nature and authority of the Oral Law.

Here's a brief look at the courses Marc has taught over the past few years, and an introduction to this year's class, which will take place on Sunday, April 26, and May 3 and 17, at 10:00 am:

2003: "These and Those are the Words of the Living God: Dynamics of the Oral Law" examined traditional Jewish conceptions of the legacy of the Sinaitic revelation and how two seemingly contradictory interpretations of the Torah can both reflect the will of God - and how modern Jewish denominational differences are traceable to these issues.

2004: "Jewish Law: On Whose Authority?", examined historical and theological issues concerning the origins of the Torah sheb'al peh (the Oral Law) and the exercise of rabbinic authority. Modern debates about the nature of Jewish law were highlighted, especially as relate to the development of the Conservative movement.

2005: "Not in Heaven", an examination of subjectivity and the Oral Law, focused on the halakhic decision making process.

2006: "Between Heresy and Pluralism: What Can A Jew Believe?" considered the complex issues surrounding the question of what - if anything - a Jew must believe and the extent to which there is room for pluralism within Judaism.

2007: "Accept the Truth From Whoever Says It". In "Torah and Knowledge: Should We 'Accept the Truth from Whoever Says It'?", we discussed the range of sources that Jewish thinkers have traditionally turned to for their views concerning God, history and even Jewish law. How broadly should we construe the scope and self-sufficiency of "Torah"? In the pursuit of truth and religious faith, how extensively should we consult gentile wisdom and secular disciplines? Through these questions, we will focus on how Judaism has interacted and grappled with the outside world while struggling to preserve its own integrity and distinctiveness.

2008: "Leap of Faith: When History and Tradition Collide." An examination of how tradition deals with inconsistencies between traditional beliefs and scientific discoveries which contradict those beliefs.

2009: "A Thousand Unsolved Riddles: Searching for Reasons for the Commandments". This year we'll be discussing how the issue of 'ta'amei mitzvot' has been dealt with over the centuries. Is it permissible for us to look for reasons for mitzvot for which there seem not to be apparent reasons? Is it possible for there not to be rational reasons for mitzvot or is it just our lack of sufficient wisdom which leads us to believe that some mitzvot are without logical bases? Should our performance of mitzvot depend upon our comprehension of them? How do we identify those mitzvot which fall into the category of hukim - that is, mitzvot for which there seem not to be understandable reasons? All congregants are welcome, and no prior knowledge is required. Please join us for a stimulating historical survey and discussion of these crucial issues in Jewish thought.