Jewish Ethics: From Theory to Practice

Date: Jan 31, 2019 - Mar 07, 2019

Time: 7:00 p.m. - 9:15 p.m.

Location: JTS

Jewish Ethics: From Theory to Practice

Dr. Yonatan Brafman, Assistant Professor of Jewish Thought and Ethics; Director of the MA Program in Jewish Ethics

Thursdays, 7:00–9:15 p.m.: January 31, February 7, 14, 21, 28; March 7, 2019

From political and financial scandals to rapid progress in biomedical science and technology, the complex issues of modern society are, at their core, issues of ethical and moral concern. How can Jewish ethics inform our discussions and decisions about the critical questions of the day? And what exactly do we mean by “Jewish ethics”? Is it identical with halakhah? Or do notions of God and covenant also influence our ethical decision making? Is Jewish ethics really that different from Western philosophical ethics? What interpretive challenges are involved when we attempt to apply traditional texts to contemporary issues? This course will highlight different Jewish approaches to grappling with ethical dilemmas, encouraging you to reflect on how you determine what is ethical. We will also read and discuss responses to some current issues from the perspective of Jewish ethics.

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Tuition: $250 / eight sessions

This course is open to graduates of Context and Me’ah.

JTS Community Courses offer immersive opportunities for studying Jewish texts with JTS’s outstanding faculty—join this vibrant learning community.

About Professor Brafman

Yonatan Brafman studies the intersection of Jewish thought, Jewish law, and contemporary moral and legal philosophy. He is coeditor, with Leora Batnitzky, of an anthology titled Jewish Legal Theories and is currently working on a manuscript titled Critical Philosophy of Halakha.

For more information, contact:
Lynn Feinman
(212) 678-8821
lyfeinman@jtsa.edu