Colonie Chabad and Clifton Park Chabad will offer a new JLI course, “Captivating Cases in Rabbinic Responsa: For The Ages From The Sages,” an accredited six-session course that explores real-life questions of ethics and practice asked by Jews throughout history, and the answers provided by various rabbis.
The class begins Tuesday, Jan. 27, at 6 p.m. at Colonie Chabad, 401 Loudon Rd., Loudonville and also offered on Zoom. In Clifton Park, 495 Moe Rd., the course begins Monday, Jan. 19, and will be from 7 to 8:30 p.m. According to organizers, the course, open to all, will satisfy the continuing education (CLE) requirements of lawyers and other legal professionals.
Participants will review 30 real-life cases, and see how Jewish law can help guide people through pressure, heartbreak, and new technologies.
Rabbi Yossi Rubin, codirector of Clifton Park Chabad, shared a few cases that will be reviewed:
1300, Barcelona – Should donors be recognized on plaques?
1478, Pavia – Can all German Jews be taxed to help ransom the Regensburg Jews accused of a blood libel?
1871, Lubavitch – Are new breeds of chickens imported to Europe kosher
1944, Auschwitz – Can a father ransom his son, knowing another will be killed in his place?
2003, Jerusalem – How does one track Shabbat on Mars?
2015, New York – Who is the mother when there is a mitochondrial transfer?
“What many don’t realize is that Jewish law isn’t just “rules.” It’s a living conversation that has followed the Jewish people through every place, every century, and every crisis. Halachah doesn’t ignore real life. It meets it. In all situations,” said Rabbi Mordechai Rubin, codirector of Colonie Chabad.
Particulars about the course including Zoom sign in, costs and registration may be obtained by contacting Clifton Park Chabad, jewishcliftonpark.org/events/jli-responsa/ or chaicentercolonie@gmail.com.
In Colonie, the first class is offered at no cost and includes an in-person dinner. Reservations may be obtained by calling 518-368-7886.
