In this lesson we take a look at the life of Rabbi Eliezer ben Horkenos, a first-generation Tanna perhaps best known for his excommunication over the oven of Achnai affair. Respected by all his fellow rabbis, he exemplified a conservative approach to halachah that emphasized a reliance upon received tradition as opposed to teachings based on logical inference and interpretation.
Jewish history
Rabbinic Who’s Who #4: Rabban Gamliel
We look this week at the life of Rabban Gamliel, who served as the Nasi of the Sanhedrin in the years immediately following the destruction of the Second Temple. Among other things, we take a look at majority rule as a principle of rabbinic decision making, the importance of respect/honor as a rabbinic value, and the difficult position in which Jewish leaders found themselves vis-a-vis the Roman government in the aftermath of the Great Revolt.
Rabbinic Who’s Who #2: Hillel and Shammai
Teaching class from the sukkah this week! We begin our exploration of individual rabbis with a two-for-one deal: Hillel and Shammai, last and most famous of the Zugot (the “pairs” of pre-rabbinic sages who served as leaders of the Sanhedrin in the period before the destruction of the Second Temple). The disagreements and debate between the schools of Hillel and Shammai served as a model for future rabbinic culture, which places a high value on the importance of debate. “Which is the controversy that is for the sake of Heaven? Such was the controversy of Hillel and Shammai.” (Mishnah Avot 5:17)
Rabbinic Who’s Who #1: Periods of Rabbinic History
I with my students’ permission, I am recording my latest class and posting the videos to YouTube. In this series of classes, the intent is to explore the history of Jewish thought by looking at individual rabbis or key Jewish thinkers – who they are, the important aspects of their teachings, and the historical period in which they lived. This first session we begin by looking at the general periods of rabbinic history, from the time of the Zugot (Second Temple period) to the present day.
Dag Gadol 