This women’s class was presented on Tuesday Parshas Yisro, 14 Shevat, 5778, January 30, 2018, at Ohr Chaim, Monsey, NY. The class is based on two addresses of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Shavuos 1966 and Pesach 1972.

A seemingly trivial disagreement between Rabbi Akiva and Rabbi Yishmael about the feedback the Jewish people gave G-d at Sinai, express a deep underlying difference in their understanding of what constitutes the essence of Judaism.

The class explores three Talmudic stories about Rabbi Akiva, and six debates between these two sages, which all express their grand debate about the ultimate meaning of Torah and Mitzvos.

What is Judaism? Is it about G-d or about man? Is it about G-d trying to be here for man or about man trying to be here for G-d? To be or to be not? That is the question.