Tariffs, Talmud & Sticky Notes

As issues related to tariffs continue to make headlines, it may be surprising to realize that some aspects of this contemporary debate raise significant philosophical questions. What is the essence of an object? When and how does it change? When its parts come from more than one place, how do we determine the object’s origin? As in so many aspects of life, the sages of the Talmud explored relevant questions that continue to shed light on our modern dilemmas. Perhaps their insights would have been helpful to the actual 2020 U.S. Customs ruling on the country of origin of sticky notes. A Bereshit Rabbah midrash recounts that even our patriarch Abraham encountered customs officers upon entering Egypt. Join us as we grapple with new answers to ancient questions and how they may impact our lives today.

The Philosophy Minyan is a monthly lunchtime series on Zoom. All are welcome to join in an interactive and thought-provoking exploration of topics at the intersection of philosophy, Jewish thought and contemporary issues. No advance reading is required and participants will receive online access to all the class materials following each session.

Be sure to check the Beth Am calendar for future class descriptions and any schedule changes, as well as to register for individual sessions.

If you would like to be added to the email list for monthly Philosophy Minyan reminders and the Zoom link, or have a great topic you would like to suggest, please contact Shelley.

Please use the form below to register and receive Zoom access information.