Shimon Shlomo & Margalit Ovadia Great Controversies in Jewish History Course
Understand the times and events surrounding the controversies, schisms and disputes that have defined and shaped our history.
This third course in our adult education series is sure to keep your attention. There is no feud like a family feud, and if there is anything Jewish History doesn’t lack, it’s passionate internal controversy. Our people’s story has been filled with schisms and disputes that have shaped who we are as a people and how we arrived at where we are today. This course will highlight some of the more significant episodes in our history (all post-Tanach). Some of the controversies are centered on threats, both internal and external, to the integrity of traditional Torah Judaism. Other controversies are painful divisions within Observant Judaism. They all have much to teach us about the Jewish world in which we live today.
Outstanding Teachers
We are again excited to offer a wide ranging slate of noted educators to present each individual class. Beth Jacob’s own Rabbis Ilan D. Feldman and Yechezkel Freundlich will be joined by Rabbi Binyomin Friedman of the Atlanta Scholars Kollel, Rabbi Mayer Neuberger of Yeshiva Ohr Yisrael, Rabbi Asher Yablok of Yeshiva Atlanta, and Rabbi Dr. Michael Berger, Professor of Jewish Studies at Emory University.
Rabbi Berel Wein
We are exceptionally honored to host Rabbi Berel Wein for the opening class on Monday night, October 21st. Rabbi Wein is one of the foremost Jewish Historians of our day, and this course itself was inspired by a series of lectures he has given. His introductory class is titled: “Are we always destined to disagree?”
Course Fee and Registration - CLICK HERE TO REGISTER ONLINE
The course fee for all 21 classes is $100 for Beth Jacob members and $150 for non-members. There is a special student rate of $50. Individual classes are $18. The course fee is payable by credit card (via phone or our website) or by check payable to Congregation Beth Jacob. An additional $25 will be assessed to participants who register after Monday, September 30th (immediately following Simchas Torah). To find out more information, please contact Rabbi Yechezkel Freundlich.
Time and Location
The Great Controversies Course will take place at Beth Jacob on Monday nights, beginning Monday, October 21st. All classes will begin promptly at 7:45pm and end at approximately 9:15pm.
Dedication Opportunities
Individual classes are available for sponsorship in memory or honor of a loved one. Dedications will be listed in the program and announced at each class. Sponsorships are $180 per class. Please contact Rabbi Freundlich.
Class Schedule
October 21 Introduction with Rabbi Berel Wein: Are we always destined to disagree?
Second-Temple Era and Talmudic Times
October 28 The Sadducees and The Pharisees: Challenges to Rabbinic Authority and the Oral Law
November 4 Jewish Hellenists: The War Over Culture
November 11 The Origin and Spread of Christianity
The Medieval Period (700s-1400s)
November 18 The Karaites and Rabbinic Jews: The Family Feud that lead to a Heretical Movement
November 25 The Development of Ashkenazim and Sefardim
December 9 The Rambam (Maimonides) and His Opponents
December 16 The Spanish Inquisition: Exiles and Marranos
A Changing World – (1500s-1700s)
January 6 The S’micha controversy: Reviving Authentic Rabbinic Ordination
January 13 Kabbalists and Rationalists
January 27 The False Messiahs: Shabbtai Tzvi and Yaakov Frank
February 3 The R’ Eibeshitz – R’ Emden Controversy
February 10 Chassidim and Misnagdim: The Vilna Goan and the Baal Shem Tov
The Challenge of Modernity – 1800s to the present
February 24 Jewish Enlightenment and the Eastern European response
March 3 The Reform Movement and the Western European response
March 10 Socialism, Communism and the Bund
The Modern State of Israel
March 17 Zionists and anti-Zionists: the Theology of the Return to Israel
March 24 R’ Avraham I. Kook and R’ Yosef Chaim Zonnenfeld: Defining the Religious Nature of the Land
March 31 Haganah, Irgun and Lechi: Fighting for the Land
Contemporary Issues
April 28 Yom Hashoah – The issue of creating new days of National mourning
May 5 Yom Ha’atzmaut – The issue of creating new days of National celebration
Our husband’s and father’s infectious smile and open arms are without a doubt inherited from his father, Saba Shimon. Although he died young (when Eitan was 13, Tal was 7 and Shanee was just 4), our collective memories of him are of the enormous smile he carried to greet everyone and every situation. Stories of him all have the same theme - Saba Shimon as the selfless hero, the ba’al tzedakah, helping those less fortunate, whether relatives, co-workers, or more distant - to him they all needed something he could provide.
Our memories of Savta Margalit are weighted towards the years after Saba died. Savta’s main concern was to ensure that everyone around her was comfortable, had food, stayed warm....She never stopped and thought of herself, never asked someone else to do for her. Frequently, when we visited her in Israel, she would greet us at her door with a bowl of candies that she tossed in the air, like a wedding, singing out a Yemenite “le-le-le-le-le-le-le”. Needless to say, her love was palpable. Our husband and father has borne out the qualities of both of his parents in his family, work and community life. Ask him for something, and it’s yours. He is a volunteer and a friend and is constantly thinking of others, never himself. It is easy to see and feel love from Yossi Ovadia. If we get a prayer or a wish with this dedication, it’s that we each grow to carry on the traits so evident in our father, passed down from his parents.Dedicated in honor of our husband and father, Yossi Ovadia, and in memory of his parents Shimon Shlomo & Margalit Ovadia z”l. With love, Jill, Eitan and Cara, Tal and Jess, Shanee and Josh.
