Finishing the Steinsaltz Talmud
In honor of Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz finishing his commentary on the Talmud, November 7, 2010 has been designated a Global Day of Jewish Learning. On that day there will be a big siyyum in Jerusalem along with programs around the world. As a lead up to that day, there is a special series of talks on Tractate Taanit. Here is the information.
Rabbi Steinsaltz will mark the completion of his life’s work on the Talmud with an historic siyyum – completion ceremony – on Sunday, November 7th in Jerusalem. This evening is the culmination of the Global Day of Jewish Learning.
To celebrate this unique achievement, the Shefa Institute in Israel is launching a lecture series on Tractate Ta’anit, taught by Israel’s leading writers, artists, musicians and intellectuals. Every week will showcase a new lesson from a new speaker teaching one page of the tractate (in Hebrew.) All the classes will be recorded and loaded onto the Shefa Website.
The series will be launched at the Steinsaltz Center (4-6 Iraqi Street Nachlaot, Jerusalem) on Wednesday, 21 April 2010, at 7:00 pm, with classes by Rabbi Dr. Yehuda Brandes and Rabbi Adin Even-Israel Steinsaltz.
Partial list of speakers:
Rabbi Dr. Yehuda Brandes – Talmud researcher, Beir Morasha, Jerusalem
Prof. Ariel Hirshfeld – Culture and Literature researcher, senior lecturer at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and columnist at Ha’aretz daily newspaper
Prof. Yehuda Libes – Kabbalah researcher, will be teaching jointly with Rabbi Menachem Fruman, the Rabbi of the settlement of Teko’a
Writer Aaron Appelfeld – recipient of the Israel Prize for Literature
Kobi Oz – Israeli musician and writer
Writer Chaim Be’er – writer and Professor of Hebrew Literature at Be’er Sheva University
Udi Leon – script writer, one of the leading personalities in Israeli film-making and television, creator of the TV series Me’orav Yerushalmi (“Jerusalem Mix”) and Avodah Aravit (“Arab Labor”)
Rabbi Yuval Cherlow – head of the Hesder Yeshiva of Petach Tikvah
Dr. Yechiel Schlesinger – specialist in pediatrics and head of the Department of Infectious Diseases at Sha’arei Tzedek hospital, Jerusalem
Rabbi Rafi Feuerstein – one of the founders and leaders of the Tzohar Organization (whose aim is to help shape the Jewish character of the State of Israel)
Rabbi David Halivni – Talmud researcher and Professor at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, recipient of the Israel Prize for Talmud for 2008
Rabbi David Bigman – head of the Ma’aleh Gilbo’a Yeshivah, active in helping women whose husbands deserted them (agunot) or refuse to divorce them (mesoravot get)
Rabbi Dr. Beni Lau – head of the Beit Midrash for social justice, columnist at the Ha’aretz daily newspaper
National events will celebrate the completion of each chapter in the tractate.
The Siyyum of Chapter One will take place on the 1st of Tammuz 5770, 27 June 2010, at the Talmud Convention at Heichal Shlomo, Jerusalem.
The Siyyum of Chapter Two will take place on 10-12 Tammuz 5770, 21-23 July 2010, at the “Not in Heaven” Festival of Judaism at Kfar Blum.
The Siyyum of Chapter Three will take place on the 18th of Tishrei 5771,26 September 2010, at the Hakhel Festival at Sapir College, which this year will be devoted to the completion of the Steinsaltz Talmud.
The Siyyum of Chapter Four will be celebrated as part of the main event marking the completion of the Steinsaltz Talmud, at Binyanei Ha-umah, Jerusalem.