The Social Network and its Origins in Genesis - Rabbi Yossi's Class

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Rabbi will talk about the connection between The Social Network and its Origins in Genesis.
The secret of the oral law in Judaism is the divine wisdom that set apart a tradition of truth so vital to our survival that is demanded an ultimate Facebook transmission in the real sense of face-to-face.
And that, by a remarkable irony, is why Zuckerberg's Facebook fails in one critically important way when contrasted with its biblical predecessor. The Torah was profoundly concerned that human beings acknowledge The Social Network as fulfilling a fundamental need. Loneliness must be identified as unsatisfying; human beings need neighbors – to love them as themselves and to be loved in return. The Garden of Eden was paradise only because there were two people to share it.
The biblical social network understood the need for human contact and shared relationships to mean literal face-to-face contact. The Zuckerberg social network all too often substitutes texted messages for true human relationships rooted in actual togetherness. Facebook limits face time.
Yes, it's a blessing to be able retain contact with so many people and to maintain friendships in at least a minimal way, keeping up with the latest events in the lives of people who are dear to us. But if we really care about our friends on Facebook, take to heart an ancient forerunner of this idea: try doing what the Torah meant by The Social Network and actually get together with them from time to time, face-to-face.

On Tuesday, March 8, 2011 at 9:00pm

Ages 18-30