Medieval Jewish Thinkers

THIS IS A WEBYESHIVA.ORG MACHSHAVA MASTERY PROGRAM COURSE. FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE MACHSHAVA MASTERY PROGRAM OR TO APPLY PLEASE CLICK HERE.

This course with Rabbi Mark Smilowitz will study the classic works that are the pillars of Medieval Jewish thought. Medieval Jewish thinkers developed various systems of Jewish thought in order to help Jews grapple with confusion about Jewish belief. Such confusion often arose from interaction with religious and intellectual movements such as Christianity, Islam, Karaism, Aristotelian rationalism, and others. The various Jewish approaches developed in these writings remain important for Jews today, since many of the questions they discuss persist despite the differences between modern and Medieval conceptions of the world.

The course will focus on mastering the most important ideas of three books, The Book of Doctrines and Beliefs of Rav Saadaya Gaon, The Book of the Kuzari by Rav Yehuda Halevi, and The Guide to the Perplexed by Rambam.  Additional attention will be given to works by Rabbeinu Bahya ibn Pekuda, Rav Hasdai Crescas, and Rav Yosef Albo. Issues to be explored in the course include the relationship between reason and revelation, the nature of belief in God, the meaning and significance of the commandments, the nature of prophecy, Jewish particularism and universalism, divine providence and the problem of evil, and more.