05/10/2008
Talmudic Ethics Course Slated

LITCHFIELD - A six-week course, Talmudic Ethics: Timeless Wisdom for Timely Dilemmas, will be offered 7:30 to 9 p.m. Mondays, May 12 through June 16, at the Litchfield County Jewish Community Center, 7 Village Green Drive.

The same course will be offered 7:30 to 9 p.m. Tuesdays, May 13 through June 17, at the Heritage Resort, 522 Heritage Rd., Southbury, and noon to 1:30 p.m. Tuesdays, May 13 through June 17, at Chabad Lubavitch of Northwest Connecticut, 81 W. Main St., second Floor, Waterbury.

Traditionally, Jews have looked to the Talmud to help them unravel tangled instincts.

"The simple fact is that life is complicated," said Rabbi Joseph Eisenbach of Chabad of Northwest Connecticut. "Most days people hesitate and agonize over difficult decisions.

"The Talmud recognizes that ethics is complex and subtle, and it knows that complicated questions cannot be answered with a simple yes or no.

"While the technology may have changed over time, the rabbis of the Talmud have grappled with the same kinds of ethical concerns that we worry about today."

The Rohr Jewish Learning Institute's course is an innovative approach to facing life's most challenging dilemmas. Participants need no prior knowledge of the Talmud and no formal legal training. There are no prerequisites.

Talmudic Ethics tackles big issues like abortion, euthanasia, freedom of expression, and fair business practice.

Students will learn how the best Jewish minds struggled with hard choices, trace their search for satisfying resolutions, and discover how Judaism offers a moral compass to help them find direction through the maze of life.

"We can't promise to provide you with all the answers," said Rabbi Eisenbach, "but we guarantee you'll think about the questions in a whole new way."

The cost of the course is $79 per person, or $126.40 per couple.

Those seeking additional information about the program may visit www.myJLI. com or call 1-800-297-6864.