Past Classes

Delve Deeper is a Jewish education initiative that brings dynamic teachers to lead in-depth, university level courses to a diverse group of adult learners in greater Rhode Island. Courses cover a period of Jewish history or a specific Jewish theme, text or personality. Classes are held on a weekday evening for two hours and run for ten weeks. The professor leading the class is responsible for developing the course description, syllabus, and reading assignments.

Past Classes

• Spring 2017 “Rabbis, Mystics, Philosophers and Poets: An Introduction to Medieval Judaism” Alan Verskin, Ph.D., Professor of Islamic and Jewish History, URI

• Fall 2017 “Modern Judaism” Paul E. Nahme, Ph.D., Dorot Assistant Professor of Judaic Studies, Assistant Professor of Religious Studies, Brown University

• Spring 2018 “The Rabbis and Their Legacy: An Introduction to Rabbinic Judaism” Michael L. Satlow, Ph.D., Professor of Judaic Studies and Religious Studies, Brown University

• Fall 2018 “The Tanak: New Perspectives” Michael L. Satlow, Ph.D., Professor of Judaic Studies and Religious Studies, Brown University

• Spring 2019 “Between Constantine and Muhammed: Jews in the Late Antique Mediterranean Diaspora” Ross S. Kraemer, Ph.D., Professor Emerita of Religious Studies and Judaic Studies, Brown University

• Spring 2020 “Sacred Space in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam” Joan Rebekah Branham, Ph.D., Professor of Art History and Associate Dean, School of Arts and Sciences, Providence College; Chair, Board of Trustees, W.F. Albright Institute of Archaeological Research, Jerusalem

• Fall 2020 “Lost Books of the Bible” Michael Satlow, Ph.D., Professor of Judaic Studies and Religious Studies, Brown University

• Spring 2021 “The Jews of Spain” Alan Verskin, Ph.D., Professor of Islamic and Jewish History, URI 

• Fall 2021 “Creativity and Resilience: Jewish Life in Eastern Europe 1500—2020” Natan M. Meir, Ph.D., Lorry I. Lokey Professor of Judaic Studies, Portland State University 

• Spring 2022 “The Jews of Italy” Dana W. Fishkin, Associate Professor of History and Humanities, Touro Graduate School of Jewish Studies

• Fall 2022 "Sephardi & Mizrahi Jews: From 1492 to the 20th century" Yaron Ayalon, Director of the Yaschik/ Arnold Jewish Studies Program & Associate Professor of Jewish and Middle Eastern Studies, College of Charleston, SC

• Fall 2022 "Moses Maimonides: Rabbi, Philosopher, and Community Leader" Alan Verskin, Associate Professor of History, University of Rhode Island

• Spring 2023 "Adam & Eve in the Jewish Tradition" Michael Satlow, Professor of Judaic Studies and Religious Studies, Brown University

• Fall 2023 "Yiddish Folklore & Culture" Natan M. Meir, Lorry I. Lokey Professor of Judaic Studies and Academic Director of the Harold Schnitzer Family Program in Judaic Studies at Portland State University, Portland, Oregon.