Description:
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The Tanach briefly but evocatively describes a variety of sacred (and not-so-sacred) objects, some of which are quite familiar. The Ark of the Covenant, for example, even starred in its own movie. Other objects are more obscure. What do you know about Moses' bronze snake, Neshutan, and why, hundreds of years after its creation, King Hezekiah felt the need to destroy it? We will visit the texts, midrashim, and commentaries on these and other objects, including the Urim and Thummim and the golden mice of the Philistines. Using the lens of holy and unholy objects, we will shed light on life in ancient Israel and explore our own theological commitments.
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