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COURSE: HEBREW STUDIES 402
SURVEY OF MODERN HEBREW LITERATURE
Spring 2009
Instructor: Professor Rachel F. Brenner
1354 Van Hise,
262-6102
Classes:M.W.F 1:20-2:10
Office Hours: W.F 1:15-2:15
brenner@.wisc.edu
Please note: This course is conducted in Hebrew
LOVE OF THE LAND OF ISRAEL:
From Dispersion to Return
The history of the love of the land:
excerpts from Midrash and Aggadah,
Yehuda Halevi,
HaRamban,
Rabbi Nachman of Braslav
The Zionist idea: Herzl
The revival of the Hebrew language: Herzl and Ben-Yehuda
The return to the land: Katzenelson, and Rachel
Objectives: We shall focus on developing the skills of reading Hebrew texts and writing analytically about them. Discussion of the main ideas as they arise from the materials constitutes an important part of the course. Our literary examination of the story of Jewish Dispersion and Return will be reinforced with students’ oral presentations of news from Israel and from the Jewish world.
Requirements:
This is an intensive writing course in Hebrew. There
will be written work assigned each session. The graded assignment will
be graded and returned the following class. There is a possibility to
correct if the grade is B- and below. The correction should be handed
in within a week. You should make good use of the dictionaries.
Students should not seek outside help with their homework assignment.
They may discuss the content with their classmates, but they are
expected to do their work independently. There is always an opportunity
to ask questions about the assignment before class time, since I am in
class well ahead of time to answer any questions that may arise.
There will be a few summarizing short essays and one long final essay
assigned in the course of the term, lecture reports and news/current
issues presentations. Each student is expected to give a short
presentation on selected topic and hand in the written version of the
presentation.
Grading (the distribution is subject to change)
Written assignments - 35%
Short essays - 15%
Lecture reports - 15%
Final essay - 20%
Presentation – 5%
Participation - 10%
Required dictionaries: Multi Dictionary: Bilingual Learners
Dictionary
Oxford English-Hebrew Dictionary
Other materials will be supplied in class. The cost is $ 25. Please
make the check to the
Dept. of Hebrew and Semitic Studies
Attendance and active participation in class on regular basis are very important components of the final grade. Our classes start exactly at 1:20 and students are expected to be on time. Please inform me about any unavoidable lateness or absence ahead of time. In case you miss a class, you are responsible for the material taught. Please make arrangements ahead of time with a classmate to receive the notes, the assignment, and the materials distributed in class.
PLEASE NOTE:
There will guest instructors teaching on the following dates: Friday, Jan. 23, Monday, Jan. 26, and Wednesday, Jan. 28.
You are expected to attend the lectures listed below and write a report on each lecture:
Prof. Renata Stih and Dr. Fredar Schnock,
“Art and Politics.”
Thursday, Feb.19th. Pyle Center at 4pm.
Prof. Robert O. Freedman,
“Israel’s First Sixty Years: Achievements and Challenges.”
Wednesday, April 1st. Memorial Union at 7pm.
Lecture for bonus
Prof. Amir Eshel,
“In Rivers North of the Future: Paul Celan’s Poetry and Thought.”
Thursday, April 23rd. Pyle Center at 7pm.
Prof. Jodi Magnes,
“Ancient Synagogues in the Land of Israel.”
Tuesday, April 28th. Pyle Center at 7:30.
Note: Hebrew Studies Majors and Award Recipients will be
invited to the
Department’s Graduate Dinner, which will precede the lecture.
Please plan accordingly.