AJ Shabbat Scholar – Dr. Michael Portal

On Saturday, March 7th, Adath Jeshurun welcomes Dr. Michael A. Portal as our Shabbat Scholar presenting “Emmanuel Levinas and Seeing the Needs of Another as One’s Own.” Emmanuel Levinas (1905-1995) was one of the most important Jewish philosophers of the 20th century. In this teaching, Dr. Michael A. Portal will introduce Levinas and analyze a catchphrase – “ethics is an optics” – with which his philosophy has become associated. Our question: What is the relationship between ethical responsibility and sight? Dr. Portal is an assistant professor in the Department of Philosophy and the director of the Jewish Life & Learning Initiative at the University of Louisville. All are welcome to join us for Shabbat morning services at 10 a.m. followed by a Kiddush Lunch and Dr. Portal’s teaching. The lunch is sponsored by the Julie Olson Shabbat Scholar Fund and by Carol and Arnold Zegart in honor of Arnold’s 90th birthday.