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Why Star Wars? Well, Master Yoda was my first rabbi - the first to describe something I understood to be a spiritual truth. The films are important to me not just because of nostalgia, but because they facilitated an aspect of spiritual growth for me.
These shiurim are love letters. I'm interested in teaching the commonalities between Star Wars and Jewish learning because I care deeply about both. One is "real" and the other is "fantasy," but they're both mythologies. That is, they are frameworks for finding and making meaning. If one is already more familiar, let it serve as a pathway into the other.
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Star Wars Torah: Returning Lost DroidsIn this shiur, we'll again map Jewish tradition onto Star Wars and see what results. What sort of obligation might Luke Skywalker have with regard to the two lost droids, R2D2 and C-3PO, vis-a-vis the mitzvah of hashevat aveidah?
Star Wars Torah: Teachings on LightMaster Yoda was my first rabbi. The first to describe something I understood to be spiritual truth. Yoda uses the metaphor of light to teach Luke about the Force. Rabbinic and Jewish mystical texts also use the metaphor of light to teach about the nature of the created universe.
Phil Bressler•886 Views•December 18, 2020•The Force,Supernal Light,Star Wars,Hidden Light,Or HaGanuz,Light
Star Wars Torah: Han Shot FirstIn this shiur, we'll map Jewish tradition onto Star Wars and see what results - evaluating Han Solo's actions from the perspective of halacha and the category of the rodef (pursuer).
Star Wars Torah: A Name I Haven't Heard in a Long Time...Names of characters in Star Wars and in Tanakh can convey insight into that character's primary value, core essence, and narrative function. Both these mythologies feature name changes that highlight significant shifts for the characters that undergo them.
Star Wars Torah: Han Solo and Reish LakishHan Solo and Reish Lakish are appealing characters to me for similar reasons. They're both similarly flawed, while also possessing ultimately redeeming qualities. They're relatable!
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Phil Bressler
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