JLI Fall Course
Curious Tales of the Talmud
Decoding the Wisdom Hidden in the Talmud's Wildest Tales
IN PERSON
6 Tuesdays | 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM
Oct 20 – Nov 24
Conference room at San Domenico School
1500 Butterfield Rd, San Anselmo, CA 94960
ON ZOOM
6 Sundays | 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
Oct 18 – Nov 22
Join live from anywhere
Fee: $120 (textbook incl.)
Couples: $200 (2 textbooks incl.)
Try out the first class: $20
Instructor: Rabbi Moshe Berkowitz
Course Overview
Tucked between the Talmud's legal debates are some of the strangest stories ever told: sea creatures mistaken for islands, lamps that burn on vinegar, a debate over an oven that sends carob trees flying and rivers flowing backward, and a battle of riddles with the sages of Athens. Often dismissed as fanciful folklore, these tales actually encode some of Judaism's deepest philosophical and ethical teachings. This course cracks the code, revealing the timeless wisdom hidden in the Talmud's most bizarre legends and what it means for our lives today.
Lesson Outline
— 01
Whale of a Tale
How did the Jewish people survive millennia of exile against all odds? Rabbah bar bar Chanah's wild sea stories, about an island that turns out to be a giant fish, waves that touch the sky, and the "dead of the wilderness," hold the secret. Plus: powerful tips for rising above life's toughest challenges.
— 02
When G-d Prayed
G-d prays? G-d sins? G-d asks a human for a blessing? Let's explore why the Talmud describes G-d in such startlingly human terms, and what it reveals about the power of vulnerability in our closest relationships, including our relationship with G-d.
— 03
The Vindication of an Idolatrous King
What can a vinegar-fueled lamp, singing toddlers, and a king's strange dream teach us about judging others? Discover how to find the Divine hand in everything, even exile and life's most baffling moments.
— 04
Greek Riddles
How long is a snake pregnant? How do you mend a broken millstone? A battle of wits between Jewish and Athenian sages turns out to be a camouflaged debate on the fundamentals of faith. Let's decode the riddles and the challenges hidden inside them.
— 05
The Great Oven Debacle
A carob tree jumps, a stream flows backward, walls start to crumble, and a heavenly voice weighs in, yet the rabbis still overrule. What was Rabbi Eliezer fighting for, and why does this showdown still matter today?
— 06
A Ticket to Paradise
How can a single small act outweigh a lifetime of self-sacrifice? Strange rates at a "rent-a-donkey" stand and a royal dispute over sheep and goats reveal the hidden dangers of standing still. Plus: a path to radical personal growth.