This course studies the landscape of Jewish thought through the lenses of six major contributors to Judaism's "creative period": Shammai and Hillel as the First Century emerges, followed by Rabban Gamli'el the Elder, Rabban Yochanan ben Zakkai, and Rabbi Aqiva. The course then, against the backdrop of these Sages and their rabbinic schools, turns to Yeshua haNotzri and the First-Century Jewish concept of the Messiah. At the end of each module, we have a "For Further Study" section pointing you to other resources or courses that go deeper into those subjects.
Course textbook: Brian Tice, Reflecting on the Rabbis: Sage Insight into First-Century Jewish Thought (Grand Rapids, Mich.: MJR Press, 2017). Purchase online: http://amzn.to/2sarBSt
Your Professor
Brian Tice was ordained as a Sephardic Rabbi (Moreh Hora'ah) by MJR in May of 2000 and by Y'sharim USA in June of 2016 (Choshen Mishpat/Dayan). He obtained his B.Sci. in Bible and Ancient Languages from Cornerstone University and his M.Sci. in Higher Education with an emphasis on Classical Hebrew Andragogy from Kaplan/Purdue Global. He also studied Music and Modern Languages at Kalamazoo Valley Community College, Worship Studies at Grand Rapids Theological Seminary, and Middle Eastern History through Tel Aviv University.
Professor Tice has taught Hebrew, Hermeneutics, Tanakh Exegesis, and Apologetics for Cornerstone University (as a Graduate Assistant) and for Take Hold Ministry School. He also developed a number of courses for International Messianic Torah Institute and MJR Yeshiva as well as teaching homeschool music and Torah cantillation courses in the Grand Rapids area (Michigan).
Professor Tice facilitated the Torah Schul at his home synagogue for three years as well as serving as a chazzan and occasionally teaching from the bimah. He has also delivered the D’var Torah on the “Torah Foundations of Faith” radio program on Hebrew Nation Radio. Presently, he is a Hebrew and Judaica research scholar with Manuscript Research Group, working with Jewish manuscripts in Hebrew, Aramaic, and Judeo-Arabic and spanning nearly all nusachot and minhagim.
Professor Tice contributes to tikkun olam by working with the Willing to Wait Leadership Team, an abstinence education ministry of the Pregnancy Resource Center and ministering to the local homeless and poor. He has also volunteered with Little Mary’s Hospitality House, a woodland vacation resort for families with children battling life-threatening or terminal illnesses, for 11 years; Habitat for Humanity for 7 years; Boys & Girls Club of Greater Kalamazoo for 6 years; and several homeless ministries.
Course Curriculum
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StartModule 1: Introduction to Jewish Hashqafah (Worldview)
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StartModule 2: The Hashqafah and Halakha of Shammai haZaqen
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StartModule 3: The Hashqafah and Halakha of Hillel haZaqen
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StartModule 4: THe Hashqafah and Halakha of Rabban Gamli'el haZaqen
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StartModule 5: The Hashqafah and Halakha of Rabban Yochanan ben Zakkai
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StartModule 6: The Hashqafah and Halakha of Rabbi Aqiva ben Yosef
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StartModule 7: Midpoint Assessment
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StartModule 8: The Hashqafah and Halakha of Yeshua haNotzri
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StartModule 9: First-Century Jewish Expectations of Messiah
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StartModule 10: Diversity of Hashqafot - Synchronizing the Sages
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StartModule 11: Critical Reflection on the Rabbis
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StartModule 12: Final Assessment