Rishonim on Tanach

Service Description

This course enables the "professional" learners to refine their textual skills and deepen their understanding of the Rishonim on Tanach. The students will gain a new appreciation for and satisfaction in learning the Rishonim. Often students of Tanach become accustomed -- and satisfied -- with a quick encounter with the Mephorshim and neglect to identify and understand the Mephorash's subtleties and larger approach. However, a precise translation of the Mephorshim's language and a deeper approach to their individual understandings of the Torah text will uncover layers of depth encoded within the Rishonim. Additionally, when there is a Machlokes between the Rishonim, it is easy to miss the point that is being debated, and often the reader will combine commentaries as if they all agree, creating a chaotic mush of ideas. In this course we will read excerpts from the Rishonim to enable the students to identify three aspects of the commentaries under analysis: 1) The questions that bothered these Rishonim and triggered them to comment. 2) How they disagree with other Rishonim. 3) The message and novel concept that the Rishon is presenting. Recordings will be available for this class. Dates (10 sessions): June 14, 21, 28, July 5, 12, 19, 26, August 2, 9, 16