Bar-Ilan University is a unique project, a religious university striving towards academic excellence coupled with Jewish Identity. With Bar-Ilan as a home, the Nitzotzot program comes to embody the mandate of the university at large – using cutting edge scientific research in collaboration with Torah learning in order to expand and reconfigure our understanding of their symbiotic relationship.
It is from this foundation that the idea for Nitzotzot was born - the desire to join worlds together, worlds which to some seem remote from one another. Tochnit Nitzotzot (the “Nitzotzot program”) brings together scientists and Torah scholars, each without previous background in the other's field. The scientist presents his new findings, and the Torah scholar defines the challenge which is posed by the scientific discovery. In this way, each confronts new phenomena in the spirit of the rabbinic dictum, "there is no Torah study that does not reveal new insights” and are exposed to profound Torah concepts which can inform their findings and provide ongoing stimulation.
Ephraim Meir, Professor for modern Jewish Philosophy at Bar-Ilan University, gave a fascinating lecture about his approach towards an Interreligious Theology from a Jewish viewpoint. One of the central ideas in this dialogical Philosophy is “Trans- Differences”. An idea, which does not annihilate the existing and important differences between the religions, but tries to transcendent them. According to Meir this bridging between religions is not only possible but also a necessity for a more peaceful society.
The Nitzotzot Program, in collaboration with The Institute for Advanced Torah Studies at Bar-Ilan University and the University of Leipzig, is excited to announce the 2nd Annual Summer School Program, to take place 29 Tammuz – 6 Av 5778 (12-18 July 2018) at Bar-Ilan University.
Following our fruitful summer together at Wittenberg, we agreed that our joint study should continue. We carried on sessions online throughout the year in that spirit. It was also our aim to have another week together in the summer of 2018; in typical Israeli mode, it is only recently that we were able to secure the dates for this event.
In this program we have prominent leaders dedicated to finding a joint space for finding ourselves in the sacred and formative texts, veterans from our first experience: Prof. Dr. Alexander Deeg, Universität Leipzig; Prof and Rev. Dr. Axel Töllner, Institute of Jewish-Christian Studies and Relations, Neuendettelsau; Reverend Dr. Dagmar Pruin, Executive Director of “Action Reconciliation Service for Peace”, Berlin. We will also have our colleagues from Bar Ilan’s Faculty joining us: Prof. Joseph Fleishman, Bible Department; and Prof. Ephraim Meir Jewish Philosophy Department. We shall also have the BIU veterans from our first seminar: Prof. Tuvia Peri, Department of Psychology; and Dr. Tsuriel Rashi, Department of Communication.
The reunion of the Wittenberg participant's promises to be and enjoyable and enriching experience.
The aim of this summer school is the further construction of a joint language for approaching sacred text and examining our own identities. Our mission and vision of “reverse engineering” ourselves with the aid of formative texts can be found on the homepage.
The Ludwig and Erica Jesselson Institute for Advanced Torah Studies
Head of the Beit Midrash, Jesselson Institute for Advanced Torah Studies
The Ludwig and Erica Jesselson Institute for Advanced Torah Studies
The Zalman Shamir Bible Department, Bar-Ilan University
The Ludwig and Erica Jesselson Institute for Advanced Torah Studies
Institut für Praktische Theologie, Universität Leipzig
Institute Director
Action Reconciliation Service for Peace
Executive Director
Institute of Jewish-Christian Studies and Relations
Department of Psychology, Bar-Ilan University
School of Communication, Bar-Ilan University; Jerusalem Center for Ethics
Head of Bar Ilan's Institute for Nanotechnology and Advanced Materials (BINA)
The Ludwig and Erica Jesselson
Institute for Advanced Torah Studies
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