How the depiction of friendship in religious narratives helps us to appreciate the gravity of personal relationships
The importance of cultivating connections with those who share different backgrounds to bridge cultural and religious divides
The potential for expanding what we learn from relationships—how to nurture, respect, and care for others—to make meaningful change in the world
The social fabric of virtually any society emerges, binds, and holds itself through a combination of factors, but among the most important are relationships—bonds of family, friendship, and social connections. The historical and cultural understandings of relationships are as vast and creative as humankind itself. And yet they are constantly evolving, informed by the contemporaneous times, economies, cultural norms, and technologies that are in perpetual motion.
You will engage in deep reading of the texts, rigorous discussion with fellow participants, and exploration of the content with leading Harvard scholars. The approach is inspired by havruta—a way of learning from the Jewish tradition that involves understanding and solving problems through dialogue, discussion, and debate.
