B.H.
Topics in
Jewish Civilization:
Jewish Mysticism in the Middle
Ages
Hebrew and Semitic Studies 371 / Jewish Studies 371 / Religious Studies 400
Spring 2007
Tuesday - Thursday
VAN HISE 583
Instructor:
Office: 1340 Van Hise Hall
Office Telephone: 262-9553
Office Hours: Tuesday
and
Thursday
Email: sandman@wisc.edu
Course
Description:
The "mystical" quest does not arise in a vacuum, but rather in particular "contexts" (i.e. religion, place, time, conceptual universe, personality, milieu, etc.). While each context is particular, common "mystical" features unite these quests across multiple contexts. In Jewish Mysticism in the Middle Ages, two great ancient traditions come together: the indigenous Jewish tradition; and the tradition of classic Greek philosophy. Since Judaism, as a religion based upon divine revelation, implies a personal G-d, and Greek philosophy, as a system based upon the quest of the human intellect and spirit, sees the Ultimate Cause / Reality in impersonal terms, the synthesis of these systems engenders a number of creative tensions. In mysticism, these creative tensions engender creative solutions, at the core of which is the concept of an ineffable G-d.
We
shall first
examine "philosophical mysticism," elements of mysticism that exist
within
medieval philosophical systems themselves, including Jewish
manifestations of
medieval philosophy. After noting how these ideas have been carried
forth
beyond the world of medieval philosophy into various trends within
classical
Jewish mysticism, known as �Kabbalah,� we
shall
examine passages selected from some of the most important kabbalistic
texts, composed by some of the most important kabbalists,
and treating some of the major themes and issues.
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
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 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 three
homework
assignments before�
grade points, you will nevertheless be held responsible
for
material covered in any assignments that you miss. If you do not miss
homework,
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 three classes before 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.
First In-Class Exam:
During class time, meeting 10, Thursday, February 22. NO EXCEPTIONS
Take-Home Paper:
Due in hard copy at the beginning of meeting 20, Thursday, March 29. NO EXCEPTIONS
Final Exam:
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: 15%
Class Participation: 10%
First In-Class exam: 25%
Take-Home Paper: 25%
Final Exam: 25%
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; no knitting.
Required
Tools:
- Course Packet
- Idel,
Moshe. Kabbalah:
New Perspectives.
- Scholem, Gershom. Kabbalah
- A good dictionary
Schedule:
1)
1/23 (A) The
Syllabus; (B) New Skills: Close Reading, Textual Reasoning, Critical
Analysis,
Succinct Writing; (C) Course Topic: Defining "Medieval," "Jewish," and
"Mysticism,� and their intersection; (D) Three stages to mysticism:
Pagan
Monism; Monotheistic Duality; Monotheistic Monism (Scholem,
Major Trends, 1.3, pp. 7 - 8; ); (E)
Aristotle on Intellect: De Anima Book
III, Chapters 4 - 5 (429a , line 10 - 430a,
line 26)
2)
1/25
Aristotle, De Anima Book III,
Chapters 4 - 5; Alexander of Aphrodisias'
commentary on Aristotle's De Anima
III, sections 3.4, 3.5, 3.7, 3.8, 3.11, 3.12, 3.25 - 3.30
3)
1/30 Text A: Theology of
Aristotle, X, pp. 291, 293.
(Existence
emanates from the One through Nous
(= Intellect) and Soul.) This pseudo-Aristotelian work
contains an Arabic version of parts of the Enneads
of Plotinus (204 - 270 CE), the founder of
Neoplatonism. This section is parallel to Enneads, V, 2, 1 (in Greek on pp. 290,
292). Text B: Theology
of Aristotle,
I, pp. 225. (Ascent of the soul into the divine realm) The present
passage
parallels Ennead IV, 8, 1 (p. 224)
4) 2/1 Avicenna's System of Emanation; Conjunction with the Active Intellect
5) 2/6 Maimonides, Guide of the Perplexed, III:51
6) 2/8 Meditation; Visualization
7) 2/13 Ecstatic-Prophetic Kabbalah: Abraham Abulafia
8) 2/15 Visions of Glory: Haside Asheknaz (the "German Pietists") and the legacy of Merkava ("Chariot") Mysticism
9) 2/20 REVIEW SESSION
10) 2/22 MIDTERM
Theosophical Kabbalah:
11) 2/27 The legacy of Sepher Yetzira / Kabbalistic Commentaries on Sefer Yetzirah
12) 3/1 Isaac the Blind's commentary to Sefer Yetzira
Kabbalistic Hermeneutics: (Wolfson explains that "the symbolic imagination" is "the ... element of the soul" through which one is able "to gain access to the realm of incorporeality by transferring or transmuting sensory data and/or rational concepts into symbols" i.e. it is "hermeneutical." [Speculum, p. 8].)
13) 3/6 The book "Bahir"
14) 3/8 Nahmanides
Zohar (first appeared in
15) 3/13 How to read Torah: Approaching Torah (Zohar III:152a, and II:99a - b [Matt, Zohar: The Book of Enlightenment, pp. 43-45, and middle 123 - 125)
16) 3/15 An important Zoharic system: Tiqqune Zohar, second preface, with special attention to the sefirot
17) 3/20 Zohar continued
18) 3/22 Zohar continued
19) 3/27 Theurgy
20) 3/29 [PAPER DUE AT THE BEGINNING OF CLASS]
"Practical" Kabbalah / Magic
SPRING RECESS 3/31 - 4/8
21) 4/10 LAST DAY OF PASSOVER; CLASS CANCELLED
22) 4/12 Mysticism and Law: "Meanings of the Commandments and their Intentions" (ta'ame ha-mitzvot / kavvanot)
23) 4/17 Mysticism and Law continued
24)
4/19 Mystical
25)
4/24 Mystical
26) 4/26 Contemplative Prayer
27) 5/1 Contemplative Prayer continued
28) 5/3 Love: Sacred Marriage
29) 5/8 Love: Unification; "Will of the heart"
30) 5/10 REVIEW SESSION
FINAL:
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Latest revision date: 1/19/2007 (cad)