Ever wonder if there’s a halachic obligation to pay U.S. taxes? What gives any government the right to tax its citizens in the first place?
This summer, Batsheva Learning Center is diving into these fascinating issues in their intermediate Gemara course.
The six-week program centers around a key section of Maseches Bava Kamma, plus the commentaries and contemporary teshuvos that tackle these very questions.
The course is about more than just taxes, though.
Students who’ve taken past Batsheva’s Gemara courses always mention the skill-building piece. Each session centers chavrusa time to work through the sources, fostering the independence to learn Torah texts on your own.
“Teachers of Torah must also be learners,” reflected one past participant. “Thank you for the opportunity to learn in a new way and for doing this specifically for women.”
The course also aims to provide another broader Torah learning skill: insight into how the halachic process works. How do thousands-year-old halachic principles apply to what’s happening today? How do we trace halachos from the Gemara all the way through modern teshuvos? Learning the sources around a particular issue in this way can give you a whole new appreciation and understanding for the depth and workings of Torah thinking.
As another past student shared: “I learned how vast and interconnected the Torah is. . . I have such an awe for Torah scholars who are able to understand the intricacies and complicated cases.”
Another aspect students enjoyed about the course is the connections it creates between the students. “While it wasn’t a social group, there was a camaraderie in learning with a serious, intelligent group of women.” Something special happens when women come together for a shared goal of Torah learning.
The course, taught by Devorah Silberstein, is designed for students who already have some Gemara background and are ready to take their learning deeper. Whether you’re drawn by the intriguing tax questions or the opportunity to build lifelong learning skills, this summer program offers both.
Ready to Dive In?
The course runs Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8:00-10:00 PM EST, July 10 – August 21.
The course costs $210, with early bird pricing of $180 available through June 18 using code EARLYBIRD. Registration closes July 1.
For more information and to register: www.BatshevaLearningCenter.com/Courses
