Mishnah Ma'aserot Learning Group

The agricultural practices transmitted through Jewish ancestral wisdom are grounded in creating systems of mutual aid and equity in order that the most vulnerable among us are supported. Looking deeply at ancient Rabbinic laws related to that ancestral wisdom, together with Justin Goldstein, our Scholar-in-Residence, we will explore how the ancient ideals and values of our ancestors are still applicable and relevant today.

Looking each week at a chapter of Mishnah Ma'aserot, a 2nd century legal code regarding ancestral Jewish agricultural practices of tithing, we will discuss nuanced elements of the text that may be "lost in translation," as well as try to understand the concepts presented in their historic context so we might better consider how those values and ideals may be applicable, as opposed to replicable, in our contemporary world.

No background in Judaism or Jewish texts is necessary to participate. All texts will be provided in both Hebrew and English. Participants will be given an opportunity to connect with a study partner, paired by experience in Jewish text study, throughout the 8 week course, to explore the ideas one-on-one between sessions.