A lecture series presented by Chabad of Harford County

Taxation, immigration, health care. What is the Jewish perspective on the hot button issues of today? Drawing on sources from the Torah, this course examines hotly debated contemporary political issues from a Jewish perspective.

While each lecture can stand alone, they also serve as a linked series, each reading like a part of the larger story. 

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6 Classes | 2 parts
Part One Sep. 4 & Sept 11 
Part Two Oct. 15, 22, 29, Nov 5
CLASS 1
TUESDAY, SEPT. 4TH 7:15PM
Distribution & Redistribution of Wealth What wisdom does Judaism have to offer on the issue of the distribution of wealth? Is wealth a mark of sin, a sign that a person has greedily taken too much and necessarily impoverished others? Is poverty a sign of laziness or ineptitude, an outer indication of a poor character? Let us explore together why there is inequality in wealth and what should we do about it. 
 
 
CLASS 2
TUESDAY, SEPT. 11TH 7:15
 
Charity & Taxation   
How did Jewish communities understand their roles in furthering the welfare of the people? In what way do Jewish law and values articulate the issues so that we can think about them well and thoughtfully proceed with effective and ethical actions that will achieve a well-understood and well-conceived goal?

 
 
CLASS 3
MONDAY, OCT. 15TH 7:15PM
 
Taxation with Representation
Taxation is about providing governments with the funds they need to spend. The questions we should ask, then, are: what are the kinds of things on which it is legitimate for governments to spend; and who is empowered to decide exactly which and how many of those things the government should fund?

 
 
 
CLASS 4
MONDAY, OCT. 22ND 7:15PM
 
 
Illegal Immigrants and Amnesty
Do countries have a right to admit newcomers only under certain conditions? Can a country make sure that the influx of immigrants will not disrupt its own labor market? Does a country have a right to insist that its laws be respected and its culture honored? Looking through the lens of Jewish law and tradition, we will seek a deeper understanding of the real issues at hand.

 
 
CLASS 5
MONDAY, OCT. 29TH 7:15PM

 
Health Care
Whose responsibility is our health care? Are others responsible for me and am I responsible for others? Is health care insurance a contradiction to trust in G‐d? Does a community have a right to require its members to buy health insurance? What is the role of our own free choice in solving health care problems?

 
 
 
CLASS 6
MONDAY, NOV 5TH 7:15PM
 
 
 
Campaign Finance
When a person with power accepts gifts, his vision is blinded, his judgments are skewed and people lose faith in the system. But what are the limits? Can one contribute to a PAC? Suppose a local judge gets married. Can one give a present without fear of impropriety?