Fall 2026: The World Behind the Bible 

Welcome to Delve Deeper, 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.

WHERE: Classes will be offered on Zoom.  

WHEN: Wednesdays 7:00-9:00 pm   September 30, October 7, October 14, October 21, October 28, November 4, November 11, November 18, December 2, December 9 

COURSE DESCRIPTION: This course will look at the way the Hebrew Bible came together across centuries of ideas and experiences from the social groups behind the texts.  It will examine familiar motifs and tales such as creation, the Exodus, law, wisdom, and sacrifice, but will also discuss the role of cultural memory, social cognition, language, and the function of media and art in the world standing behind the creation of these texts.  The authors and audiences in antiquity left their imprint on the literature that survived them, and the course will explore the relationship between this literature and the communities that they formed over countless generations of readership.

INSTRUCTOR: Mark Leuchter is Professor of Hebrew Bible and Ancient Judaism at Temple University in Philadelphia.  He researches the social history of ancient Israel, scribal traditions, prophecy and priesthood, and cognitive approaches to the study of religion. His most recent book is entitled An Empire Far And Wide: The Achaemenid Dynastic Myth and Jewish Scribes in the Late Persian Period (Oxford University Press, 2024).

COST: $250 for 10 sessions

Please do not let cost be a barrier! For tuition assistance, contact Larry Katz larrykatz1221@gmail.com or the rabbi at a sponsoring synagogue.

To register, visit https://www.teprov.org/delvedeeper/registration/fall 2026.html

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Delve Deeper is an adult education initiative that brings dynamic teachers to present in-depth, university-level Judaic courses to a diverse group of adult learners.  Delve Deeper programs are presented in cooperation with the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island and area synagogues Congregation Beth Shalom, Congregation Jeshuat Yisrael, Temple Beth-El, Temple Emanu-El, Temple Habonim, Temple Sinai, and Temple Torat Yisrael, and the Jewish Community Day School of Rhode Island. Financial support is provided by the Joseph and Jacqueline Teverow Memorial Fund at the Jewish Federation Foundation of Greater Rhode Island.