Tough Decisions

JLI Course 3 - May 2008

We have just concluded our six week course "Beyond Belief". The course provided an in-depth understanding of the fundamentals of Jewish belief and thought, and explained how our religion is founded on logic as well as faith. (Please scroll down this page to see comments of feedback of participants). It is now time to launch our new course, "Tough Decisions - Talmudic Ethics".

Sooner or later, it happens to almost everyone. You face a tough ethical decision, and you have to pick a course of action that will let you live with yourself. You feel like you are lost in a maze of possibilities, unsure which courses of action will lead you out of your turmoil, and which will leave you in a dead end of regret and self-recrimination.

Traditionally, Jews have looked to the Talmud to help them unravel tangled instincts.

The simple fact is that life is complicated. Most days people hesitate and agonize over difficult decisions. The Talmud recognizes that ethics is complex and subtle, and it knows that complicated questions cannot be answered with a simple yes or no. While the technology may have changed over time, the rabbis of the Talmud have grappled with the same kinds of ethical concerns that we worry about today.

Commencing in May, South Head Synagogue is proud to launch "Talmudic Ethics," an innovative approach to facing life's most challenging dilemmas. Participants need no prior knowledge of the Talmud and no formal legal training. There are no prerequisites other than an open mind.

Talmudic Ethics tackles big issues like abortion, euthanasia, freedom of expression, and fair business practice. Students will learn how the best Jewish minds struggled with hard choices, and trace their search for satisfying resolutions. And they will discover how Judaism offers a moral compass to help them find direction through the maze of life.

This exciting new course will be offered at South Head for six Monday Evenings starting May 19th and six Wednesday Mornings commencing May 21st. (There will be a break on the week commencing June 8th because of Shavuot.) The course fee is $120 per person and $180 per couple. However members of South Head can attend for at the specially reduced rate of $89.00 per person and $140.00 per couple.

We recognize the personal nature of the gut-wrenching issues this course will address. We can't promise to provide you with all the answers. But we guarantee you'll think about the questions in a whole new way.

As previously this course is part of the international Rohr Jewish Learning Institute (JLI) and is offered simultaneously in 250 locations around the world. This unique feature has helped to create a true global learning community.

Below are some comments from participants in our last course, "Beyond Belief".

"....Just wanted to let you know that I'm greatly enjoying this course due, in no small measure, to your running of the class and the obvious background knowledge and hard work which you put into it. I feel that, apart from various fascinating facts about Torah and Judaism, I'm learning a lot about the approach to Torah study and argument, and the historical and cultural bases of our religion.

At the last meeting, I was particularly impressed with your handling and depth of knowledge relating to various issues and concepts in modern physics (cosmology and the big-bang theory, Einstein's space-time continuum, special relativity, etc.)

I feel privileged to be part of your class. --Barry Perczuk

.... I know I've said it to you in person, but I just wanted to put on the record how much I'm enjoying the Wednesday morning classes. The timing of the class means I can just about get everything done at home that I need to, go for a workout at my spiritual "gym", and feel on a high as I head off to work.

I have found the classes really interesting, stimulating and thought-provoking. You're a terrific teacher, and I understand from Henya that in addition you've put in further work to add to the existing course materials. I'm sorry we're nearly through the course, but I'm looking forward to the next one, IYH. --Judy Maynard

.... I wanted to commend you on your superb delivery of the Rambam 13 Principles JLI Course. I got a lot out of it and enjoyed the thought provoking content and additional literature. --Dale Carr "