The question of why there is evil is one that has perplexed rabbis and philosophers since time immemorial. Consider the impact of Hurricane Katrina, terror in Syria, the plight of refugees and the scars of the Holocaust in our own day. As Jews, we look to the Hebrew Bible and rabbinic literature for responses to these questions:
- Why do the righteous suffer and the wicked prosper?
- Does God perpetrate evil or are there other causes?
- How is our belief in a just God compatible with human dignity and free will?
In this 10-week course, we will engage in a close reading of selected texts from the Hebrew Bible: the binding of Isaac, Moses and the Thirteen Attributes of Mercy, Job and the prophets concerned with the “hidden face” of God. Drawing on the after-life of these texts in rabbinic literature and modern Jewish philosophy, we will consider whether the problem of “the hiding of God’s face” has changed for Jews since the Holocaust and the foundation of the State of Israel.
Instructor: Dr. Rachel Adelman
Financial aid available.
Schedule: Weekly through December 17, 2018 (some weeks are skipped due to holidays; visit hebrewcollege.edu/meah for exact dates)
About Me’ah Select:
Jump into a 10-week, in-depth exploration of a specific theme, text, personality or slice of Jewish history led by our outstanding Me’ah faculty! Targeted to adult learners of all backgrounds, whether you are seeking to take a first step or the next step in your education journey.
Our talented faculty is known for their scholarship and dynamic approach to adult learning, and bring their Me’ah Select classes to life through the study of literature, history, art and original texts and source material.
Taught at the college level, but without papers and assignments, you will dig deeply and gain new perspectives into fascinating topics.
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Newton, MA 02459
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