Short link to this class: goo.gl/UK2ny5
Introduction
So, just who is your teacher and what's this class all about?
My Background: I grew up and went to high school in North Miami Beach then on to Dartmouth College for my BA. I spent a year learning in Jerusalem, then five more at the Jewish Theological Seminary where I was ordained as a rabbi in 1994. After a decade of working in synagogues, I got my Ph.D in Education at the University of Maryland and served as a head of school for Jewish day schools in St. Louis and Silicon Valley. Four years ago I moved from Palo Alto to Dallas to launch Tech EdVentures, a growing start-up company that teaches engineering and computer programming skills to young kids.
As you can tell from my professional background, I have VERY broad interests.
What is this class about? Pretty much one question: "How do we figure out what is good or bad, right or wrong?" It's a tricky, beautiful and sometimes scary question. I don't believe that our gut level opinions are always reliable in these tight spots. We need something bigger. For me, that's Torah. But just what is "Torah?" We'll that's what we'll figure out.
Is there a textbook? Yup. You're looking at it. Bring a smart phone, iPad or some such device to class. Since our textbook is digital it will change each week.
Topics: Here's what we're talking about.
- Tragic Trolleys LINK to class
- Facebook Friends LINK to class
- Nefarious Bystanders LINK to class
- Thirsty Travelers LINK to class
- Righteous Liars LINK to class
What's a tragic trolley??? Just go with it. You'll figure out by the first week.
Wisdom from the Crowd
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This is a little scratch-pad where we'll jot down bold statements of truth as we come across them...
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Jewish Library Catalog
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Mishnah:
A collection of Jewish law and explanations of Torah. As old as the Torah but never written down since the Mishnah was only taught by memorization from teacher to student among the Rabbis who lived in the Land of Israel. Finally written down around 200 CE as the Romans threatened to kill off all teachers and Torah and the Rabbis did not want their tradition forgotten.
Talmud:
After the memorized tradition was written down in 200 CE, the Rabbis continued to discuss it in academies in the Land of Israel and in Babylon. They argued about every possible detail, tried to prove which decisions were the one's they received from God and often added new ideas. All these discussions were recorded as the Talmud around 450 CE. The Talmud is THE major source of what we know as Judaism today. Without the Talmud it would be hard to tell the difference between Judaism and other religions like Christianity.
Midrash:
Rashi's commentary on the Torah:
Rambam's Yad Hazakah:
Shulchan Aruch:
The Chat Room.
It's the "open mic" part of the class.
Rabbi Allen's Music Library.
This might be the part of class you remember best...
- Run DMC - Peter Piper - https://youtu.be/r1kVo8vB18E
- DJ Jazzy Jeff - Peter Piper Mix - https://youtu.be/rgYJjCgZoJA
- Steps Ahead - Pools - https://youtu.be/zBAJ8P9y4lE
- Blues Traveler - But Anyway - https://youtu.be/0fz7LWA8e24
More to come each week...