Crossroads in Jewish History

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[[This course has two parts consisting of five sessions in August and four sessions in October. You can book both parts now, or you can book for just the August sessions and still have the option to book the October sessions after completing the first part of the course. Please select from the 'AUG & OCT' or 'AUG only' ticket types on the booking confirmation page.]] Trace the turning points that reshaped the Jewish story. From the silence of G-d after the Temple’s fall to the rise of a Torah-centred people and the writing of the Talmud; from the Kabbalistic revolution that rewired Jewish soul and society to the modern upheavals of emancipation, enlightenment and nationalism, join the Academy in exploring the ideas, events and personalities that inspired or forced Jewish life to adapt, survive and transform. Along the way, gain a clear, engaging narrative of: • exile and spiritual renewal • the transition from temple to study hall • the impact of mystical thought on communal life • the modern remaking of Jewish identity and return to nationhood ► AUGUST SESSIONS (5): • When Heaven Went Silent: Explore how a devastated, exiled people resisted assimilation, relearned to hear G-d in the silence, and rebuilt communal purpose after the destruction of the First Temple. • From Sword to Scroll: Follow the transformation from national sovereignty to a text-centred faith: the fall of the Second Temple and the Bar Kochba revolt which led to the codifying of the Oral Tradition, and the birth of a Judaism portable through exile. ► OCTOBER SESSIONS (4): • G‑d Needs Us: Examine the seismic impact of the Zohar and Kabbalistic thought: its debates, its spiritual renaissance, and its far-reaching influence on movements from Chassidut to modern mystical trends. • When Jews Let Go of G‑d - and G‑d Refused to Let Go: Survey the modern upheaval of emancipation, enlightenment and nationalism, and the divergent Jewish responses – from Reform to the Haskalah, Orthodoxy and Chareidism – and the forces that propelled the return to nationhood. This course is included in the UNLIMITED LEARNER subscription. Please contact us to become a subscriber.