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
Brian Tice was ordained as a Messianic Rabbi by MJR in May of 2000. He obtained his B.Sci. in Bible, Youth Ministry, and Ancient Languages from Cornerstone University and his M.Sci. in Higher Education with an emphasis on Classical Hebrew Andragogy from Kaplan University. He also studied Music and Modern Languages at Kalamazoo Valley Community College, Pastoral 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 Take Hold Ministry School. He also developed a number of courses for International Messianic Torah Institute and Messianic Jewish Rabbinate as well as teaching homeschool music and cantillation courses in the Grand Rapids area (Michigan).
Professor Tice has facilitated the Torah Schul at his home synagogue the past 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.
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 camp ministry 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.