Ancient
Texts
Contemporary
Theology
by shaiya rothberg
What is this?
Mekorot
veDeot
is a project in Jewish theology.
It's
about constructing a contemporary Jewish theology through teaching, and about teaching
through
that construction. The project is built around learning and interpreting a series of
classic
Jewish texts in such a way that the interpretations of those texts
constitute a
coherent contemporary theology of Judaism.
Mekorot veDeot will happen
in actual classes and online, through written presentation and
interactive
discussion and criticism. If you're interested in connecting to this,
join this
Facebook group or email me at shaiyarothberg@gmail.com.
This year (5771/2010-2011) Mekorot veDeot will be happening only as a workshop at the Conservative Yeshiva (no online component).
that are available so far
Below is the syllabus for this year's learning:
Mekorot veDeot
A Workshop on Jewish Theology at the Conservative
Yeshiva 5771
Below
you'll find the title of each meeting. Beneath the title are listed the texts
we'll learn for that meeting. Texts marked "M&D" (="Mekorot
VeDeot") are explanations/interpretations written for the workshop. This
syllabus is subject to change…
Introduction
Chapter 1: Introduction
· Jewish Theology as Avodat Hashem (M&D)
Part One: God
Chapter 2: Identifying "God"
· Ahavat Olam (the blessing before the evening Shma in the siddur)
· The Source of All powers and abilities: Shulchan Aruch Orach Chayim 5
Chapter 3: God is the Place of the World
The Faithful Shepherd on Nothing
· Zohar Pinchas (Raya Meheimnah 3 225a)
· Zohar Bo (Raya Meihemna 1 42a)
· Ein Sof as rational mysticism (M&D)
Chapter 4: Rambam on Intellect as Divinity
· Angels, Matter and Human Beings: Hilchot Yesodei Hatorah: 2:3, 4:8-9.
· In Your light we see light: 1st paragraph of the Guide 3:52.
· A call to Attention: selection from the Guide 3:51.
· An explanation of intellect as divinity (M&D)
Chapter 5: Rambam on the Queen's Palace
· Constructing the Torah mind in order to see the Queen: the Guide 3:51.
· Interpreting "intellect": an explanation of value as divinity (M&D)
Chapter 6: Imagining God: Raw Materials and a Canvas of Words
· Imagining God through constellations of value (M&D)
· HaAderet vehaEmunah: Heichalot Rabati 28:1
· Birchat Avot (opening of amidah)
· Back to the Ahavah Rabbah blessing (before the Shma – siddur)
Chapter 7: Zohar on the Divine Human Image: God as Person
· Divrei HaYamim on God's Attributes (1 29 11-12)
· The Faithful Shepherd on God's Attributes (Zohar Bo 2:42b-43a)
· Adam shalem (realized humanity) as symbolic map of value/divinity:
· selections from the Idra Rabba (Zohar Naso)
· what the Faithful Shepherd said about "adam" in the sources brought in "God is the Place of the World" (Meeting 3) above
· Relating to God as Person (M&D)
Part Two: Torah
Chapter 8: Identifying "Torah"
· Selections from the siddur on "Torah"
· Torah Min haShamayim: Rambam's Eighth Principle (Perek Chelek)
Chapter 9: Rambam on the Form of Humanity and the Word of God
· Prophecy and Mosaic Prophecy: Rambam's Sixth and Seventh Principles (Perek Chelek)
· "Concerning the barrier (between God and Man) and its Signification": Sixth Chapter of Eight Chapters
· Back to the Foundations of the Torah (Hilchot Yesodei Hatorah 4:8).
Chapter 10: R. Joseph Gikatillia on the Form of Humanity and the Axis of Consciousness
· The Gates of Light:
· on the limbs of God
· on Adam-Ya'akov
· on Written Torah
· on Oral Torah
Chapter 11: Midrash as religious consciousness: Constructing the Space between Written and Oral Torah
· Into the Shoshana: Zohar Hadkama (1:1a)
Rabbi Chayim Hirshensohn on the good and the true as interpretative principles (selections from Shut Malki baKodesh and HaMisderona)
· The Rambam:
· on seeking words of delight, upright scripture and even words of truth (Perek Chelek)
· on golden and silver apples (selection from the Introduction to the Guide)
§ The evil of fundamentalism (M&D)
Part Three: Israel
Chapter 13: Rabbi Yehudah Halevi on the Divine Principle: The Rhythm of Torah and the Shechinah
· The Shechinah as manifest in the Life of Israel X 3 – Torah, People and Land: Kuzari 3:22; 4:17
Chapter 14: Rabbi Yehudah Halevi on the
Divine Principe: Israel
· The Mind of God in
that are available so far
click
here for
other somewhat related stuff…
