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The Living Talmud: A Journey of the Oral Torah from the Sinai Revelation to Rabbinic Creativity

THE LIVING TALMUD: A Journey of the Oral Torah from the Sinai Revelation to Rabbinic Creativity with Rabbi Michael Skobac

In this four-part series, The Living Talmud, Rabbi Skobac will uncover how Judaism’s Oral Law forms the beating heart of the Jewish tradition. Through a clear and engaging journey, we’ll study how the Mishnah and Talmud came to be written, why the rabbis structured their teachings the way they did, and how their debates continue to shape Jewish practice.

Along the way, we’ll also explore the imaginative world of Aggadita-stories, parables, and spiritual teachings hidden within the pages of the Talmud. By the end of the course, students will gain a fresh appreciation for the Talmud as a vibrant, ongoing dialogue rather than a closed ancient work.

  • Session 1: Feb 26 – ORIGINS OF THE TALMUD:
    The Book That Was Never Meant to Be Written

ORIGINS OF THE TALMUD: Session 1 –This lecture Rabbi Skobac introduces the foundational concept of the Oral Torah, the body of teachings transmitted alongside the Written Torah from Sinai. We explore why the tradition insists that not everything was written down initially, and how an oral system allowed the law to remain dynamic, interpretive, and alive within the community of scholars.

Rabbi Skobac then examines the historical moment when this oral tradition was finally committed to writing: first in the Mishnah, redacted by Rabbi Judah the Prince in the third century, and later expanded into the Gemara, forming the Talmud. The presentation will provide a clear understanding of how the Oral Torah developed and why its preservation in written form ultimately became necessary.

  • Session 2: Mar 05 – CSI TALMUD:
    The Inside Scoop on Rabbinic Thinking

CSI TALMUD: Session 2 – In this session Rabbi Skobac introduces students to the “geography” of a page of the Talmud. We identify the major voices appearing on the page—such as the foundational text of the Mishnah, the analytical discussion of the Gemara, and the classic commentaries of Rashi and Tosafot.

Beyond orientation, the Rabbi explores the distinctive style of Talmudic reasoning: questioning assumptions, probing contradictions, drawing fine distinctions, and testing ideas through debate and hypothetical cases. Participants will begin to see how the Talmud trains its students not merely to learn information but to think in a uniquely rigorous and analytical way.

  • Session 3: Mar 12 – ENCOUNTERING THE TEXT:
    A Page of Talmud Comes Alive

ENCOUNTERING THE TEXT: Session 3 – In this third session Rabbi Skobac examines one of the most striking features of the Talmud: its many debates. Why does the tradition preserve disagreements rather than presenting a single authoritative ruling? We explore how differing perspectives among the sages sharpen legal reasoning and preserve multiple dimensions of the tradition.

The Rabbis lecture then walks through a guided encounter with an actual page of Talmud, following the give-and-take of the argument and observing how the Rashi and the Tosafot illuminate the discussion. By the end of the session, students will experience firsthand how the Talmud’s debates function as a living conversation across the centuries.

  • Session 4: Mar 19 – AGGADAH:
    When the Rabbis Stop Arguing and Start Dreaming

AGGADAH: Session 4 – Rabbi Skobac’s final session turns from legal argument to the rich narrative and philosophical material known as Aggadah. These passages in the Talmud contain parables, legends, ethical teachings, and profound reflections on God, human nature, and the meaning of history.

Through close study of several memorable Aggadic texts, we explore how the sages conveyed spiritual insight through story, metaphor, and imagination. This session reveals another dimension of the Talmud: not only as a legal work, but as a treasury of wisdom that speaks to the heart as well as the intellect.

Four Consecutive Thursdays Feb 26 to Mar 19 8:00 PM ET
Shaarei Shomayim Congregation, 470 Glencairn Av., Toronto Rear Door
No Charge Attend LIVE or via ZOOM Registration is Required
To Register please complete the form below and click send.
ZOOM Login ID will be emailed 24-36 hours prior to the lecture
For more INFO: 416-789-0020 or info@jewsforjudaism.ca

 

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