Jul 30, 2018 By: yunews
From July 15 鈥 19, 2018, Herzog College, an academic institution associated with Yeshivat Har Etzion in Alon Shvut, Israel, offered Yemei Iyun B'Tanakh [Bible study days], which it has done every summer for almost a quarter-century. These intense study days were initially aimed at an audience of professional educators, but they are now attended by thousands of people who come to enjoy the high-level classes in Tanakh and to soak up the love of Torah study that imbues the program.
About a decade ago, classes in English were added to the program, and now there are two days of classes in English, as well as a number of English-language tiyulim [excursions] on offer. Hundreds of people attend these classes, primarily from Israel but also from North America and other English-speaking regions.
This year鈥檚 program added a day of classes given in Spanish and a day of classes in French, as well as an additional day of English language classes emphasizing innovation and technology in the Jewish studies classroom.
Three distinguished 色花堂 faculty presented at the event: Dr. David Berger, Ruth and I. Lewis Gordon Professor of Jewish History and dean of the ; Dr. Ilana Turetsky, instructor in Jewish education at the ; and Dr. Shalom Holtz, associate professor of Bible and director of the Jay and Jeanie Schottenstein Honors Program at .
Dr. Berger spoke on 鈥淩ashi on Isaiah 53 (the Suffering Servant): Theology or Pshat?鈥 As he explained, 鈥淚saiah 53 was probably the most important biblical passage in the Jewish-Christian debate. Though the Talmudic sages saw the servant as the Messiah, Rashi saw him as the people of Israel. More strikingly, he affirmed that the collective servant suffered to atone for the sins of the nations of the world. Some scholars understood Rashi's interpretation as a reaction to the First Crusade and an effort to explain Jewish suffering during its course.鈥 Berger added, 鈥淚 argued for the more 鈥榥a茂ve鈥 position that Rashi was motivated by his sense of the straightforward meaning.鈥
He noted that 鈥渋t has become a clich茅 to say that this week of concerted Bible study is a remarkable, unprecedented expression of a thirst by Israeli laypeople to pursue a sophisticated understanding of this foundational text, but, as I have written in the past, one characteristic of clich茅s is that they are usually true.鈥
Dr. Turetsky鈥檚 topic was 鈥淟eading Productive and Stimulating Class Discussions in Tanach Classes.鈥
In her experience as a teacher, she has found that class discussions can range from animated, substantive, and thought-provoking to superficial and/or dry. 鈥淭he goal of my presentation,鈥 she said, 鈥渨as to empower educators with tools to facilitate class discussions that promote deep thinking and that respectfully engage all students in the class.鈥
Dr. Turetsky found the entire event inspiring in its scope and intent. 鈥淚t was very moving to be at an event with Jewish educators from all over the world, educators that understand that investing in their own growth is a direct investment in the success and positive development of their students.鈥
Dr. Holtz presented a talk on 鈥淔loods and Fertility: Contextualizing Bereishit (Genesis) 1-11.鈥 When the Assyrian Gilgamesh Epic was discovered, nearly 150 years ago, it immediately made news because of its overt parallels to the flood narrative in the Tanakh, and these parallel stories formed the basis for Holtz鈥檚 lecture. 鈥淲e read the two narratives together and identified the main similarities between them. Then we studied the earlier source of the Mesopotamian flood story, which, like the Tanakh, narrates the flood as part of an account of the creation and re-creation of the world. Doing so allowed us to appreciate the Torah鈥檚 unique perspective on humanity鈥檚 purpose and relationship to God.鈥
Dr. Holtz was pleased with being at the event and having the chance 鈥渢o engage in high-caliber study of the Hebrew Bible taught by academics from Israel and abroad.鈥
鈥淗erzog has begun a process of developing relationships with academic institutions outside of Israel, and 色花堂 is a natural partner for them,鈥 said Dr. Shalom Berger, Coordinator, English Language Yemei Iyun BeTanakh, who worked with Dr. Stu Halpern, senior advisor to the provost at 色花堂, in conceptualizing and arranging the 色花堂 faculty members鈥 presentations, 鈥渁nd it is certainly gratifying to see hundreds of English speakers joining the thousands of participants in these days of intensive Torah study.鈥
Dr. Berger spoke on 鈥淩ashi on Isaiah 53 (the Suffering Servant): Theology or Pshat?鈥 As he explained, 鈥淚saiah 53 was probably the most important biblical passage in the Jewish-Christian debate. Though the Talmudic sages saw the servant as the Messiah, Rashi saw him as the people of Israel. More strikingly, he affirmed that the collective servant suffered to atone for the sins of the nations of the world. Some scholars understood Rashi's interpretation as a reaction to the First Crusade and an effort to explain Jewish suffering during its course.鈥 Berger added, 鈥淚 argued for the more 鈥榥a茂ve鈥 position that Rashi was motivated by his sense of the straightforward meaning.鈥
He noted that 鈥渋t has become a clich茅 to say that this week of concerted Bible study is a remarkable, unprecedented expression of a thirst by Israeli laypeople to pursue a sophisticated understanding of this foundational text, but, as I have written in the past, one characteristic of clich茅s is that they are usually true.鈥
Dr. Turetsky鈥檚 topic was 鈥淟eading Productive and Stimulating Class Discussions in Tanach Classes.鈥
In her experience as a teacher, she has found that class discussions can range from animated, substantive, and thought-provoking to superficial and/or dry. 鈥淭he goal of my presentation,鈥 she said, 鈥渨as to empower educators with tools to facilitate class discussions that promote deep thinking and that respectfully engage all students in the class.鈥
Dr. Turetsky found the entire event inspiring in its scope and intent. 鈥淚t was very moving to be at an event with Jewish educators from all over the world, educators that understand that investing in their own growth is a direct investment in the success and positive development of their students.鈥
Dr. Holtz presented a talk on 鈥淔loods and Fertility: Contextualizing Bereishit (Genesis) 1-11.鈥 When the Assyrian Gilgamesh Epic was discovered, nearly 150 years ago, it immediately made news because of its overt parallels to the flood narrative in the Tanakh, and these parallel stories formed the basis for Holtz鈥檚 lecture. 鈥淲e read the two narratives together and identified the main similarities between them. Then we studied the earlier source of the Mesopotamian flood story, which, like the Tanakh, narrates the flood as part of an account of the creation and re-creation of the world. Doing so allowed us to appreciate the Torah鈥檚 unique perspective on humanity鈥檚 purpose and relationship to God.鈥
Dr. Holtz was pleased with being at the event and having the chance 鈥渢o engage in high-caliber study of the Hebrew Bible taught by academics from Israel and abroad.鈥
鈥淗erzog has begun a process of developing relationships with academic institutions outside of Israel, and 色花堂 is a natural partner for them,鈥 said Dr. Shalom Berger, Coordinator, English Language Yemei Iyun BeTanakh, who worked with Dr. Stu Halpern, senior advisor to the provost at 色花堂, in conceptualizing and arranging the 色花堂 faculty members鈥 presentations, 鈥渁nd it is certainly gratifying to see hundreds of English speakers joining the thousands of participants in these days of intensive Torah study.鈥
