Enter the intricate world of the Talmud: the monumental classic that has defined Jewish learning for centuries. Join this exciting new six-week course to discover the Talmud, its history, authors, and significance—and experience it for yourself.

You'll learn the key terms, logical principles, and historical context required to decode every part of the Talmudic page. Plus, see how it became central to Jewish life and why it inspires fascination, debate, and study today.

This course conveniently includes both daytime and evening class options. Daytime sessions feature a catered lunch for all participants. Evening sessions include the option of a catered dinner for those who wish. Food will be available from 7:15 pm and can be enjoyed during the class. Just choose the Course Registration + Dinner option when signing up and join us for a delicious dinner along with great learning!

Two Course Options:

Six Wednesday Afternoons
January 29, February 5, 12, 19, 26, March 5
12:00 - 1:15 pm

Six Wednesday Evenings
January 29, February 5, 12, 19, 26, March 5
7:30 - 9:00 pm

Classes take place at:

The Torah Center
5065 High Point Road
Atlanta, GA 30342

Online learning option available via Zoom

Course fee $120 (includes textbook and materials)
Dinner option $200 (includes course registration and dinner for all 6 sessions)
Sponsorship opportunities available

Course Overview

Lesson 1
The Jewish People and the Talmud: Why Jewish Life Orbits a Book of Law
Jewish law’s ultimate record is the Talmud, but what is Jewish law? Explore its nature, scope, and roots in the written Torah and Oral Law—and see learning’s central role in Jewish practice and culture.

Lesson 2
The Mishnah: The Origins, Authors, and Contents of Judaism’s First Legal Code
See how Jewish law shifted from oral tradition to written code and encounter the Mishnah’s precise style, tight structure, and tolerance for debate—and its spiritual significance in Jewish life.

Lesson 3
Decrypting the Mishnah: How the Sages Studied, Debated, and Understood the Mishnah
Discover the tools, methods, and principles the sages employed in the centuries-long effort to unpack the Mishnah’s full practical implications.

Lesson 4
To Create the Talmud: How the Sages Shaped Its Structure and Substance
Meet the pivotal sages in the Talmud’s story—from Rav and Shmuel’s first academies to Rav Ashi and Ravina’s final text—and see how they wove in stories as well as ethical and philosophical teachings.

Lesson 5
How the Talmud Thinks: A Unique Method of Logic—and Why It Matters
Understand the Babylonian Talmud’s rigorous mode of legal reasoning, how it balances dueling principles to arrive at clear legal boundaries, and how its elegant logic fuels deeper learning.

Lesson 6
The Talmud Until Today: Talmudic Literature and Fifteen Centuries of Constant Study
See how and why the Talmud became the core of Jewish law and discover the vast literature of responsa, legal codes, and commentaries that continue the conversation until today.

Decoding the Talmud