February 15, 22 & 29, 2004

Temple Jeremiah teacher Jason Mokhtarian led a three-part series on the dialogical philosophy of 19th century scholar Martin Buber.

The philosophy of Martin Buber spans several fields - theology, psychology, Hasidism (mysticism), history, literature, etc. - and is aptly called a "dialogical philosophy." Buber's philosophy offers insights into the ways God appears in our world - through specific and often ignored encounters with other individuals. Man, in essence, experiences God in moments when he is in true dialogue with his fellow man and God. Buber's goal was to re-invent the Jewish experience at a crucial point in its development, insisting that Judaism be brought into our lives as a living, cultural force rather than a past, secularized collection of beliefs and laws.

This course studied in detail Buber's magnum opus, "I and Thou," in which he outlines his dialogical philosophy. Participants sought to understand what Buber envisioned in his philosophical enterprise and looked at what his ideas mean to our daily lives and how they can transform our mutual Jewish experience.