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Fall 2007
Tuesdays 4:00 – 6:30 PM
Van Hise 483
Instructor: Israel M. Sandman, PhD
Office: 1340 Van Hise Hall
Office Telephone: 262-9553
Office Hours: Tuesdays 2:45 – 3:45 PM and 6:45 – 7:30 PM
Email: sandman@wisc.edu
Course Description:
In focusing upon the Hebrew Bible (what Jews call the Written Torah /
TaNaKh and Christians call the Old Testament) in the Rabbinic Jewish
and Western Christian context(s), we shall consider the Jewish and
Christian shared heritage, their points of fundamental difference,
their friendly, cordial, and hostile relations, mutual influences, and
cultural parallels. In particular, we shall explore the following modes
of biblical interpretation, often through the lens of commentaries on
the biblical book Song of Songs: historical-linguistic; communal;
personal-philosophical; personal-mystical; liturgical; polemical;
contemplative; practical; literary; and iconographic. Also, we shall
examine Scripture’s relations to the medieval syntheses of the personal
G-d of revealed religion, the impersonal G-d of Greek philosophy, and
the ineffable G-d of mysticism.
Methodologically, we shall stress close reading and critical analysis of primary medieval and ancient texts (contextualized by secondary literature), as well as the appreciation of the living religious phenomena underlying the texts.
Course Requirements:
Syllabus:
During the course of the semester, the syllabus may be modified, and
handouts may be added. Any modifications / additions will be announced
/ distributed either in class, or by email (to your “wisc” address), or
in both ways. You are responsible to be aware of any such modifications
/ additions.
Homework Readings and Questions:
Homework completion before class is required. Homework consists of
reading the assigned primary and secondary passages, thinking about
them, and providing brief (two or three sentences) written answers to
questions about them. Homework answers must be submitted at the
beginning of every class. Make two copies of your answers, and BRING
BOTH COPIES OF YOUR HOMEWORK ANSWERS TO CLASS. YOU WILL USE THE SECOND
COPY AS REFERENCE WHEN YOU ARE CALLED ON, AS WELL AS IN CLASS
DISCUSSIONS. While you will be allowed to miss a maximum of two
homework assignments before loosing grade points, you will nevertheless
be held responsible for material covered in any assignments that you
miss. If you do not miss any homework assignments, you will get extra
credit for doing more than the minimum requirement.
Class Attendance:
Class Attendance is required, as is punctuality. The purpose of this
course is not to simply transmit information. Rather, it is to get you
engaged in the process of discovery, appreciation, and critical
analysis. To accomplish this, there will be lecturing, in-class
in-depth analytical reading of the texts (both modeled by the
instructor and practiced by the students), and discussion. This sort of
learning has an important communal component. If you do not attend, or
if you are not prepared, you will undermine your own learning
experience, and (unless you sit silently) you will waste everyone’s
class time. While you will be allowed to miss a maximum of two classes
before loosing grade points, you will nevertheless be held responsible
for material covered in any classes that you miss.
Class Participation:
Under the rubric of “participation,” the following are expected of you
(in addition to attendance, punctual arrival, no early departure, and
preparedness). Everyone will be called on to read, explain, and analyze
the primary texts. In addition, students will be expected to actively
participate in class discussions. Having done your homework reading and
questions will greatly enhance your ability to participate
intelligently. As mentioned, you should have a second copy of your
homework answers, to be used as reference during analysis and
discussion. Note that incisive questions — not only answers — about a
passage are also considered “analysis.” If you read the assigned
passages, think, answer the homework questions, and attend the
lectures, you should be fully prepared to participate.
Exams and Paper:
The two exams and the paper will be based upon all aspects of the
course, including the primary and secondary readings, homework, and
class lectures and discussions. Your answers should be based upon the
primary and secondary readings and the type of analysis used in this
course. Previous or outside knowledge may supplement — but may not
substitute for — the readings and analysis employed in this course.
Midterm Exam:
October 9th, first part of class, meeting number 6. You may use your
Bible and the course reading packet, even if they contain marginal
notes or small post-it notes; you may not use full-fledged notes.
Take-Home Paper:
Due in hard copy at the beginning of class on November 13. NO EXCEPTIONS
Final Exam:
Monday morning, December 17, at 7:45 AM (Note that the day of the week
and the time of day differ from the time of regular class.) You may use
your Bible and the course reading packet, even if they contain marginal
notes or small post-it notes; you may not use full-fledged notes.
Study Suggestion:
Your grasp of the material will be enhanced immeasurably if, in
addition to studying alone, you further prepare the texts in pairs or
groups, discussing and debating the texts’ meanings and implications.
Note, however, that you must answer your homework questions and write
your take-home paper on your own.
Grading Distribution:
Homework: 20%
Class Participation: 15%
Midterm Exam: 20%
Take-Home Paper: 25%
Final Exam: 20%
Academic Integrity and
Etiquette:
Punctuality:
Late arrival and early departure disturb class. They are unacceptable
and are cause for the loss of grade points.
Honesty:
Cheating and Plagiarism are serious injustices, and will be dealt with
according to University rules, which contain a provision for failing
the perpetrating student for the entire course.
Extreme Circumstances:
Any foreseen extreme circumstances must be brought to my attention in
advance.
No Distractions:
Cell phones turned off; no talking; no reading of outside material; no
meals; no noisy wrappers; no elaborate food or drink; no MP3 (I-Pod)
listening.
Required Texts:
1) ENGLISH TRANSLATION OF THE HEBREW BIBLE: Academically acceptable
translation (i.e. not “adapted,” “reordered for daily / inspirational
reading”; several suggested translations: Koren’s “Jerusalem Bible”;
Jewish Publication Society (their 1917 translation is available online
at <www.mechon-mamre.org>); The New Revised Standard Version;
Authorized Version (= King James Version) (the latter two are available
online at the oremus Bible brouser, <http://bible.oremus.org>)
2) COURSE PACKET:
The first week’s readings will be distributed in the first class
together with the syllabus, at which time you will find out where to go
for the course packet, needed for the next week’s meeting.
Schedule: (meeting
number; date)
Meeting 1; September 4
The Common Heritage
Ancient Judaism
Sacred Scripture: Canonized Hebrew Bible
Scriptural Unity
Scriptural Multivalence in Rabbinic Midrash and in Patristic literature
Four Senses of Scripture in medieval Judaism and Christianity
Meeting 2; September 11
The Parting of Ways
“Holy Living” through Torah Law vs. “Justification” through Accepting
Jesus; Apartness vs. Universalism
Meeting 3; September 18
Hebraica Veritas: The Quest for the True Meaning of the Hebrew Text
The letter and the sense, or: Surface meaning vs. literal / literary
meaning
Meeting 4; September 25
Jewish – Christian Disputations
Meeting 5; October 2
Reading Scripture as a Spiritual Exercise
Meeting 6; October 9
FIRST HALF OF CLASS: MIDTERM EXAM
SECOND HALF OF CLASS: Special question as to the sense /
literal/literary meaning of the Song of Songs
Meeting 7; October 16
Historical – Collective Interpretation
Meeting 8; October 23
Personal – Spiritual Interpretation: Philosophical
Meeting 9; October 30
Personal – Spiritual Interpretation: Mystical, Part 1
EXTERNAL LECTURE (required): Monday, November 5th, 7:30 PM: Lubar Lecture “Interpreting the Word, Hope, Hype and Habit in 50 years of Biblical Studies,” delivered by Leonard J. Greenspoon, in the Pyle Center Auditorium, 702 Langdon. Attendance and one-page written analysis are required; analysis due on Tuesday’s meeting. (This lecture is the third of a four-part series. If you cannot attend this one, let me know so we can find an alternative option.)
Meeting 10; November 6
Personal – Spiritual Interpretation: Mystical, Part 2
Meeting 11; November 13
PAPER DUE AT THE BEGINNING OF CLASS
Moral (Tropological) Interpretation
Morals, Contextualized in Liturgical Time
Sabbath Bride; the Annunciation
Meeting 12; November 20
Liturgy 2): Passover; the Feast of the Assumption
Meeting 13; November 27
Iconography: Illuminated Manuscripts
Meeting 14; December 4
Biblical Resonances in Secular Literature:
Meeting 15; December 11
Biblical Resonances in Religious Literature
FINAL EXAM: MONDAY MORNING, DECEMBER 17, AT 7:45 AM (Note that the
day of the week and the time of day differ from the time of regular
class.)