Who was the rabbi who rose to greatness through a skylight? How does a hairpin become a deadly weapon? And what is the relationship between Aggada and Halakha? There are certain stories only objects can tell. While texts reflect the interests of the literate elite, objects – furniture, clothes, kitchenware – provide a window into the lives of the illiterate masses. This course unearths the objects within the Talmudic text, exploring how the rabbis used ordinary household items to respond to the concerns of society at large. Parts 1 - 4: Hillel's Skylight, Parts 5 - 8: Rabbi Akiva's Daughter's Hairpin.