The Pillars: Jerusalem, Athens, and the Western Mind

The structures of government in the Middle Ages are quite different from what we have today. On today’s episode, Rabbi Rocklin will address the following questions: What were the various obligations of the different ranks of people in the Middle Ages? How were they obligated to each other? What role did the king play in Medieval times?  Was it really all bad for Jews in the Middle Ages?

The next chapter in the story of the west is the Middle Ages, centered around Catholic Europe. As we begin to explore this era, Rabbi Rocklin will address the following questions: Why did the Catholic Church center itself in Rome if it did not begin there? How were political and military leaders essential to the spread of Christianity?  Why was serfdom the Christian solution to slavery?

As the sun set on the Greco-Roman era, a new dawn will break over Christian Europe. To help introduce us to the Middle Ages, Rabbi Rocklin will address the following questions: The Middle Ages are often referred to as the Dark Ages, but how dark were they really? How did the chaos that followed the fall of the Roman empire influence the institutions of the Middle Ages? How does the tension between reason and revelation drive philosophical thought during this time?

The Jewish population of Spain thrived under Muslim rule. As we explore that time period, we’ll take a look at the following questions: How do different cultural hubs develop in the region of Spain? How do the Jews develop their own genre of poetry in this region and what makes it uniquely beautiful? How do political turmoil and religious wars affect the Jews of Spain Recommended Reading: Lewis, Bernard. The Jews of Islam. New Jersey: Princeton University Press, 1987. Perelis, Ronnie. Narratives from the Sephardic Atlantic: Blood and Faith. Indiana: Indiana University Press, 2016.

Islam has been making headlines since it was founded in the seventh century CE. To help us unpack the topic, Rabbi Rocklin will address the following questions: Does Islam really belong in the story of the west? How did Islam actually start and what are the basic tenets of the faith? How does Islam diverge from Christianity and Judaism regarding the covenant? Or does it?

The codifying of the Talmud marked a major turning point for Jewish life and law. As we dive into the topic, we’ll explore the following questions: What exactly is the Talmud? How is the Talmud structured? Is the structure itself important to the content? What drove Jewish passion for and attachment to the Talmud over the centuries? Recommended Reading: Saiman, Chaim. Halakhah: The Rabbinic Idea of Law. New Jersey: Princeton University Press, 2018.

As the western half of the Roman Empire fell apart, the eastern half remained a dominant force. On today’s episode, Rabbi Rocklin will help us address the following questions: How did the western half of the Roman Empire weaken to the point of collapse? Was Christianity really to blame? What shifted to make Christianity become the dominant religion within the empire? Why does the Western Roman Empire ultimately fall apart?

The instability that became the hallmark of the late Roman Republic rears its head again in the late days of the Empire. Today, we’ll explore the following questions: How did Rome’s military manage to hold together the empire in the face of economic challenges? What was happening in the Sassanian Empire at this time? Why did Diocletian split the Roman Empire?

There are many ways to explain a text, yet Midrash remains one of the most important. Today, Rabbi Rocklin will walk us through the following questions: What exactly is Midrash, and why is it important to Judaism? Why are the midrashic texts of the fourth and fifth centuries considered the most authoritative? How do we reconcile midrashic interpretations of the text with the simple understanding of the text that does not include the midrash?

Tacitus and Juvenal are vastly entertaining in their critiques of the world around them. As we survey these writers, we’ll uncover answers to the following questions: If Tacitus’ descriptions of the Jews are outrageous, why is it important to read him? How does Tacitus’ explanation of the Jewish day of rest shed light on the Roman, pagan mentality? What makes Juvenal so memorable as a writer? Recommended Reading: Tacitus on the Jews, Book V. Tacitus. Annals. Translated by Michael Grant. New York: Laurel-Leaf, 2005. "