The Faculty of the Schechter Institute of Jewish Studies in Jerusalem Presents:
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A Six Lecture Series on Contemporary Issues in Jewish Life Live from Israel via Video Conference Sundays, 9:00 am - 11:00 am January 10, 2010 |
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| The Lectures |
Judaism and Ecology Judaism and Ecology will examine some general principles related to the Jewish attitude towards ecology and mankind’s relationship to nature and the environment. In addition, the talk will focus specifically on a halakhic study of air pollution in the Israeli desert town of Arad. The Saving of the Jewish Soul Abraham Joshua Heschel was a passionate critic of modernity and a passionate lover of Jewish life and the Jewish people. We will look at a less known text written by Heschel and published recently by his daughter, Susannah Heschel, Pikuach Neshama: The Saving of the Jewish Soul. In it we will see how he begs for Jewish solidarity and simplicity at a time when Judaism projected a much lower profile than it does today. Jewish Renewal: What is the Place of Jewish Law? One of the most important contemporary cultural-religious phenomena in non-Orthodox Judaism is the Jewish renewal that has been taking place in the last few decades. This renaissance began with a renewed interest in studying Jewish texts, but has explored the desirability and feasibility of creating a contemporarily relevant halakhah (Jewish Law).
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In Israel, the foremost thinker who has examined the notion of a non-Orthodox form of Jewish Law is Prof. Eliezer Schweid. Although the immediate context of his thought is the secular religious divide in Israel, his teachings also have profound ramifications for liberal Judaism in the Diaspora. Psychological Aspects of Long before Freud, Erickson or Bandura, Judaism was a thriving civilization. As in all cultures, it meets the emotional spiritual and communal needs of its members. To the degree that Judaism has survived for over 2000 years, those who study the nature of the human condition will agree that these basic needs are met well. We will examine basic psychological needs and explore how these needs are met by the system of rites and practices we call Judaism. Defining Beauty: Aesthetics and Rabbinic Literature The lecture will attempt to define a concept of aesthetics and beauty as seen through the eyes of our rabbinic sages. Our test case will be Adam, the first human created by God. Though Adams’ beauty is not stated in the Bible, the rabbis saw him as a symbol of the “Ideal Man.” The Torah says, “And God created man in His image” (Gen. 1:27). We will examine midrashic texts on the creation of Adam and ask what part of us reflects the image of God. How did the Rabbis answer this question? How were they influenced by Hellenistic concepts? How do we define beauty and what is its significance on our lives today?
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Business Ethics Contrary to what many think, Jewish law and ethics have much to say about the world of business: accurate weights and measures, overcharging, verbal deception, false packaging and much more. It is no secret that ethics and business are not always compatible. As a matter of fact, they frequently seem to be a contradiction in terms. Despite this problem, or perhaps because of it, our Sages emphasized the importance of business ethics. This lecture will lay out the basic principles of Jewish business ethics through a comprehensive overview of the subject using an array of Jewish texts. Registration
and Additional Information All lectures will be held at: Continental breakfast will be served.
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| Schechter Institute Faculty |
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Rabbi Prof. David Golinkin, President and Professor of Jewish Law at the Schechter Institute of Jewish Studies in Jerusalem | 
| Rabbi Dr. Einat Ramon, Modern Jewish Thought and Literature; Jewish Feminism | 
| Rabbi Dr. Paul Shrell-Fox, Psychology Sociology and Jewish Sources; Academic Advisor for Women’s Studies and Family and Community M.A. programs |
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Dr. Ari Ackerman, Jewish Philosophy and Education; Academic Advisor for the TALI Leadership M.A. Program | 
| Dr. Tamar Kadari, Midrash, Academic Advisor for Judaism and the Arts M.A. program |
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