Delving deeper into Jewish history

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Study is a central practice in Judaism, and in many ways there has never been a better time to approach Jewish texts and traditions.  Yeshivas have expanded, online resources abound, and many universities now offer Jewish studies courses. Yet for adults in secular occupations, study is often difficult. Synagogues typically offer only short-term, introductory courses, while online programs lack the interaction and social dimension of in-person classes. Some in-depth adult learning courses do exist, such as the Meah and the Melton programs, but these require at least a one-year commitment and are offered only intermittently on a regional basis.

 

To fill that gap, Temple Emanu-El in Providence has partnered with four other congregations – Agudas Achim, Beth Sholom, Temple Sinai and the West Bay Chavurah – to offer “Delve Deeper: A Program of Intensive Jewish Study.” Supported by a grant from the Jewish Alliance’s Local Innovation Fund, the program will run for at least four semesters through 2018. It starts this spring with a 10-week course, hosted at Temple Emanu-El. “Rabbis, Mystics, Philosophers and Poets: An Introduction to Medieval Judaism” begins on March 8 and runs most Wednesday nights, 7-9 p.m., through May 24. The fee is $200, but full and partial scholarships are available.

The instructor is Alan Verskin, a Temple Emanu-El congregant and assistant professor in history at the University of Rhode Island. Verskin specializes in medieval Judaism and Islam, and he points out that this time period was when practical Judaism developed.

“The compiling of the Talmud was an amazingly transformative process. But we forget that those discussions took place mainly within the academies. It wasn’t until the later centuries that rabbis and ordinary people started applying those insights and practices to daily life. In the process, they initiated another outburst of innovation and creativity that guides much of what we do and think today, from the formation of prayer books to Kabbalah.”

The class will be a mix of lecture and discussion. No prior knowledge of Jewish history is required, but each session will have readings beforehand. The goal is for people to learn as much from each other as from the instructor.

“We’re delighted to offer this course,” said Rachel Zerin, associate rabbi at Temple Emanu-El, who worked with her congregation’s adult education committee to develop the program. “We’ve set it up to bring together people representing a range of Jewish and educational backgrounds. And we see it as the beginning of a group of advanced learners who will help to design future courses and deepen their study of our tradition.”

To register for the course, please go to teprov.org/institute/delvedeeper.

JOHN LANDRY lives in Providence and serves on the adult education committee at Temple Emanu-El.