History Through Text: Jewish Life in the Middle Ages with Rabbi Kulwin

History Through Text is a seminar to be offered throughout the year, at Temple B’nai Abraham, Livingston. Led by Rabbi Clifford Kulwin, each class will also be a stand-alone unit, taught in blocks, so that an inability to attend all (or even most) of the sessions will not be an impediment to an enjoyable and simulating learning experience. The History Through Text series will explore Jewish Life in the Middle Ages. We began as a people in Biblical times and the laws that guide us come from the time of the Talmud, some 1,500 years ago. But only after that, in the Middle Ages did our worship, customs and traditions began to take the form we recognize today. What was it like to be a Jew then? Was there always anti-Semitism? Where did Jews live? How did they earn their livelihood, what languages did they speak and what was family life like? What special issues did medieval women face? Through a close reading of texts from the period – personal letters, diaries, journals, rabbinic rulings, government edicts and other documents – we’ll explore just what it was like to be a Jew during this pivotal time. The first class will begin on Wednesday, February 8, at 7:00 PM at the temple. Classes will then meet on February 22, March 8, 15, and 29, all at 7:00 PM. This series is free and open to the community. To register go to www.tbanj.org or call 973.994.2290. Photo by Jan Press PhotoMedia