The intent of this colloquy is to understand the text of the Book of Genesis from the point of view of the ancient Hebrews who wrote and read it, to explore the nature of translation, and to explore the book’s importance in our culture, through two means: 

1. Using a translation that is as close to the original Hebrew as anything in English, and comparing it to more widely known translations, the ones we are all familiar with.
2. Doing a very close reading of the text, to focus on what it says, not what we might think it says, or later Christian interpretations of what it says.

The colloquy will have three distinct elements, although in practice, they will all run into each other, and be part of every session:

1. The basics of scholarly Biblical textual criticism: the history of the writing and composition of the Pentateuch, the first five books of the Hebrew Bible (what Christians call the “Old Testament”). That is, how and when it was written, compiled, by whom, and to what end.
2. The heart of the colloquy will be to do a close reading of the text with the goal of discerning as best we can the authors’ and compliers’ understanding of God, the Hebrew people, their origins, history, relationship to the divine, and place in the world. Comparisons to other translations will provide rich ground for discussions on the purpose of translation, and what is lost, and what is gained, when translating a text.  
3. Without doubt, and given the importance of this text in our culture, an exploration of the text and the perspective of the original authors and their communities will engender conversation about what it says to each of us and how it has been used. 

Some important caveats: 

This colloquy is an academic exploration of the text, not a theological one (although we will necessarily be entertaining theological ideas). As such, 

1. Participants must be willing to look at the text in an entirely new way, and a way that will be different from Christian and modern Jewish interpretations. 
2. Participants must be willing to entertain new and possibly challenging theories about the text’s authorship, composition, and meaning.

Texts:

• Primary text, one all must read: At the Start…Genesis Made New, by Mary Phil Korsak. I believe this is out of print (sadly!) Getting copies may be difficult. If so, I have a copy I can use to provide texts for participants. 
• In addition, participants will be encouraged to use and bring any other translation of Genesis they wish. 
• I will have a modern Jewish translation to share for comparison, in case no one else has one. 

Tim Seeley As an undergraduate majoring in religion, and while getting a master’s degree in religious studies, I studied of the Hebrew Bible multiple times from multiple perspectives, including, at one point, being able to read Biblical Hebrew. I have taught the Book of Genesis many times.