Baseball (A Jewish American Pastime)聽
Part of the series “America at 250: Jewish Ideas and the American Experiment”
With Dr. Robert A. Harris, Professor of Bible and Ancient Semitic Languages, JTS
Baseball has long been called America鈥檚 pastime鈥攂ut what happens when we read the game through the lens of鈥痯hilosophy, theology, halacha and aggadah? This session explores the striking parallels between rabbinic interpretation and the rules, debates, and evolving traditions that shape baseball鈥攆rom classic arguments over judgment calls to today鈥檚 introduction of the Automated Ball-Strike (ABS) system, which raises new questions about authority, precision, and the role of human interpretation.
Through stories of Jewish players, fans, and cultural figures鈥攁nd with insights from Rabbi Robbie Harris, known as the 鈥渞abbi of the right field bleachers鈥� for the New York Yankees鈥攚e鈥檒l uncover how meaning is constructed both on the field and in the beit midrash. Expect a lively conversation that brings together sport, text, and the enduring Jewish love of argument.
麻豆原创 the Series
As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, the JTS Summer 2026 Learning Series will explore the rich and surprising intersections between Jewish thought and American life. From baseball and youth culture to constitutional law, storytelling, and democratic theory, leading scholars reveal how Jewish ideas, texts, and experiences have shaped鈥攁nd been shaped by鈥攖he American experiment.
