Rabbinic texts like the Mishna and Talmud are filled with legal discussions—debates over rituals, obligations, and everyday practices. But if we listen closely, we can hear something more. These legal texts also carry the voices of ancient rabbis grappling with fear, uncertainty, and the struggle to build resilient communities. In this text study, we’ll explore how Jewish legal discourse became a powerful tool—not just for governing life, but for expressing pain, preserving identity, and imagining stability in times of powerlessness. Come ready to read closely, ask big questions, and think together about what law can hold beyond rules.

No background in rabbinic literature is needed—just curiosity and a willingness to explore.

Alieza Salzberg Yizhar is a scholar, writer, and teacher. She will be receiving Rabbinic Ordination from Yeshivat Maharat in June and is completing a doctorate in Talmudic Literature at Bar Ilan University later this year. She is researching the intersection of gender and war in rabbinic literature. She is also a frequent writer for MyJewishLearning.com.

Alieza holds masters’ degrees in Midrash and Aggada from Hebrew University and Creative Writing from City College, CUNY. Alieza lives in Jerusalem with her husband and two curious kids.