Taught by Ari Hilton.
Two sessions:
Monday, June 22 and June 29 at Noon
Come for either or, better yet, both.

Jewish tradition teaches that Torah was given to the Jewish people at Mt. Sinai. But while we hold the importance of that mythic account, we also know that the words were laid down by people. But what people? Who were they? When and where did they live and what were their agendas? In this course we’ll explore the 4 "authors” recognized by modern scholarship as the sources of the first 5 books of the Hebrew Bible, and look for some of the answers to our questions. So, join us as we meet the dreamers, the believers, the faithful, the not so faithful, the fearful, the courageous, and the other seekers who helped compose our Torah. 

Ari Hilton is a speaker, writer, and Biblical scholar. He creates and teaches religious education curricula (Jewish, Christian, and Interfaith traditions), teaches about LGBTQIQA+ issues in undergraduate settings, and serves as an Interfaith lay chaplain. Ari holds a Master's of Theology and Ethics from Bangor Theological Seminary. He has extensive training in Christian history, theology, and practice which offers a unique perspective in Jewish learning. Being an openly transgender/Queer person contributes immensely to an expansive and radically inclusive teaching and understanding of the Torah. Though he lives in Maine with his wife Amanda and 2 teenaged sons, he has recently become a member of Congregation Ner Shalom and is deeply grateful for the love and support of this community.