Ruach HaYam Teaching at Congregation Eitz Chayim, 136 Magazine Street, Cambridge, MA – December 20, 2018. (Scroll to end for logistics)

Banner: Color illumination from Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, c.776 – 825 Septuagint of Job with commentaries (Vat. Gr. 749, f. 25r): Satan, Job and his wife. Job in the center, struck with boils and threatened by a three headed monster. On the right, Job’s wife mourns.

In our previous study session on Korah, we questioned how one might understand a divine being who can threaten to annihilate an entire community. We discussed what Abraham Joshua Heshel teaches about “harsh passages” in the Bible. This led us to want to learn about Divine response to tragedy. What is the interplay between tragic human events and divine intervention? The book of Job deals at length with questions of evil and suffering. We would need years to plumb its meaning. For this class we will look at a few verses from Job, consider what it means to be labeled responsible for one’s own suffering, and look in the text for divine and human response to suffering.

“Where shall wisdom be found?
And where is the place of understanding?” [Job 28:12].
Listen here to Dolorean who has set this beautifully to music

Robert Alter’s translation in “The Wisdom Books” is highly recommended.

Here is a tiny video I made of images and music for Job

Ruach HaYam Study of Job on Biteable.

Penina Weinberg is an independent Hebrew bible scholar whose study and teaching focus on the intersection of power, politics and gender in the Hebrew Bible. She has run workshops for Nehirim and Keshet and has been teaching Hebrew bible for 10 years. She has written in Tikkun and HBI blog, and is the leader and founder of Ruach HaYam.

** Logistics**
Study starts promptly at 7:15 pm. We open the doors at 6:45 for schmoozing. Feel free to bring your own veggie snack for the early part. A parking consideration is in effect for the three blocks around EC during all regularly scheduled events. It is a good idea to put a note in the windshield that you are attending an event at EC.
Accessibility information: all gender/accessible bathrooms, entry ramp.

Ruach HaYam study sessions provide a queer Jewish look at text, but are welcoming to any learning or faith background, to all bodies, and friendly to beginners.