The Rohr Jewish Learning Institute will hold the new class “Decoding the Talmud” taught by Rivkah Slonim on six Mondays beginning February 3, at 7 pm. The course aims to “demystify the intricate world of the Talmud, the monumental classic that has shaped Jewish learning for centuries.” 

For more information or to register, contact Chabad Center at 607-797-0015, rshea@Jewishbu.com or www.myJLI.com. The cost for the course is $90 or $150 per couple, which includes one textbook. Additional textbooks are available for $30 per book. Participants who register after Friday, January 24, will incur an additional fee to cover shipping for the textbook. The class is also accessible via Zoom; login information is made available to participants.

“Despite being one of the most essential texts in Judaism, many Jews struggle to explain what the Talmud really is,” said class organizers. “When asked about the Talmud, they find themselves at a loss for a clear answer. For a new learner, the Talmud can be intimidating and inaccessible, remaining a closed book for the masses.

“Participants will meet the Talmud’s main characters, explore its dynamic history and engage in authentic talmudic study,” organizers continued. “They will learn the key terms, logical principles and historical context required to decipher the text of this 1,500-year-old work, and discover how it has survived and thrived, continuing to fill Jewish study halls to this day. ‘Decoding the Talmud’ aims to change that.”

Dr. Leib Moscovitz, professor of Talmud at Bar Ilan University, explained that the course addresses a critical need: “The Talmud is a difficult work, one which is extremely different from modern works of the law, yet at the same time, it has exerted a decisive influence on Jewish life and practice throughout the generations.”

Moscovitz further highlighted the importance of the course: “‘Decoding the Talmud’ seeks to open the door to this remarkable work for students of all ages and backgrounds. As such, it makes an educational contribution of the highest importance for anyone who is, and who should be, interested in understanding and appreciating the Talmud.”

“The Talmud is the beating heart of Jewish scholarship – maddening, fascinating, even addictive. It’s a world of self-contained logic where questions are more important than answers, and no premise goes unchallenged,” said Rabbi Shmuel Phillips, author of “Talmud Reclaimed.” “The chance to partake in an introductory course in Talmudic literacy is an opportunity that should be grasped with great enthusiasm!”

Like all JLI programs, the course is designed to appeal to people at all levels of knowledge, including those without any prior experience or background in Jewish learning. All JLI courses are open to the public and attendees need not be affiliated with a particular synagogue, temple, or other house of worship.

JLI, the adult education branch of Chabad-Lubavitch, offers programs in more than 800 locations in the U.S. and in numerous foreign countries, including Argentina, Australia, Belarus, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, India, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, the Netherlands, Panama, Russia, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, Uruguay and Venezuela. More than 400,000 students have attended JLI classes since the organization was founded in 1998.