Fantastic Rabbinic Tales
Three Monday Evenings
(October 7, 14 and 28)
Time: 7-8:00 PM ET
Instructor: Rabbi David Greenspoon
Location: Zoom Classroom
Standard Class Rate: $90
Base Rate: $60
(Subsidized by Haberman Institute donors)
Haberman Institute courses are offered on a sliding payment scale.
Both tiers receive identical access to the program. All interested students are encouraged to join our classes. Should the registration rates become a barrier to enrollment, please contact our Executive Director, Matthew Silverman.
The rabbis of the Talmud and Midrash had a literary tradition of fantastic narrative and fantasy! Their traditions are in many ways the precursors to the modern genres of science fiction, science fantasy, and even horror. Even Dante was aware of rabbinic midrashim, but that’s another topic.
In this short series, we will explore three famous rabbinic narratives.
The Midrash of the Death of Moses, in which Moses kills Death
The Magic Tzitzit, in which a rabbinical student gets the reward of two lifetimes!
Shimon Bar Yochai: the Rabbi with the Deadly Laser Beam Eyes
All sources will be presented in translation, and no prior knowledge or study of rabbinic literature is expected.
Rabbi David Greenspoon loves bringing the sweeping story of Jewish history and the Jewish people to life. His engaging style and contagious passion encourage students of all ages and backgrounds. Rabbi Greenspoon’s courses are designed to explore an inspiring world of ideas, values, and dreams of real people in the context of their time and place.
His innovative approach as an educator goes back to the earliest days of the public internet as the first rabbi teaching Torah on AOL’s Torah Chat. His writings have been published widely with appearances in the Washington Jewish Week, Baltimore Jewish Times, Jewish Bible Quarterly, and Navy Chaplain Magazine.
In 2021 Rabbi Greenspoon launched Jewtique Concierge Rabbinic Services to serve the needs of Jewish people not connected to a congregation. His warmth, compassion, and humor have made a difference in the lives of hundreds of clients since launch.
Rabbi Greenspoon is a twice veteran of the United States Navy, serving on enlisted active duty from 1981-1985, and as a reserve chaplain from 1989-1996.