MID-TERM EXAM

RLST 3100: JUDAISM Fall 2007

Choose one of the two essays:

1. The history of biblical and rabbinic Judaism was shaped by 4 major turning points: the creation of the monarchy, the conquest of Judah and destruction of the first Temple by the Babylonians, the coming of Hellenistic culture, and the destruction of the second Temple by the Romans. In each case, different groups of Jews responded in different ways to these formative events. There was never a single unanimous response. Still, there was some common element in all the responses to all these events — and element that makes them distinctively "Jewish."

Choose any two (2) of the four major turning points and explain how different groups of Jews responded in different ways to them. At the beginning of your essay, state clearly whether you agree or disagree with the last sentence in the statement above: Was there anything that all the responses to both the events you are analyzing had in common, or not? If there was something that all had in common, what was it? As you discuss the two turning points you have chosen, use your discussion to provide evidence for your answer to this question.

2. Multiple and varied perspectives of Judaism have been taught in this course, through the books and the lectures. First, read author’s introduction to each of the four books we have read so far. Second, while each of the authors do not discuss the all of the outlined areas of Biblical Judaism, Exile and Return, Hellenism, and Rabbinic Judaism in concurrent journeys, they all choose different aspects of these periods. Choose two of the three areas, using and lectures, and compare and contrast the choices of histories as told in the four books.

This exam covers material studied through October 11th. It is due in class on October 18.

Essays should be about six to seven (6-7) typed double-spaced pages. Please observe the length limit.

(OVER)
GUIDELINES FOR WRITING ESSAY EXAMS

There is no "correct" answer to the questions in this course. The questions are merely a springboard to give you an opportunity to show what you have learned in the course.

As in any other academic course, you are being tested on your ability to:

understand
organize
synthesize
think logically about

the facts and ideas presented in the course.

Therefore, in answering the question, you should show that you have:

read the assigned readings
attended class
grasped the main ideas presented in readings and class.

Your primary responsibility is to show what you have learned in this course.

The more course material you include in your essay, from readings as well as lectures, presented accurately and logically, the better your grade will be.

The qualities that make a good essay:

written clearly, concisely, and precisely
offers a series of general ideas, with each one supported by more specific ideas or evidence, and all the general ideas are arranged in a logical order
has a clear 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 CONCISE:

Make every word count, from the very first word
Avoid needless introductions and repetitive conclusion
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. It is a good idea to refer to specific pages in the readings in parentheses or footnotes. Any standard footnote form is acceptable.

The same guidelines will apply for the final exam. Please save this sheet for future reference.

FINAL EXAM

RLST 3100: JUDAISM FALL, 2007

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

Question #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. In what ways and to what extent did each successfully bring together important elements of rabbinic/medieval Judaism with important elements of Western modernity? In what ways and to what extent did each fail in this attempt? Which movement do you feel best synthesized the rabbinic/medieval tradition with modernity?

Question #2: In this second half of the semester, this course has covered Medieval Judaism through contemporary Judaism. Discuss some of the most important themes of medieval Judaism. Then discuss which of them have survived in modern Judaism and which of them were rejected by modern Judaism (taking "modern Judaism" as the ensemble of all aspects and movements of Judaism in the last 200 years or so). When looking at modern Judaism as a whole, would you say that it has preserved more of the medieval tradition than it rejected, or vice versa?

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

Essays should be about six or seven (6-7) typed pages; all papers double-spaced. Please observe the length limit. Please indicate clearly which question you are answering.

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

It is due no later than 10:00 AM on Saturday, December 15, in Humanities 273 (Religious Studies Dept. mailroom). Look for the box marked with Prof. Chernus' name. We will be glad to accept early papers.

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