| Ira Chernus PROFESSOR OF RELIGIOUS STUDIES UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO AT BOULDER |
Lecture (Section 010): M,W 10:00 - 10:50, HUMN 250
Recitations, F 10:00 - 10:50:
Section 011: Ira Chernus, HUMN 1B80
Section 012: Gavin Wittje, HUMN 250
Section 013: Ann Lucas, HUMN 125
INTRODUCTION TO THE COURSE
This course has two aims:
1. The course will provide a basic introduction to the historical development of Judaism from its beginnings to the present day. We will focus on the religious experiences, worldviews, beliefs, behaviors, and symbols of the Jewish tradition, and on the historical forces--cultural, political, social, and economic--that have shaped Judaism. The course does not aim to reinforce or to change the student's feelings about Judaism, Jewish identity, or the Jewish people. It does aim to provide, as objectively as possible, a detailed understanding of the history of Judaism.
2. The course will also use the study of Judaism as a way to understand the historical context of contemporary U.S. society and culture. We will analyze how various parts of the Jewish tradition directly or indirectly influenced the development of U.S. culture. From time to time we will discuss questions raised by the history of Judaism that are still important to us today. In these ways we will make our study of Judaism relevant to our own lives.
READINGS
The following books will form the required reading for the course:
Nicholas de Lange, ed., The Illustrated History of the Jewish People
(You may be able to get this book a lot cheaper from Daedalus Books, 1-800-395-2665)
Jacob NEUSNER, A Short History of Judaism
William DOORLY, The Religion of Israel: A Short History
Elie WIESEL, Night
The BIBLE (in a modern translation; e.g., New Revised Standard Version, New English Bible, New Jewish Version, New American Bible, New International Version; avoid King James Version and Authorized Version)
READINGS for RLST 3100 (available in UMC Bookstore by November 1)
You will learn a lot from reading original source texts in Phillip S. Alexander, Textual Sources for the Study of Judaism. For more historical detail on any subject consult Robert Seltzer, Jewish People, Jewish Thought. Both of these, and all the required readings, will be on reserve in Norlin library.
SCHEDULE OF READING ASSIGNMENTS
Assignments should be completed by the dates on the schedule below. All assignments are by page number except in the Bible, where assignments are by book and chapter number.
I. BIBLICAL JUDAISM BEFORE THE EXILE (10th - 7th cent. BCE)
Sept. 1- ILLUSTRATED HISTORY 3-9; NEUSNER 1-10; DOORLY 18-65; BIBLE: Exodus 15, Judges 4,5, I Samuel 5,6, II Samuel 5,6, ,
Sept. 8 - DOORLY 66-120; NEUSNER 17-21; BIBLE: Psalms 2,6,42,43,93,99, Proverbs 16,22, I Kings 17,18, Amos 5,8, Hosea 1-4
Sept. 15 - DOORLY 123-160, 12-17; NEUSNER 21-35; BIBLE: Isaiah 1,2,6,10, Genesis 12,15,22, Exodus 14,19,20, Deuteronomy 6,9,11,12,14, Jeremiah 20,30
II. FROM THE EXILE TO HELLENISM (6th - 1st cent. BCE)
Sept. 22 – ILLUSTRATED HISTORY 9-19, 53-57; NEUSNER 35-47; DOORLY 163-196; BIBLE: Job 1-3,8,9,23,38-42, Ezekiel 36,37, Isaiah 40,45,49, Haggai 1, Nehemiah 8, Ezra 9,10
Sept. 29 – ILLUSTRATED HISTORY 20 - 51, 57 end - 67; BIBLE: Ecclesiastes 1-3, Daniel 6,7,12
III. RABBINIC JUDAISM (1st - 6th cent. )
Oct. 4 – ILLUSTRATED HISTORY 67-85; NEUSNER 51-83, 216-224; Alexander: 1-6, 16-18, 57-68, 95-98
Oct. 13 - ILLUSTRATED HISTORY 87-95; NEUSNER 84-139; Alexander: 6-14, 26-29, 68-90,116-125
IV. MEDIEVAL JUDAISM (7th - 18th cent. )
Oct. 20- ILLUSTRATED HISTORY 95-124, 141-178; NEUSNER 140-145, 155-160; Alexander: 20-26, 49-middle 51, 98-100, 105-116, 171-176
Oct. 27 - ILLUSTRATED HISTORY 125-139, 178-197; NEUSNER 146-155; Alexander: 15-16, 30-33, 90-95, 125-132
V. THE RISE OF MODERN JUDAISM (18th & 19th cent.)
Nov. 3 - ILLUSTRATED HISTORY 199-233; NEUSNER 161-192; Alexander: 33-44, 132-136, 143-155,176-178
Nov. 10 - ILLUSTRATED HISTORY 234-253, 303-322; NEUSNER 192-201; READINGS: Leo Pinsker, "Auto-Emancipation" 188-191,198, Theodor Herzl, "The Jewish State" 208-213, Max Nordau, "Speech to the First Zionist Congress" 235-241, Ahad Ha'am, "The Jewish State and the Jewish Problem" 262-269, "Statement by the Lubavitcher Rebbe," 11-18
VI. 20TH CENTURY JUDAISM
Nov. 17 - ILLUSTRATED HISTORY 255-301; WIESEL, Night (all); Alexander: end of 45-46, 161-164, 178-180
Nov. 22 - ILLUSTRATED HISTORY 322-353; READINGS: Martin Buber, Nationalism and Zionism ("Hebrew Humanism" and "Israel and the Command of the Spirit"), 248-257
Dec. 1- ILLUSTRATED HISTORY 355-397; NEUSNER 202-215
Dec. 8 - READINGS: Jack Wertheimer, A People Divided, 18-25, 28-39, 66-76, 83-91, 188-196; Edward Tivnan, "American Jews Break Ranks," Liebman and Cohen, The Two Worlds of Judaism, 157-175
EVALUATION
Your grade in this course will be based on two take-home essay exams. The first exam will cover material studied through October 13. It will be due on October 16. The second exam will cover material studied from October 16 through the end of the term. It will be due on December 15. There will be no in-class exams and no in-class final exam.
OFFICE HOURS
Ira Chernus: Monday 11:00 – 12:00, Wednesday 3:00 – 4:00, or by appointment
Office: HUMN 284; phone: 492-6169; email: chernus@spot.colorado.edu
Anna Lucas: Monday 2:00 – 3:30
Office: HUMN 216; phone: 492-8041, 449-8886; email: Anna.Lucas@Colorado.EDU
Gavin Wittje: Wednesday 1:00 – 2:30
Office: HUMN 216; phone: 492-8041; email: wachead@yahoo.com
We encourage you to talk with any us about anything related to the course, including suggestions for improving the course. The more each of us puts into this class, the more we’ll all get out of it.
We will be glad to make appropriate accommodations for any student with any kind of disability.
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