The Great Debates: Hillel and Shammai

Class Taught by Rabbi Lauren Grabelle Herrmann

Thursdays December 1, 8, 15, 22

Note: A light nosh will be served at 7:00PM, and we will begin the study by no later than 7:15PM

7:00 PM - 8:30 PM

The "School (literally, "house") of Hillel" and the "School of Shammai" are names of the most famous schools that flourished -- and bitterly disagreed-- in Palestine during the first century and which contributed to the development of the oral law. In this class, we will explore more about the legends, Hillel and Shammai, and their “schools’” famous arguments.  We will go beyond the simple stories that are nearly ubiquitous in contemporary Jewish life to discern:  What kinds of issues did they debate about?  What world views did they represent and how did their arguments--and the outcomes of those shape our Judaism today?  

As we search, we will look for echoes of their tropes in our current conversations about approaching Judaism, tradition and modernity.