Jewish Studies, 12 - 2

Dr. Saundra Sterling Epstein

Updated January 21, 2010

This second trimester, we are focused on the learning of Gemara, understanding its issues and concepts and coming to a better comprehension of the culture and context that produces it.  This requires and challenges many of us to forget for a moment the reality of our lives and the issues that we find to be burning; for the language and the concerns of Gemara are really quite different, notwithstanding the notion that we can and definitely do apply its teachings and law to various aspects of contemporary life.  We will be going through the following texts this trimester:

I. In finishing up the Case Study from Trimester I, we are looking at Kiddushim, Perek Aleph and Perek Bet, the beginning discussions of HaIsha Niknet and HaIsh Mekadesh.

II. Conversion and different related practices and questions -- This is a particularly difficult topic due to how it has developed.  We begin with appropriate texts from Tanach and then go to Yevamot and Sanhedrin for the Gemara text.

Grades for this course are based 100% on participation. Students are to work in Chevrutot and then contribute to the learning in our Shiyur.  Absences will have to be accounted for and students will be asked on occasion to hand in written work if too many class sessions do not produce the type of effort that I am asking of the participants in this class.

I have been specifically asked to do this as Torah Lishmah, learning for the sake of learning, and am happy to do so.  Students in this class have to live up to their side of the bargain which is to be attentive, involved and consistently present in our discussions.