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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.
Algiers is under siege: May I pray in a bathhouse?
The Inquisition is watching: How will I celebrate Passover?
Seventeen Jews are held hostage in faraway Regensburg after a blood libel: Must I help pay their ransom?
See what enables Jewish tradition to offer relevant guidance in a rapidly changing world—and come face-to-face with raw Jewish history.
This course will satisfy the continuing education (CLE) requirements of lawyers and other legal professionals.
This course conveniently includes both daytime and evening class options. Daytime sessions feature a catered lunch for all participants. Evening sessions include the option of a catered dinner for those who wish. Food will be available from 7:15 pm and can be enjoyed during the class. Just choose the Course Registration + Dinner option when signing up and join us for a delicious dinner along with great learning!
Two Course Options:
Six Wednesday Afternoons
January 21, 28, February 4, 11, 18, 25
12:00 - 1:15 pm
Six Wednesday Evenings
January 21, 28, February 4, 11, 18, 25
7:30 - 9:00 pm
Classes take place at:
The Torah Center
5065 High Point Road
Atlanta, GA 30342
Online learning option available via Zoom
Course fee $149 (includes textbook and materials)
Dinner option $269 (includes course registration and dinner for all 6 sessions)
Sponsorship opportunities available
Course Overview:
Lesson 1
Dispatches of Devotion: Adherence to Jewish Law
Step inside the real-life questions that shaped Jewish law throughout the centuries—cases filled with courage, pressure, and unwavering commitment. Discover how ordinary Jews upheld halachah even in the most extraordinary circumstances.
Lesson 2
Torah in the Trenches: Fact-Finding in Legal Decision-Making
See how rabbis become investigators, blending science, expert insight, and lived reality to reach truthful rulings. These cases reveal a legal tradition deeply engaged with the world around it.
Lesson 3
Precedent in Practice: Past Rulings Applied to New Realities
Watch ancient principles illuminate modern dilemmas—from astronomy to vaccines, electricity, and early aviation. This lesson uncovers the creative art of analogy that keeps Jewish law responsive across time.
Lesson 4
Counterweights Considered: Competing Values and Exemptions
What happens when strict law meets compassion, dignity, or family needs? Explore remarkable rulings where rabbis weigh competing values and choose the path that honors the deeper intent of the tradition.
Lesson 5
The Fifth Factor: Emotional and Situational Wisdom in Rabbinic Decision-Making
Some decisions hinge not only on facts, but on empathy and keen human insight. Journey through gripping stories—spanning Yemen, Poland, and Russia—where compassion shapes legally sound yet deeply humane outcomes.
Lesson 6
Forging Forward: Exploring Futuristic Questions
From AI ethics to Shabbat in space, gene-transfer motherhood, and lab-grown meat, encounter the cutting-edge questions reshaping Jewish life. A fascinating look at how ancient wisdom engages with a rapidly evolving world.