Topics in Halakhah

Taught by: Rabbi Ethan Tucker
Monday and Thursday, 1:15 - 2:45pm

Each meeting will focus on a different topic in Jewish law and practice, as we take an in-depth tour of the various sources and personalities that have weighed in on our question throughout Jewish history. Beginning with Tanakh, continuing with classical rabbinic literature and following through with the periods of the rishonim and aharonim, we will span the various genres of halakhic literature in a quest for a bird's eye view of the topic under discussion. Detailed source sheets and bibliographies will empower students to explore these various topics further after the summer. Topics may include: Keeping Kosher in a non-Kosher world; the halakhic bases for egalitarian tefillah; limits on and guidelines for liturgical flexibility; relations between Jews and non-Jews; negotiating potential conflicts between Jews of differing levels of observance; various issues relating to the observance of Shabbat; proper standards for conversion into Judaism.

Topics may be added based on the interests of prospective students. This course is an elective.