Chabad responds to a new law requiring continuing education for lawyers with ‘an authentic taste of dynamic Talmudic explorations.’

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A new law, impacting Connecticut lawyers, has gone into effect this month on Jan. 1, 2017. The state’s judges have voted to require continuing legal education for all licensed attorneys in Connecticut. Lawyers will have to complete 12 annual hours of CLE.

Addressing this need, Chabad of Greater Hartford is offering a series that is accredited for CLE credits for attorneys and others in the legal professions, beginning Monday, Jan. 30, at 7:30 p.m.

The fascinating new six-session course from the Rohr Jewish Learning Institute (JLI) is called The Dilemma: Modern Conundrums. Talmudic Debates. Your Solutions.

Participants will engage in a brain-twisting, mind-wrestling, hair-splitting experience as they explore modern situations and complex dilemmas, while seeking solutions by examining original Talmudic texts.

In an example of one such conundrum, the recently popularized Pokémon Go mobile app: Should the game’s creators be held liable in the hundreds of cases of trespassing and damages that were incurred because of Pokémon characters negligently programmed to be found on private properties?

In another example relating to Tesla Motors who is currently programming self-driving cars for instances when death is inevitable. Should they program the cars to swerve and avoid killing more pedestrians, but kill one whose life was previously not endangered? Should it favor the lives of pedestrians over passengers? Should it favor the lives of younger people over those who are older? And should owners be given the ability to determine these settings?

“In The Dilemma we encounter fascinating, real-life conundrums; situations in which your gut instinctively responds one way, but your brain tells you quite the opposite,” explained Rabbi Shaya Gopin, Rabbi and educator at Chabad. “To solve these dilemmas, participants are asked to break into study groups and explore hair-splitting Talmudic arguments that they will then debate and apply to solve the cases using new, interactive polling technology.”

This course is designed to appeal to people at all levels of knowledge, not only lawyers!  This includes those without any prior experience or background in Jewish learning. The courses are open to the public, and attendees need not be affiliated with a particular synagogue, temple, or other house of worship.

The course will take place at the Chabad House, 2352 Albany Ave. in West Hartford for six Mondays beginning on Jan. 30. at 7:30 p.m.

The fee for the series is $99. Chabad’s policy is no-one will be turned away for lack of funds.

Interested students may call 860-232-1116 or visit www.ChabadHartford.com/course for registration and for other course-related information.