Hartman Seminar News: 3/10/06

To Participants in the Hartman Long Distance Seminar on
Religion, Ethics, and Violence

3/10/06

Contents:
Beit Midrash Session 3/11
Study Questions for 3/19 session
Information about Israel seminar in June
Announcement of Topic and First Date on 2006 Seminar

1. Beit Midrash Session: Shabbat afternoon 3/11; 3-5pm at Rabbi's Beit Midrash, 3827 NE 90th St.

The Format of the Beit Midrash

The first hour of the Beit Midrash will be devoted to the previous session on February 26th with Moshe Halbertal. Moshe modeled for us how the tradition confronts morally distrubing texts and uses interpretation to alter the law.

The second hour will focus on preparing for the upcoming session, reveiwing the texts in the study guide and having an initial discussion on the issues they raise.

This is also an opportunity to get to know our fellow students better and to enjoy refreshment in one of the homes of our participants including my own.

2. March 19th Session

Here are the questions that go with the texts in the study guide for Moshe Halbertal's 3rd presentation entitled: The Holy and the Ethical

HEVRUTA GUIDE: The Holy and the Ethical

March 19th Session with Moshe Halbertal
1. Read Leviticus 19:2 (not included in the materials. Have bi-lingual Bibles avaialable) and the surrounding verses. What is the context? What does it mean to be holy according to the Biblical verse?

2. Read Deuteronomy 6:18. What is that which is "right and good" according to the Biblical context?

3. Read the Ramban on Leviticus 19:2. How does he understand holiness?
How has he expanded the interpretation of the verse?

4. Read the Ramban on Deuteronomy 6:18. How, according the Ramban, should one interpret the Biblical verse? What idea of the ethical emerges from his interpretation?

Enjoy your learning~

Rabbi Rachel Nussbaum will be subbing for me in the final hour of the March 19th session while I attend the Jewish Film Festival where Panim Hadashot is sponsoring the Sunday morning film. Rabbi Nussbaum has been my Havruta over the past year in the Hartman rabbinic program remote learning class and is familiar with the Hartman approach. She is an outstanding teacher and colleague.

3. Information about the Israel Program at the end of June 2006

New! Please note the Hartman website has a special section on the summer seminar now available for all of our participants. It includes some basic information and registration form access. Once registered, the participant will receive additional information and recommendations. We are constantly improving and upgrading our website and look forward to your responses.

Please direct your inquiries to, www.hartmaninstitute.com, to the section on programs, to Lay Leadership Retreats and to the specific registration for the long distance program, which is indicated as such. You can access it directly via: http://www.hartmaninstitute.com/ShowContent.asp?id=133

4. Announcing the Topic and First Date of the 2006 Seminar
The topic of next year's seminar will be Standing Before God: The Complexities of a Spiritual Life. There will 8 long distance broadcasts starting on Sunday morning, November 12, 2006. Next year the program will be a joint effort of Panim Hadashot and the Shalom Hartman Institute. We are working on location, costs, and an invitation to leaders across the community to participate.

For questions and comments please write to rabbidov@panimhadashot.com or call 206 525-0648.