Although the Talmud is primarily known as a work of commentary, argumentation and law, it is also a repository for a large number of stories that the rabbis told – some of a weird and wonderful nature, and some whose purpose remains mysterious even today. In this seven-week term, we will explore a variety of different Talmudic narratives, some profound and some peculiar, and will seek to consider their meaning and the reason for their inclusion in the text. No prior familiarity with the text is required, and English translations will be provided.

About the facilitator

Simon Holloway

Facilitator

Dr Simon Holloway is Manager of Community and Corporate Programs at the Melbourne Holocaust Museum and a sessional lecturer at Melbourne University, where he teaches Early Rabbinic Interpretation of the Hebrew Bible. In the evenings, Simon divides his time between the Talmud and the writings of JRR Tolkien, subjecting his children to both in roughly equal measure.