Our tradition is rife with tales of great sages whose righteousness saves them from all harm — even miraculously! But what about regular people? What about those without Torah brilliance or lofty titles? We will explore a striking passage from the Babylonian Talmud (Taanit 21b–22a) in which Rabbi Baroka meets individuals assured a place in the World to Come (Heaven)— and they are not rabbis. Through a close reading of this text, we will examine the values and everyday actions the rabbis held up as truly righteous: small deeds of kindness, the pursuit of justice, joyful living, humility, and deep interpersonal ethics. Together, we will ask what it means to live a meaningful Jewish life — not in the Beit Midrash, but in the marketplace, the workplace, and the street.

No prior experience needed!

Rabbi Joel Dinin is a Los Angeles native, ordained by Yeshivat Chovevei Torah in 2015. He began his rabbinic career as Associate Rabbi at Moses Montefiore Anshe Emunah in Baltimore, then served as head rabbi at Lake Park Synagogue in Milwaukee. Since 2023, he has been the Director of Education and Orthodox Rabbi at MIT Hillel. Joel brings a grounded, engaging teaching style to Jewish texts, with a focus on evolving traditions, practical ethics, and the stranger corners of Jewish history — think angels, demons, unicorns, dragons, and more. He lives in the Boston area with his wife and their three wonderful children.