Rabbi Joe’s Torat Tel Aviv

THINK: The Omer & R'Akiva's Students Pt III. Triumph or Tragedy? The Two Sides Of The Oven Of Akhnai

Is the story of the oven of Akhnai the greatest triumph or a terrible tragedy? Last week we read the first half of the story and it's trumphal line of lo bashamayim hi - the Torah is not in heaven and its depiction of God laughing. This week we read the second half of the story which pushes in a very different direction.The text of the Akhnai story is here (reading the story, especially the second half, is recommended to understand the class) and the other sources discussed in the story are here---A recap of the series thus far:Rabbi Akiva’s students died because they couldn’t honour one another. We use this text to ask two questions:
How should Torah be learnt?
How should we treat one another?
 
Until now our learning has focused upon the first question - how should Torah be learnt?
In our first class, with Judaism at a crossroads after the destruction of the Temple, we saw two approaches to this question:
Rabbi Eliezer: retaining the traditions and the mesora
Rabbi Yehoshua / Rabbi Akiva: chiddush and debate
 
We asked, is this simply a question of educational methodology or is it even one of theology?
 
Last week, in part II, we saw the clash of these approaches in that most famous of stories, the oven of akhnai. 
 
We saw Rabbi Eliezer - who a heavenly voice says is always correct - have his arguments rejected by Rabbi Yehoshua and his colleagues. The rallying cry is lo bashamayim he - the Torah is not in heaven, it is down here on earth for us to decide, with human intelligence - aharei rabim l’hatot - to attempt to convince one another, and the law follows the majority.
 
If you finish reading the story where we did it appears as a great triumph. Hashem is laughing, the Torah is made eternal, nitzchuni banai - Talmud Torah is enthroned, Torah and the Jewish people can survive.
All of this is true but it is not the end of the story.
Because the story carries on and it pushes in what seems to be quite a different direction

THINK: The Omer & R' Akiva's Students Pt II - Akhnai & The Clash Of Two Different Understandings Of Torah

In our first class we contrasted the approach to Torah study of Rabbi Eliezer with that of Rabbi Akiva and Rabbi Yehoshua - asking whether Torah story is an exercise of creative insight or a focus on tradition and that which has been said by our teachers before us.Today we see how these two different approaches collide in perhaps the most famous of all Talmudic stories, the oven of Akhnai - and the declaration of lo bashamayim he - that the Torah is not in heavenSource sheet hereThis class is generously sponsored by Yaacov & Monique Ginsburg ilui nishmat Yaacov ben Bessi - and celebrates too the release and return to his family of Edan Alexander

THINK: The Omer & The Death Of R' Akiva's Students Pt I - Methodologies of Learning

For the next few weeks we will do a deep dive into the world of Rabbi Akiva and his students. Many are familiar with the teaching that it is the death of thousands of Rabbi Akiva’s students during this period that initially lent the omer an element of mourning (in addition to one of joy). The reason for their death? Because they didn’t treat one another with the respect and care that they each deserved
We will try to recreate the world that they inhabited, and in so doing discover a uniquely important period that shaped the direction of Judaism in general and Jewish learning in particular
Tonight we look at the unique historical with the Jewish future at a crossroads and the starkly contrasting approaches to Torah learning of Rabbi Akiva and his teacher Rabbi EliezerSource sheet here

THINK: Yom HaShoah The Lives & Torah of Two Giants Of Vilna: Rav Haim Ozer and Rav Gustman

In this Yom HaShoah class we enter the world and learn the stories of two of the great rabbinic giants of Vilna - Rav Haim Ozer Grodzinski and Rav Yisrael Zev Gustman. The first was the last great leader of Vilna Jewry and we read the piece describing his funeral 'The Day Vilna Died'.
The latter was the youngest Dayan of Vilna whose story is one of survival and the world that he built in Israel after the war and who articulated a powerful and unique take on God and the Shoah. The rest of the sources are available here Learning about and honouring their lives and Torah is a fitting way to mark Yom HaShoah

A Guide To When Erev Pesach Falls On Shabbat

This year the eve of Pesach falls on Shabbat which presents us with some unique challenges. This shiur discusses how and when the search, annulment and destruction of chametz works in a year such as this, as well as the fast of the firstborn and how best to do the shabbat meals.
Source sheet and summary guide here

THINK: Rabbi Sacks, Isaiah Berlin, & Two Concepts of Freedom at Seder Night

In this shiur we examine how at famous distinction between two concepts of liberty made by Sir Isaiah Berlin, one of Rabbi Sacks' teachers, finds expression in some of the fundamental texts and ideas of seder night, as well as how Rabbi Sacks himself understood this distinctionSource sheet here

THINK: Looking back on COVID through the lens of Purim, Pahad Yitzchak, Hanan Ben Ari & Yishai Ribo

There's a lot going on here. Using a mash up of two great Israeli songs and a powerful piece of Rav Yitzchak Hutner's Pahad Yitzchak to look back the start of the pandemic five years ago, what we learnt from it and what it can mean for us today in the midst of a very different crisis.It might be advisable to listen to the songs (linked below) and then to skip to the discussion of Pahad Yitzchak which starts at the 20 minute markThe text of Pahad Yitzchak here and of the two songs here
Hanan Ben Ari's Ga'aguim Livnei Adam on YoutubeYishai Ribo's Keter Melucha  on Youtube
Discussion of Pahad Yitzchak starts at the 20 minute mark
 

The Purpose Of Mishloach Manot

Today we look at two beautiful teshuvot - from the Seridei Eish (19th C.)  and  the Hatam Sofer (18th C) - that can transorm our understadning ofthe mitzva of mishloach manot - giving gifts to our friends on Purim. Source sheet here.
Given at Vine Venture's Sarona Unity Center, March 12th, 2025

Matanot L'Evyonim: Between Tzedaka & Mishloach Manot

In advance of Purim we explore some of the fundamental texts and ideas behind the beautiful mitzvah of matanot l'evyonim (gifts to those in need). Spoiler: it's all about simcha!
Source sheet available here
 

THINK: Achashverosh As Hero Of The Megilla

The wonderful thing about teaching Megillat Esther is that everyone knows the story. The terrible thing about teaching Megillat Esther is that everyone knows the story.In this week's THINK we try to question an assumption that almost all have - is Achashverosh a gross unthinking buffoon throughout, or is there some progress and development that he displays throughout the story.
 
Source sheet available here