Ira Chernus  
PROFESSOR OF RELIGIOUS STUDIES
UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO AT BOULDER

 

SYLLABUS

 

RLST 3100                                                                   Prof. Ira Chernus

JUDAISM                                                                      Summer, 2003

 

 

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:

William DOORLY,  The Religion of Israel:  A Short History

S. Daniel BRESLAUER, Understanding Judaism Through History

Jacob NEUSNER,  A Short History of Judaism

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 will be available on the course homepage:  http://www.colorado.edu/ReligiousStudies/chernus/3100/index.html

A copy of this syllabus and exam assignments will also be available at the homepage. 


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)

 

June 3 - BRESLAUER 1-9, 26-30; NEUSNER 1-10; DOORLY 18-58; BIBLE: Exodus 15; Judges 4, 5; I Samuel 5,6

 

June 4 - DOORLY 59-101; NEUSNER 17-21; BIBLE: Psalms 2,6,42,43,93,99; Proverbs 16, 22

           

June 5 - DOORLY 110-129, 136-143; NEUSNER 21-35; BIBLE: I Kings 17, 18; Amos 5-8; Hosea 1-4; Isaiah 1, 2, 6, 10

            II. FROM THE EXILE TO HELLENISM (6th - 1st cent. BCE)

 

June 9 - DOORLY 130-135, 144-188, 12-17; NEUSNER 35-47; BIBLE: Deuteronomy 6,9,11,12,14, Jeremiah 20,30; Ezekiel 36,37; Genesis 12, 15, 22; Exodus 14, 19, 20;

 

June 10 – DOORLY 189-196; BIBLE: Job 1-3,8,9,23,38-42, Isaiah 40,45,49, Haggai 1, Nehemiah 8, Ezra 9,10

 

June 11 – BRESLAUER 30 - 50; BIBLE: Ecclesiastes 1-3, Daniel 6,7,12

            III. RABBINIC JUDAISM (1st - 6th cent. )

 

June 12 –BRESLAUER, 54-79; NEUSNER 51-83, 216-224

 

June 16 - NEUSNER 84-139; BRESLAUER, 11-23

 

IV. MEDIEVAL JUDAISM  (7th - 18th cent. )

 

June 17 – BRESLAUER 82-88, 107-110; NEUSNER 140-145, bottom of 155-160

 

June 18 - BRESLAUER 88-99, 101-105, 110-115; NEUSNER 146-150

 

June 19 – BRESLAUER 100-101; NEUSNER 161-165; 151-155

 MIDTERM EXAM DUE


V. THE RISE OF MODERN JUDAISM  (18th & 19th cent.)

 

June 23 -  BRESLAUER 118-138, 144-148; NEUSNER 169-192

                                                   

June 24 –BRESLAUER 139-144, 169-173; NEUSNER 192-201; READINGS: Leo Pinsker, "Auto-Emancipation" 188-191,198, Theodor Herzl, "The Jewish State" 208-213, Ahad Ha'am, "The Jewish State and the Jewish Problem" 262-269, “Statement by the Lubavitcher Rebbe” 11-18

 

            VI. 20TH CENTURY JUDAISM

 

June 25 – BRESLAUER, 148-151, WIESEL, Night (all)

 

June 26 -  BRESLAUER 154-169; READINGS: Martin Buber, selections from “Hebrew Humanism” and “Israel and the Command of the Spirit”

 

June 30  - BRESLAUER 174-179; NEUSNER 202-215;

 

July 1 -  READINGS: Jack Wertheimer, A People Divided, 18-25, 28-39, 66-76, 83-91, 188-196

 

July 2 -  READINGS:  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 June 16.  It will be due on June 19.  The second exam will cover material studied through the end of the term.  It will be due on July 3.  There will be no in-class exams and no in-class final exam.

 

OFFICE HOURS

 

I will be available every evening during the break, or by appointment, for individual conversation.  My office is in HUMN 284.  You can reach me at chernus@spot.colorado.edu or at 492-6169.