EXAM # 1

RLST 3100: JUDAISM Spring 2009

Jacob Neusner has written that “while we speak of ‘Judaism’. . . it would be more exact to speak of Judaisms” (A Short History of Judaism, p. 7). There have been many Judaisms in the past. It is perhaps more surprising—and more interesting—to realize that at any one time in the past there have been several Judaisms coexisting. Nevertheless some historians argue that there is at least one unifying factor found in all the Judaisms, so that we can correctly speak of Judaism, in the singular. Others historians, such as Neusner, would not agree with this.

Write an essay exploring this topic. Choose three (3) eras in the history of Judaism (see list below) and explain, for each one, why a historian might say that there were different “Judaisms,” not a single unified “Judaism.” Then consider the opposite point of view. Identify one factor that a historian might find common to all the versions and eras of Judaism; i.e., something that unifies the religion and allows us to speak of Judaism in the singular. Test this claim against the evidence you have presented. Does this unifying element really run consistently through all the Judaisms you have examined? Does the unity outweigh the differences? Or are the differences actually more important than the unifying element? In other words, is Neusner’s statement quoted above correct?

Six different eras:

· the Israelite and Judean monarchy (to 587 BCE)

· the Babylonian exile

· the era of Persian domination

· the Hellenistic era (up to Maccabeean war)

· the Hasmonean dynasty (from Maccabeean war to Roman conquest of Judah)

· the rabbinic era

This exam covers material studied through February 26.  It will be due in class on Thursday, March 5. 

Essays should be about six (6) typed pages, double-spaced. Please observe the length limit.

Please feel free to talk with Prof. Chernus or graduate assistant Tracy Candela for help in preparing your essays.

(OVER)

GUIDELINES FOR ESSAYS:

As in any other academic course, you are being tested on your ability to understand, organize, synthesize, and think logically about the ideas presented in this course. Therefore, in answering the question, you should show that you have read the assigned readings, attended class, and grasped the main ideas presented in readings and class. Please remember that your grade is based on your demonstrated understanding of the course material. Remember, too, that we have examined ideas, religious behaviors, social conditions, cultural change, political factors, etc, and how they interact.. Be sure that your essay includes several different kinds of historical factors. The more course material you include in your essay, presented accurately and logically, the better your grade will be.

A good essay is written clearly, concisely, and precisely. Be sure your essay has a logical flow of ideas within each paragraph and from one paragraph to the next. If your paragraphs could be rearranged in a different order and make just as much sense, your essay is not yet well organized! A good way to avoid this problem is to make an outline before you write your final draft, so that you can see the organization of your essay clearly.

Be sure each paragraph provides evidence to support your conclusion. In your conclusion, you should summarize the evidence and show why you chose to agree or disagree with the last sentence in the statement. The conclusion should flow logically from the evidence presented in the paper. Be sure you are presenting essential points in a concise way. Make every word count, from the very first word; avoid needless introductions and repetitive conclusions. Make every sentence add a new thought or a new way of supporting a main idea.

You should always show that you can express the main ideas of the course in your own words. A good way to do this is to assume that you are writing for someone who knows nothing about the subject; imagine you are writing to a parent, a friend, etc. Do not use lengthy quotations (though you may want to refer to specific pages in the readings in parentheses or footnotes).

THE SAME GUIDELINES WILL APPLY FOR THE FINAL EXAM.

PLEASE SAVE THIS SHEET FOR FUTURE REFERENCE.

FINAL EXAM

RLST 3100: JUDAISM SPRING, 2009

Answer one (1) of the following. Be sure to identify which question you are answering.

1. In the latter part of the course, we have studied several movements of
modern Judaism: Reform, Conservative (positive-historical), Orthodox and neo-Orthodox,
mainstream political/practical Zionism (Herzl, Weizmann, Ben-Gurion, etc.),
spiritual/cultural Zionism (Ahad Ha'am, Martin Buber, etc.), "the Judaism of
Holocaust and Redemption."  Each of these movements began as an attempt to
synthesize the "best" of modernity with the "best" of the rabbinic tradition
as it was practiced through the Middle Ages. Each movement thought it was
achieving the best possible synthesis.

Choose any four (4) of the modern movements and discuss in what ways and to what extent each of them successfully brought together important elements of rabbinic/medieval
Judaism with important elements of Western modernity? In what ways and to
what extent did each of these four fail in this attempt?  Which movement do you feel best
synthesized the rabbinic/medieval tradition with modernity?

2. Which of the most important aspects of  traditional (rabbinic and medieval)
Judaism have remained prevalent in and basic to Judaism in the modern era
("Judaism" here meaning the whole ensemble of all modern movements)?   Which
of the most important aspects of traditional Judaism have been largely
rejected in modern Judaism?  Looking at modern Judaism as a whole, would you
say it has basically rejected the fundamentals of traditional Judaism or
basically maintained them, although in modernized forms?

The guidelines handed out with the mid-term exam apply to this exam as well.

Essays should be about six (6) typed pages, double-spaced.

Please observe the length limit.

There will be no in-class final exam. This is the one and only final exam.

It is due no later than 5:00 PM on Saturday, May 2, in Humanities 273 (Religious Studies Dept. mailroom). Look for the box marked “Judaism”

You are welcome, even encouraged, to turn in your paper before May 2, in Prof. Chernus’ mailbox in Humanities 273.

If you would like comments on your paper, please attach a self-addressed, stamped envelope.