The Bible has been studied through the eyes of traditional rabbinic commentaries throughout the centuries. In the last two hundred years, Biblical scholars have claimed that the Bible was authored by multiple authors long after he events that are described. This lecture will examine the story of Sinai and will compare the reading of the chapters in the Book of Shemot as explained through the eyes of the traditional commentaries and through the eyes of the modern Biblical scholars. We will also explore how contemporary Orthodox scholars have addressed the Documentary Hypothesis.

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The Fifth Principle of the Rambam includes the prohibition to pray to God through intermediaries such as angels. This lecture will explore the history of the Jewish attitude towards praying to angels. While this issue has been a matter of dispute among philosophers and rabbis, the prevalent view has accepted the fact that we use angels as an intermediary to God. How can this view be reconciled with the Rambam's opinion? Is it OK to disagree with the Rambam on matters of theology?

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Reward and Punishment is the most basic principle of Judaism. How has it been explained in the Talmud? How do the rabbis address the question of theodicy (why bad things happen to good people)? This lecture will focus on analyzing the Rambam's novel and potentially problematic interpretation of this principle of faith through the study of selections from his Commentary on the Mishnah, Moreh Nebuchim and Mishneh Torah.

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The messiah is one of the foundations of Jewish belief. The twelfth article of faith delineates the belief in the messiah and this has become both a religious and popular principle of Jewish belief. What was the Rambam's definition of the messiah and the messianic age? In this lecture, we will explore the three places in which the Rambam discusses the messiah; in his Commentary on the Mishna, the Mishneh Torah and the Epistle to Yemen. We will attempt to reconcile the conflicts between these descriptions and to develop the Rambam's view of messiah.
 

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Resurrection of the Dead is one of the fundamental principles of Judaism. It has been included in the daily amidah and is considered by the Mishna as a pre-requisite for entry into the World to Come. This lecture will explore the various views of Jewish scholars concerning the exact nature of this phenomenon. Will the body and soul be reunited? Is this resurrection only for the soul? The main text will be the writings of the Rambam and the debate that these writings created on this issue.
 

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