Executive Seminar Summer 2017: Religious Coercion — Then and Now

Introduction

Can we be both commanded and free to choose? Does Judaism value choice and freedom? If so, how can the Bible and Talmud describe punishments for those who do not observe the laws and even discuss what types of methods of coercion may be used by the leadership to force people to follow the law. Together we will explore sources that address these issues and think about how we can have a system that values both Commandments and choice. This session was given by Rabbi Zvi Hirschfield as part of the Pardes Executive Learning Seminar, Summer 2017.

 

Zvi Hirschfield

Rabbi Zvi Hirschfield teaches Talmud, Halakha and Jewish Thought at Pardes. He is also deeply involved in Pardes’s programs for Jewish educators, with a focus on tefilah in educational settings, modern Jewish thought, and Israel education. Zvi holds a B.A. in History from Columbia University, pursued graduate studies at Harvard University in Medieval and Modern Jewish Thought, studied at Yeshivat Har Etzion, and received rabbinic ordination from the Chief Rabbinate of Israel.

Before joining Pardes, Zvi served as Director of Judaica at the JCC of Cleveland and taught at the Cleveland College of Jewish Studies. He also works as a curriculum writer and staff trainer for the Nesiya Institute. Zvi lives in Israel with his wife, Dina, and their four children.