Four Interpretations of the Genesis Creation Story

Jewish tradition has never read scripture in a literal manner.  On the contrary, Jewish tradition has always allowed multiple interpretations of every verse in the Bible.  In this course we will look at the four classical methods of interpretation found in Jewish tradition - the simple, the rabbinical, the philosophical, and the mystical.  How does each of these interpretations fit in with how modern science understands the beginning of the universe?  Finally, as we study these four approaches to interpretation, we will learn about the powerful idea from kabbalah that we live in four worlds, each encased in another, like Russian nested dolls.