Term 3

EVENING COURSE @ Eric Caspary Learning Centre, Shalom College
7.45 - 10.00pm

Winds of Change in the Middle East 

Presented by Hagai M. Segal  with a guest lecture by Assoc Prof Greg Rose

The year 2011 is set to be one of the most momentous years in Middle East history. The Arab Spring has exploded across region, transforming and yet potentially de-stabilising key countries in the Arab world and unnerving other Arab leaders who fear they may be next. Israeli-Palestinian relations are at an all-time low, with the Palestinians manoeuvring for statehood in the international diplomatic arena. 

What lies ahead of these remarkable events? Are we about to see the democratisation of the Middle East, or has the Arab Spring opened the door for radical nationalists and Islamists to take power? Will Iran and its allies use the current uncertainty to their advantage? What new challenges will Israel face in the political, legal and military battles it continues to wage? And what will this all mean for the Middle East peace process?

These questions and more will be analysed over four weeks:  

Week 1:  The Arab Spring – Why it Happened & Why it Matters (Hagai M. Segal)

Week 2:  Where is the Arab Spring Heading Next? (Hagai M. Segal)

Week 3:  Israel, the Palestinians and the Middle East Peace Process (Hagai M. Segal)

Week 4:  Lawfare on Battlefields in the Middle East: How Has International Law Been Manipulated as a Weapon Against Israel in the Conflict? (Assoc Prof Greg Rose) 

Dates:  Monday 15 August, Monday 22 August, Monday 29 August & Monday 5 September

MORNING COURSE @ Academy BJE, 56 Roscoe St, Bondi
9.45 - 12.00pm 

The Bible as a Multi-Sensory Experience
Presented by Dr Yael Avrahami  

Did the ancient Hebrews see what we see? Did they hear what we hear? Did they smell what we smell? The Hebrew bible provides us with an abundance of sensory imagery and information which is commonly ignored. This course will explore how sensory information in the Hebrew Bible can enrich our reading and reveal hidden dimensions, over four weeks:

Week 1:  Sensory Modes of Mourning. This special lecture for Tisha B’Av will explore verses from Lamentations, Job, and Psalms which describe morning as an experience of sensory disability.

Week 2:  To See or Not to Be: Did Saul Ever Have a Chance? This session will examine biblical perceptions of sight and blindness and examine King Saul’s character in light of these perceptions.

Week 3:  Fury and Favor by Sniff of the Nose. This session will discuss God’s preference for the scent of meat and will explain the link between God’s sense of smell, His response, and the sacrificial system.

Week 4:  Seeing is Believing. This session will examine this maxim through the three books of wisdom – Proverbs, Kohelet, and Job – who uncover the knowledge of God through various sensory modes.

Dates:  Tuesday 9 August, Tuesday 16 August, Tuesday 23 August & Tuesday 30 August