Money in Classical Jewish Law

What role does money play in Jewish law? Answering this question has long been fraught with difficulty, as the association of Judaism with money has been closely intertwined with negative stereotypes of Jews and anti-Semitism. More broadly, money is often viewed as antithetical to religious values, which are held up as bulwarks against the pursuit of material gain. In this talk, we’ll go back to the classical Jewish sources, including the Mishnah and Talmud (in English translation) – texts from the ancient world that form the foundations of Jewish thought and law to this day. We will examine how the ancient rabbis conceptualized money and wealth, and learn how archaeological finds from Israel can help us better understand the formulation of rabbinic thought. We will also discuss how the classical rabbis’ view and attitudes have been re-interpreted over time, and how going back to the original sources can give us innovative ideas and insights into the role of money in Jewish law.

If you have a disability that requires a reasonable accommodation, contact the Judaic Studies office at 734-763-9047 at least two weeks prior to the event.