A Taste of Talmud – A Six Session Class

The six meetings of this class will be co-taught by Rabbi Eli Schochet and Rabbi Corinne Copnick and will cover a variety of Talumdic topics, including:

Session 1: We’ll begin with an overview of the Oral and Written Talmud, and how it developed. Then we’ll discuss the Talmudic “Pursuit of Truth” with a rabbinic quandary about the tradition of singing a bride’s praises. What if she is beautiful? What if she is ugly?
Session 2: The subject of discussion this week will be the extensive “Property Laws” in the Talmud. Who is responsible for what? Do boundaries make good neighbors?
Session 3: The third lecture will focus on the personal pain–and damage to reputation–that can be inflicted by thoughtless or hurtful words. As an example, the famous Talmudic story of “Ona’at Devarim” will be explored.
Session 4: What is aggadic narrative? In this session, we will discuss the literary characteristics of Talmudic stories as a guide to contemporary creative storytelling and give some examples of traditional Talmudic stories.
Session 5: Did you know that the Talmud ‘s way of resolving complex issues is reflected in our own U.S. justice system.? First we’ll explore this method of looking at a problem from many points of view. Then, with insights from Talmudic scholar Ruth Calderon, we will discuss how the tale of “A Bride For One Night” (B. Yoma 18b) resonates in an age of “Me Too.”
Session 6: Who Were the Talmud’s Editors and What did They Do? The role of the many editors who participated in the fashioning of the Talmud over time is a noble story: in fact, the final editor was called “The Prince.” In this session, we’ll discuss who they were and what they did.

Class Length: 6 sessions on consecutive Tuesday in March and April (Rabbi Schochet will teach the first 3 sessions and Rabbi Copnick will teach the last 3)
Class Dates: 3/5, 3/12, 3/19, 3/26, 4/2, 4/9
Meeting Time: 7:00-9:00pm
Class Location: UCLA @ Hillel or Online via Zoom
Tuition: $90

Instructors:
Rabbi Eli Schochet has been a distinguished rabbi for many years. A graduate of the Jewish Theological Seminary, Rabbi Schochet, went from JTS to the pulpit at Beth Kodesh in Canoga Park in 1960, where he stayed for nearly 40 years. Rabbi Schochet has enjoyed an extension of his rabbinical career as a faculty member of both the Academy for Jewish Religion Los Angeles (AJRCA) and American Jewish University AJU. He has written seven books, founded the Kadima Hebrew Academy, and has had several important leadership positions in the Jewish community.

Rabbi Corinne Copnick (www.rabbicorinne.com) graduated from AJRCA as an ordained rabbi in 2015. Currently, she serves as a trained dayan and on the Board of Governors at the Sandra Caplan Community Bet Din in Los Angeles. After graduation, she initiated an independent, pluralistic house of study, Beit Kulam, which celebrates inclusion. She also serves as a Guest Staff Rabbi for a quality cruise line, which has afforded her the opportunity to explore Jewish life in various parts of the world.