Class recordings archived HERE.
The Talmud is often viewed as the bedrock of Jewish law and therefore detached from the history of Jewish mysticism. This four-part learning-series seeks to undo this perceived schism between the Talmud and the mystical. To this goal, we will map the mysterious, magical, and spiritual dimensions of the Talmud and examine how these dimensions blossom in later kabbalistic writings. Throughout we will ask questions about how magic and mystical motifs evolve and can continue to do so today.
Week One: Secrets
Week Two: Spiritual Fellowship
Week Three: The Pardes
Week Four: Sorcery and Magic-Tricks
Yosef Rosen is an educator, ritual designer, DJ, and recipient of a doctorate in Jewish Studies (UC Berkeley). An expert in the history of Kabbalah, Yosef works to translate the mysteries of the past into usable mythologies and practices for filling everyday life with care, wisdom, and devotion. His classes invite students to discover their own genres of creativity through encountering the imaginative and cultural dimensions of Jewish creative genres of the past. Yosef is a teacher at JCHS of the Bay and long-time teacher of Jewish-adult-ed in the Bay.