B.H.
Jewish Cultural History
Hebrew and Semitic Studies 377 / Jewish Studies 377 / Religious Studies 377
Spring 2007
Tuesday - Thursday
INGRAHAM B10
(Plus Discussion Sections, which are at other times and locations)
Instructor:
Office: 1340 Van Hise Hall
Office Telephone: 262-9553
Office Hours: Tuesday
and
Thursday,
Email: sandman@wisc.edu
Course Description:
The goal of this course is for you to gain a meaningful entre'e into the issues and ideas that define Jewish self-understanding and the Jewish experience from Antiquity through the Middle Ages. While we shall have recourse to a textbook, Robert Seltzer's Jewish People, Jewish Thought, great stress will be placed upon the use of primary sources.
A major issue that we shall examine is the interplay between, on the one hand, continuum / continuity, and, on the other hand, change / adaptability / evolution in Judaism.
Required
Texts:
Required Reading Materials:
- Robert Seltzer, Jewish
People, Jewish Thought: the Jewish experience in history,
- The Hebrew Bible (any academically serious English translation);
- Course Packet
- Syllabus
HEBREW BIBLE AND COURSE PACKET SHOULD BE BROUGHT TO EACH LECTURE
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.
Lectures: The lectures will provide background and context for the assigned readings, may sometimes include audio-visual and artifact presentations, will address the meanings of difficult passages, and will model the sort of textual analysis that should become part of your academic work. Students are responsible for all material presented in the lectures.
Discussion Sections: (NOTE: THE SECTIONS HAVE THEIR OWN SYLLABI.) Attendance is mandatory. While you will be allowed a maximum of three absences before losing grade points, you will nevertheless be held responsible for material covered in any discussion section sessions that you miss. The discussion section heads will have their own additional requirements for you.
Participation: You will be expected to actively participate in the discussion section sessions. If you do the assigned readings, answer the homework questions, and attend the lectures, you should be fully prepared to participate in your discussion section.
Homework: Homework completion is required. Homework must be submitted at the beginning of every discussion section session. Teaching Assistants may decide to not accept late homework. The homework assignments will be spelled out explicitly, and may typically consist of any combination of three exercises: 1) concisely answering question(s) about the assigned readings; 2) defining key terms; 3) formulating questions, comments, and/or criticisms ("QCC�s") about the material. TAKE A SECOND COPY OF YOUR COMPLETED HOMEWORK TO THE DISCUSSION SECTION, TO USE AS REFERENCE WHEN YOU ARE CALLED ON. While you will be allowed to miss a maximum of three homework assignments before losing 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, your lowest three homework grades will not be counted.
Coordination of Lectures, Discussion Sections, and Homework: At your discussion section, you will be responsible to hand in answers to the questions relevant to the two lectures that preceded the day of your discussion. For example, if your section is on Monday, you will have to submit answers to the questions relevant to the lectures given on the preceding Thursday and Tuesday. If your section is on Thursday, you will have to submit answers to the questions relevant to the lectures given on the preceding Tuesday and Thursday.
Class Cancelled on the Last Day of Passover, Tuesday, April 10; & Discussion Sections Cancelled on the Last Days of Passover, Monday and Tuesday, April 9 & 10: Homework answers should be submitted to your section leader in class on Thursday, April 12.
Exams and Essay: The two exams and
the essay will be based
upon all aspects of the course, including the primary and secondary
readings,
lectures, homework, and Discussion Section sessions. Previous or
outside
knowledge of Jewish History will not be accepted as a substitute for
the
approach and analysis employed in this course. This means that your
answers
must address the modes of analysis and demonstrate knowledge of the
substance
introduced in all aspects of this course.
First In-Class Exam: During class time, meeting no. 10, Thursday, February 22. NO EXCEPTIONS.
Take-Home Essay: Due in hard copy at
the beginning of meeting 20, Thursday, March 29,
Final Exam: SUNDAY, May 13,
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 essay on your own.
Grading Distribution:
Discussion Section: 15%
Homework: 10%
First In-Class exam: 25%
Take-Home Essay: 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.
Schedule:
1) 1/23 Shaping History: The Bible as a work of historiography
Cosmogony and
2) 1/25 G-d's beloved: exclusivity, covenant, and mission: Flood, Patriarchs; Exodus
3) 1/30 Law & Land
4) 2/1 Leadership: Prophet, Judge, King
5)
2/6 * Official
and Popular Religion; Syncretism;
6)
2/8 Babylonian
Exile;
7) 2/13 Under Hellenism, through the Hasmonian Dynasty
8)
2/15 The
Greco-Jewish Community at
9) 2/20 Apocalypticism, the Messianic Quest, Sectarianism, Biblical Interpretation
10) 2/22 MIDTERM EXAM
11)
2/27 The First Revolt Against
12) 3/1 Physical and Spiritual Purity, Spiritual Brotherhoods
13) 3/6 Jewish Self-Identity without the Temple; The Sanhedrin as the seat of the Oral Law; The Patriarchate; Relations with the Roman Empire before and after it becomes Christian
14) 3/8 Midrash Aggadah and the Reclaiming of Myth; Liturgical Poetry (piyyut)
15) 3/13 Jewish Mysticism in Late Antiquity: Sefer Yetzirah; Merkavah Mysticism
16) 3/15 Spiritual Development by means of Discipleship to Sages
17)
3/20
18) 3/22 Jewish Legal Status under Cross and Crescent; Jewish Communal Self-Governance in the Middle Ages; Growth of Anti-Semitism
19) 3/27 Crusades; Martyrdom; Disputations
20)
3/29 [PAPER
DUE AT THE BEGINNING OF CLASS] "Peshat"
Biblical interpretation:
SPRING RECESS 3/31 - 4/8
21) 4/10 LAST DAY OF PASSOVER; CLASS CANCELLED
22)
4/12 Life in
the Talmudic academies of
23) 4/17 German Pietists and divine Glory; Liturgical poetry
24) 4/19 Neoplatonism; Asceticism
25)
4/24
26) 4/26 Synthesis of Neoplatonism and Aristotelianism; Maimonidean Legacy and Controversy; Radical Aristotelianism
27)
5/1
Philosophical Kabbalah between
28) 5/3 Mythic Kabbalah: the Zohar
29) 5/8 Hebrew Scribing and Printing
30) 5/10 Medieval Jewish Childhood & Family Life
FINAL EXAM: SUNDAY, 5/13,
If you have trouble accessing this page, contact: Chris Dargis (cadargis@wisc.edu)
Latest revision date: 1/19/2007 (cad)