Elana Stein Hain
Talmud from the Balcony
Today, people are certain about so many things. Impressions are formed, and often affirmed, in an instant. What can we learn from the rabbis about the value of uncertainty and how to negotiate it thoughtfully?
Elana Stein Hain leads a discussion of rabbinic texts that help can us understand and navigate uncertainty. Each session in this series will focus on a different Talmudic sugya (passage) and is open to all, regardless of prior exposure to rabbinic texts.
Session 1: The Relationship Between Fundamentalism and Uncertainty
Recorded on November 15, 2021
Session 2: Tools for Navigating Uncertainty
Recorded on November 22, 2021
Session 3: Resolving Uncertainty Amidst Competing Claims
Recorded on December 6, 2021
Session 4: Accusations, Rumors, and Scandal
Recorded on December 13, 2021
This series is part of Ideas for Today, a yearlong offering of curated courses led by leading scholars addressing the compelling contemporary Jewish issues of the day.
Talmud from the Balcony is an occasional series that exposes the big ideas, questions, and issues motivating rabbinic discussions by viewing them the way someone on a balcony might see the dance floor below – viewing the dancers’ steps as part of a bigger picture of the dance – or in our case, the many layers within Talmudic debates.
