We look forward to welcoming visiting scholar Rabbi Deborah Anstandig, Educational Director of Engagement at Pardes, to ASBI for a special shiur: "The View from Over Here is not the same as The View from Over There: A Biblical Portrait of Jumping to Conclusions". Light breakfast will be served. Please register below.

Understanding the intentions of others can be a risky—and deeply human—endeavor, especially when suspicion clouds our judgment. In this text-based shiur, we’ll delve into a dramatic episode from the Book of Joshua in which a potential civil war is narrowly averted. Through close reading and discussion of classical and contemporary commentaries, we’ll reflect on what this story teaches about misunderstanding, communication, and the dangers of jumping to conclusions. Together, we’ll consider how these ancient dilemmas speak powerfully to the challenges of our own time. This session will include texts in Hebrew and English, and will offer an opportunity for hevruta study.

ABOUT RABBI DEBORAH ANSTANDIG: Deborah makes periodic trips to North America to offer a glimpse of Torah learning from the Jerusalem Beit Midrash. A long time teacher and mentor, Deborah believes that Torah learning strengthens individuals and communities–and can inspire us to lead lives of integrity, humility, and respect. Deborah was ordained at Hebrew College in Boston, and has served as a middle and high school teacher in New York City.