Me'ah Classic Course: The Hebrew Bible

20 Oct @ 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Location: In Person at Temple Emanuel – 10/20, 10/27, 11/3, 11/10 & 11/17; Online via Zoom – 11/24, 12/1, 12/8, 12/15, 1/5 &  1/12 (1/19 make-up class if needed)

Cost (for the Fall Bible Semester): $340 for Temple Emanuel of Andover members*; $490 for greater community members (financial aid is available)

Me’ah Classic – a program of Hebrew College, powered by Combined Jewish Philanthropies – is a comprehensive, engaging, and in-depth adult learning experience open to adults of all ages. Students take a 100-hour (“Me’ah” is Hebrew for 100), two-year journey through the narrative of the Jewish people. Classes are led by outstanding faculty who empower students to become part of the conversation. Students receive a certificate during a graduation ceremony at the end of their second year.

Course Description: Me’ah Classic, Year 1, Semester 1 – Bible; Instructor: Jeffrey Amshalem (read bio)

The Hebrew Bible, or Tanakh, is the central text of ancient Israel and the foundational text for Judaism through the ages. You’ll examine the various biblical genres, structures, concepts, theological and historical settings of the biblical world, and then explore selected topics, often integrated with rabbinic perspectives.

This sequence balances an overview of the Hebrew Bible with focused discussion of core texts, such as the Creation stories, the binding of Isaac, the Exodus story, the revelation at Sinai and the prophetic books. You’ll analyze the primary biblical texts and secondary scholarly materials through various lenses: literary, historical-comparative, and rabbinic commentary.

While you may be familiar with the Bible from childhood, this in-depth exposure to other texts and different modes of reading will challenge you — and may well lead you to reassess some long-held views.

If you would like more information and have questions, please contact the Hebrew College Tamid Team. You are also invited to sign up to attend a 30-minute information session to learn more about Me’ah. 

Sign Up →

*Temple Emanuel Members: to access the subsidized rate, register for Semester 1 (via the link above), ignore the payment screen, and then call Candace Lyons at Hebrew College (617-559-8735) to pay the subsidized rate.