 Captivating Cases in Rabbinic ResponsaListen in on the surprising, practical questions your ancestors asked rabbis across Jewish history. Join this six-session course to discover the little-known world of rabbinic responsa, a vast archive of the real-life questions of ethics and practice Jews asked across history—and the scholarly answers rabbis wrote.
6 Wednesdays,
Township Sonoma 294 W Napa St Suite 100, Sonoma Instructor: Rabbi Mendy Wenger 
Lesson 1 What do these questions reveal about our ancestors? What did they think, feel, and value? Explore five fascinating stories to find out. 
Lesson 2 Do sages make assumptions about how reality works, or do they investigate the facts? Follow rabbis as they conduct five fascinating investigations worldwide. 
Lesson 3 See inside the process that enables the Torah’s ancient code to guide life in an ever-changing world. Witness the precise process of applying Talmudic precedent. 
Lesson 4 Explore four unexpected rulings to uncover the hidden fallback mechanisms within Jewish law: these aren’t exceptions to the law. They’re the law revealing its quiet values (like human dignity, and peace in the home). 
Lesson 5 Rules don’t always translate into reality easily. See how sages account for the practical, social, and emotional realities around a question to ensure their ruling leads to its intended outcome. 
Lesson 6 Could Artificial Intelligence decide Jewish law? Is lab-grown meat kosher? See how Jewish law is addressing the questions posed by tomorrow’s cutting-edge technology. |
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