Talmud from the Balcony: We Answer to a Higher Authority

Dr. Elana Stein Hain is the Rosh Beit Midrash and a Senior Fellow at the Shalom Hartman Institute of North America, where she serves as lead faculty, engages in research and curriculum development and consults on the content of lay and professional leadership programs. A widely well-regarded teacher and scholar, Elana is passionate about bringing rabbinic thought into conversation with contemporary life. To this end, she created Talmud from the Balcony, an occasional learning seminar

[VIDEO UNAVAILABLE]

Beyond the Limits of Law: Repairing the Fabric of Society

Session 4: “We Answer to a Higher Authority!” How the Rabbis Instilled a New Jurisdiction of Conscience

During the pandemic and the election season, the gap between what is legally enforceable and what is a matter of personal discretion has taken center stage. Beyond the Limits of Law: Repairing the Fabric of Society explores rabbinic concepts that can help us think about how we shape a society characterized by virtuous norms and not simply by legal rules and structure. Over five sessions, Elana Stein Hain discusses the ways Jewish ideas can contribute to character building.

Talmud from the Balcony is an occasional series that exposes the big ideas, questions, and issues motivating rabbinic discussions. This series on Beyond the Limits of Law: Repairing the Fabric of Society was part of our [email protected] fall 2020 learning.