The Mind of Jonathan Sacks
Faith, Science and the Search for Meaning
6 Wednesdays at 8 p.m. ET
Jan. 7 - Feb. 11
All classes will be recorded and sent to registrants.
How do faith and science shape our understanding of what it means to be human? And how does one search for meaning in an age dominated by science?
Jonathan Sacks, the late rabbi and internationally beloved philosopher, explored these questions in his 2011 book "The Great Partnership," arguing that faith and science illuminate and complement each other.
Now you can dive into the book's ideas — and into the mind of Jonathan Sacks — with the help of scholar teacher Marina Zilbergerts, Ph.D.
Over the course of six online sessions, you'll engage with questions that lie at the heart of human identity and purpose, and you'll learn about the ways Judaism embraces the role of science in the unfolding drama of human life.
Each session will focus on a different idea from "The Great Partnership," which is not included in the course price. You can purchase it here or at a bookseller of your choice.
Outline
Class 1 – Introduction: The meaning seeking animal
Class 2 – What we stand to lose
Class 3 – Morality
Class 4 – Human dignity
Class 5 – The problem of evil
Class 6 – When religion goes wrong
This class is offered at a special reduced rate thanks to the generous support of Rhonda and Adam Hauser, helping us make meaningful learning more accessible to all.
There are no refunds for this course.
About Your Teacher
Marina Zilbergerts is an author and scholar of Jewish literature and thought who has a Ph.D. from Stanford University. Her works include "The Yeshiva and the Rise of Modern Hebrew Literature" (Indiana University Press, 2022); a poetry collection entitled "You Were Adam" (Wipf and Stock, 2023); and a forthcoming book titled "Genesis: The Origin Story of Human Consciousness." She was formerly a professor of Jewish studies at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, and she now teaches at the University of Ottawa.
Recommended purchase
Your teacher highly recommends buying the book that this course is focused on to get the most out of class, although it is not required. She will analyze parts of the text in each lesson.
You can purchase it here or at a bookseller of your choice. (It is not included in the course price.)
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About My Jewish Learning
My Jewish Learning is the internet's leading pluralistic Jewish education resource. We offer thousands of articles, videos, live classes and other resources to help you navigate all aspects of Judaism and Jewish life — from Jewish ritual and practice to texts to history and culture.
My Jewish Learning is geared toward all backgrounds and levels of knowledge and is a part of 70 Faces Media, the largest Jewish digital media organization in North America.