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Jewish
Studies at Harvard:
Course Offerings 2008-09
FACULTY OF ARTS AND SCIENCES
CORE CURRICULUM
Foreign Cultures 90. Tel Aviv: Urban Culture in Another Zion
Catalog Number: 0199
Avi Matalon
Half course (spring term). Tu., Th., at 12, and a weekly section to be arranged. EXAM GROUP: 14
How to read a city? Tel Aviv was founded under the concept of the “first Hebrew city” and rapidly became the cultural, economic, and political center of Jewish settlement in Palestine. Over the past century it has become a metropolis and the cultural and economic hub of the State of Israel. This course will trace Tel Aviv’s historical development and its cultural representation using history, literature, film, urban planning, photography, art, and music.
Note: Expected to be omitted in 2009–10.
Historical Study A-44. Jews in Modern Times: From the
French Revolution to the Emergence of Israel
Catalog Number: 9323
Jay M. Harris
Half course (fall term). M., W., (F.), at 12, and a weekly section to be arranged. EXAM GROUP: 5
This course seeks to understand the transformation of the Jews from a relatively homogeneous group that was readily distinguished from its surrounding cultures, to their current state in which they are neither homogeneous nor readily distinguished from other identifiable groups. The focus will be on the political, social, and economic shifts that led to major changes in Jewish political and cultural aspirations and achievements. Specifically, the course will examine processes of change in France, Germany, Russia, and the US.
Note: Expected to be omitted in 2009–10.
Literature and Arts A-93. The Hebrew Bible and Its Worlds -
(New Course)
Catalog Number: 9783
Shaye J.D. Cohen
Half course (fall term). M., W., (F.), at 10, and a weekly section to be arranged. EXAM GROUP: 3
This course is a survey of the major books, genres, institutions, and ideas of the Hebrew Bible (commonly called the Old Testament). The course will also treat the historical contexts in which the Bible emerged, and the Bible’s role as canonical scripture in Judaism and Christianity.
Note: Expected to be omitted in 2009–10. All readings in translation. No prior knowledge of the subject is assumed.
FRESHMAN SEMINAR
*Freshman Seminar 32j. Who Is a Jew? Jewish Identity and Identifiability in the Modern World
Catalog Number: 6991 Enrollment: Limited to 12.
Shaye J.D. Cohen
Half course (fall term). M., 1–3.
Studies diverse modes of Jewishness, their historical origins and their contemporary manifestations, in an attempt to answer above question. Focus on Jews and Jewishness in United States; considers relevant issues in Israel. Investigates ethnic Jews, cultural Jews, offspring of intermarriage, apostates, converts, Black Jews of Ethiopia, and other categories that challenge standard definitions of Jewishness. Notes problem of Jewish identity in the American context closely parallels the identity problems of other hyphenated American groups.
Note: Open to Freshmen only.
*Freshman Seminar 49g. The Holocaust, History and Reaction
Catalog Number: 1208 Enrollment: Limited to 12.
Kevin J. Madigan (Divinity School)
Half course (fall term). Tu., 1–3.
Approaches Nazi persecution of European Jewry from several disciplinary perspectives. Presents backgroundand narrative of the Holocaust, introduces the use of primary historical sources, and studies some of the major historiographical debates. Evaluates religious and theological reactions to the Holocaust -- uses literary, cinematic, and theological sources. Considers the role played by the Protestant and Catholic churches and theologies in the Holocaust. Assesses role played by the Holocaust in today’s world, specifically in the United States.
Note: Open to Freshmen only.
GERMANIC LANGUAGES AND LITERATURE
German 275. German-Jewish Love Stories - (New Course)
Catalog Number: 8717
Katja Garloff (Reed College)
Half course (spring term). Th., 2–4. EXAM GROUP: 16, 17
Examines how literary writers have used stories of love - usually of unfulfilled or impossible love - to comment on the historical process of Jewish emancipation and acculturation. Authors include Lessing, Schlegel, Heine, Schnitzler, Lasker-Schüler, Kafka, Sebald, and others.
Note: Readings in German, discussions in English
LITERATURE and COMPARATIVE LITERATURE
Literature 157 (formerly Comparative Literature 111).
From Type to Self in the Middle Ages
Catalog Number: 9245
Luis M. Girón Negrón
Half course (fall term). M., W., F., at 10. EXAM GROUP: 3
It has been argued that the poetic "I" in premodern literatures is not a vehicle for self-representation, but an archetype of the human. The course will examine this thesis against the rise of autobiographical writing in medieval and early modern Europe. Readings include spiritual autobiographies (Augustine, Kempe, Teresa of Ávila), letter collections, maqama literature, troubadour lyric, Hispano-Jewish poetry, pilgrimage narratives, medieval allegories, Dante and the picaresque novel. Theoretical perspectives by Spitzer, Lejeune, Zumthor and DeCerteau.
Note: All readings in English translation.
Literature 163. Jewish Languages and Literature - (New Course)
Catalog Number: 8627
Marc Shell and Members of the Faculty
Half course (fall term). M., 3–5, plus an additional hour to be arranged.
What is a Jewish language? What is Jewish literature? General topics are alphabetization, translation, oral tradition and diaspora. Languages worldwide include Hebrew as well as Judeo-Spanish, -Aramaic, -Arabic, -French, -Greek, -Italian, -Persian, -Spanish, -Malayalam, Yiddish, and other secular Jewish languages. Readings usually include love stories, medical and philosophic texts, and writings on science, travel, and music. Guest scholars visit most weeks. No language requirement.
Note: Language credit can be arranged.
Literature 166 (formerly Comparative Literature 166).
The Comic Tradition in Jewish Culture
Catalog Number: 3418
Ruth R. Wisse
Half course (fall term). Tu., Th., at 11, and a weekly section to be arranged. EXAM GROUP: 13
Jews are probably best known in America today for their roles in the Holocaust and in Humor. What, if anything, is the relation between these spheres? Does Jewish humor make fun of the Jews, or does it make fun of those who make fun of the Jews? Studies some of the theories and uses of Jewish humor, some of its leading practitioners and outstanding works. Invites comparison with other comic traditions and investigation of "national" humor.
Note: Readers of Yiddish may take this course as Yiddish 200. This course, when taken for a letter grade, meets the Core area requirement for Literature and Arts A.
*Comparative Literature 211. Mysticism and Literature: Seminar
Catalog Number: 3867
Luis M. Girón Negrón
Half course (spring term). W., 1–3. EXAM GROUP: 6, 7
Trends and debates in the comparative study of mystical literature. Primary works by Jewish, Christian, and Muslim authors from the Middle Ages through the 16th century. Also modern authors (Borges, Eliot, Goytisolo) and literary theorists (DeCerteau).
Note: Students admitted by permission of course head. Offered jointly with the Divinty School as 3802.
Comparative Literature 277. Literature and Diaspora - (New Course)
Catalog Number: 6042
Karen Thornber
Half course (spring term). W., 1–3. EXAM GROUP: 6, 7
Examines creative and critical discourse from and about the African, Chinese, Indian, Japanese, Jewish, and Korean diasporas. Explores the relationship between diaspora and constructions of artistic and cultural identities, transculturation, translation, and multilingualism.
HISTORY
*History 70a. Selves and Other Peoples in Classical Antiquity -
(New Course)
Catalog Number: 7086 Enrollment: Limited to 12.
Emma Dench
Half course (fall term). Th., 2–4. EXAM GROUP: 16, 17
Explores questions of what it meant to be Greek, Athenian, Roman, Jewish or Christian in classical antiquity, in what contexts identities were articulated, and how relationships between selves and others were imagined and played out. All readings available in English translation and include an introduction to some of the most heated modern debates about classical antiquity.
*History 82c (formerly *History 1466). Vichy France in Comparative Perspective
Catalog Number: 8154 Enrollment: Limited to 15.
Patrice Higonnet
Half course (spring term). Th., 2–4. EXAM GROUP: 16, 17
First, we cover the background of the Vichy years and the legacy of 1789 and the First World War; military affairs; Vichy’s social policy; Vichy, the Germans, and the Jews; Vichy and Free France; and the legacy of the Vichy years. In the second half of the course, we move on to compare occupied France to other occupied countries of Europe.
Note: Students interested in this course should contact Professor Higonnet at higonnet@fas.harvard.edu. Films will be shown weekly.
History 1010 (formerly History 1085). The Roman Empire,
Augustus to Constantine
Catalog Number: 3109
Christopher P. Jones
Half course (spring term). M., W., (F.), at 10. EXAM GROUP: 3
The Roman Empire from its foundation by Augustus to the death of Constantine; its social, political, and military development; its institutions (emperor, senate, army); Roman imperial art and coinage; Greek and Roman literature of the imperial period; religious developments, including Judaism and Christianity under Roman rule; women and minorities. Sections will focus on issues of particular interest and on the study of primary documents. No knowledge of ancient languages required.
Note: This course, when taken for a letter grade, meets the Core area requirement for Historical Study B.
History 1080 (formerly History 1150). The Jews in Muslim and
Christian Spain
Catalog Number: 5331
Bernard Septimus
Half course (spring term). M., W., at 12. EXAM GROUP: 5
A study of the political, social, and cultural history of the Hispano-Jewish community from the Muslim conquest of Spain in 711 to the expulsion of the Jews from Christian Spain in 1492. Emphasis on literary and intellectual developments and on the complex relationship of the Jews to Iberian Christendom and Islam. Combines material from former courses History 1151 and 1152.
Note: This course, when taken for a letter grade, meets the Core area requirement for Historical Study B.
*History 2260 (formerly *History 2441). Central Europe: Seminar
Catalog Number: 6464 Enrollment: Limited to 12.
Alison F. Frank
Half course (fall term). W., 1–3. EXAM GROUP: 6, 7
Major themes include nationalism, communism, the ‘Polish question,’ the ‘Jewish question,’ the political and economic viability of the Habsburg Empire, cultural exchange and diplomatic relations between Austria, Germany and the Russian Empire/Soviet Union.
Prerequisite: Reading Knowledge of either German, Polish, Czech, or another Central European language.
NEAR EASTERN LANGUAGES AND CIVILIZATIONS
Ancient Near East 120. Introduction to the Hebrew Scriptures
Catalog Number: 6544
Michael D. Coogan
Half course (fall term). F., 9–11, and a weekly section to be arranged. EXAM GROUP: 2, 3
A survey of the Hebrew Scriptures as viewed in their historical and cultural setting in the ancient Near East and as interpreted by modern scholarship, with attention to this literature as an expression of the religious thought of Israel and one of the formative influences on Western civilization.
Note: Offered jointly with the Divinity School as 1101.
Ancient Near East 128. Jewish Apocalypticism
Catalog Number: 8249
Paul D. Hanson (Divinity School)
Half course (spring term). Tu., Th., 8:30–10. EXAM GROUP: 10, 11
A study of Jewish apocalyptic movements from their roots in late biblical prophesy to their flowering in Hellenistic and Roman times. Attention will be paid to the biblical and extra-biblical traditions incorporated in these texts and woven into messages addressing crises such as persecution and forced assimilation. The manner in which books like Daniel and Revelation are used by contemporary apocalyptic movements will be assessed.
Note: All texts read in English translation. Offered jointly with the Divinity School as 1460.
Prerequisite: Ancient Near East 120 or the equivalent.
Ancient Near East 135. Biblical Theology: Hebrew Bible
Catalog Number: 4476
Paul D. Hanson (Divinity School)
Half course (spring term). Hours to be arranged.
The theology of the Hebrew Bible studied by explicating major biblical themes (e.g., creation, liberation, war and peace, economic justice, social reform) and then relating them to issues in the contemporary world. Attention also given to background questions such as concepts of biblical authority and hermeneutical theory.
Note: Offered jointly with the Divinity School as 1150/2470.
Prerequisite: Ancient Near East 120 or equivalent.
Ancient Near East 137. The Hebrew Prophets
Catalog Number: 3183
Paul D. Hanson (Divinity School)
Half course (fall term). Tu., Th., 9–10:30. EXAM GROUP: 11, 12
A survey of the prophetic books of the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament) with consideration of historical setting, location within the traditions of the Hebrew Scripture, and theological themes of each book. The relevance of the prophets for contemporary theology, ethics, economics, and politics will also be discussed, with due attention to the hermeneutical problems posed in relating an ancient scriptural classic to the modern world.
Note: Offered jointly with the Divinity School as 1151.
Ancient Near East 138. The Bible and Politics
Catalog Number: 8073
Paul D. Hanson (Divinity School)
Half course (spring term). Tu., Th., 8:30–10. EXAM GROUP: 10, 11
The course will examine political models found in the Hebrew Bible; the role of biblical traditions in the development of church-state relations in the history of the US; and the possibility of a suitable political theology within the context of contemporary religion and politics.
Note: Offered jointly with the Divinity School as 1465/2529.
Prerequisite: Ancient Near East 120 or the equivalent.
Ancient Near East 210. Textual Criticism of the Hebrew Bible:
Seminar
Catalog Number: 5492
Richard J. Saley
Half course (fall term). Tu., 3–6. EXAM GROUP: 17, 18
This course focuses on the art of recovering the text of the Hebrew Bible using Hebrew and Greek manuscripts as well as other early textual witnesses.
Note: Offered jointly with the Divinity School as 1819.
Prerequisite: At least two years of Hebrew and one year of Greek; some knowledge of Aramaic, Latin, and Syriac is beneficial but not required.
Ancient Near East 225. The Greek Bible in History and Theology: Seminar - (New Course)
Catalog Number: 2475
Andrew Teeter (Divinty School)
Half course (fall term). F., at 9. EXAM GROUP: 2
An exploration of social, historical, interpretive, and theological issues associated with the so-called Septuagint and its complex relationship to early Judaism and Christianity. Emphases include origins, eschatology, messianism, halakhah, NT backgrounds, and biblical theology.
Note: Offered jointly with the Divinity School as 1301.
Prerequisite: Basic reading knowledge of Greek and Hebrew.
Ancient Near East 230. Biblical Theology: Seminar - (New Course)
Catalog Number: 6751
Paul D. Hanson (Divinity School)
Half course (fall term). Tu., 11–1. EXAM GROUP: 13, 14
Two political models found in the Old Testament/Hebrew Bible, the monarchical and the prophetic, will be studied within their ancient setting and then related to selected contemporary social and political issues and crises.
Note: Offered jointly with the Divinity School as 1817/2476.
Prerequisite: Introductory level knowledge of the Bible and/or political science.
Postbiblical Jewish Studies
Jewish Studies 55. Jews, Judaism, and Jewishness
Catalog Number: 2338
Rachel L. Greenblatt
Half course (fall term). M., W., (F.), at 10. EXAM GROUP: 3
An overview of the development of the major trends in Jewish civilization from biblical times through the early modern era, focusing on the literary, legal, and institutional expressions of Jewish ideas and practices. Attention will be devoted to close readings of traditional Jewish sources on the one hand and contextual understandings of Jews and Judaism within various non-Jewish historical and cultural surroundings on the other.
Note: Required of all secondary concentrators in Jewish Studies, unless excused by the DUS.
Jewish Studies 104. Introduction to Yiddish Culture
Catalog Number: 8611
Yuri Vedenyapin
Half course (spring term). W., 3–5. EXAM GROUP: 8, 9
Exploration of a thousand years of Jewish culture, from the earliest settlements in Germany and Poland to the present. Examination of its geographical, intellectual, and artistic breadth through the history of the Yiddish language, selections of Yiddish literature, the press, film, theater, and klezmer music. Analysis of Jewish mysticism and superstitions; food and dress; rituals and beliefs; gender, family, and sexuality. Particular attention given to the relevance of Yiddish culture today and its influence on the arts and politics in the U.S., Israel, Eastern Europe, and around the world.
Note: All course readings and lectures will be in English. No knowledge of Yiddish is required. May be taken Pass/Fail.
Jewish Studies 112. The Poet as Translator
Catalog Number: 3400
Avi Matalon
Half course (spring term). Hours to be arranged.
Examines the phenomenon of accomplished poets who are also translators. Poetry demands original and direct access to language, while translation is thought of in terms of fidelity to an existing text. How do poets negotiate these seemingly contradictory expectations? Draws from various literary traditions, with special emphasis on Jewish literature.
Jewish Studies 114. History versus Literature in Modern Jewish Texts
Catalog Number: 3527
Avi Matalon
Half course (fall term). M., 2–4. EXAM GROUP: 7, 8
Examines the treatment of history in modern Jewish and Israeli literature.
Jewish Studies 135. Jewish-Arab Encounters: the Classical Age
Catalog Number: 3448
Bernard Septimus
Half course (fall term). Th., 1–3. EXAM GROUP: 15, 16
An examination of Jewish-Arab cultural exchange against its socio-political backdrop, from the pre-Islamic period through the thirteenth century. Topics include: perceptions of the other; social relations; polemics; conversions; interchange in the realms of religion, law, literature, philosophy and mysticism; the end of the classical age. These topics will be explored through primary sources in translation.
Jewish Studies 140. Deconstruction and Questions of Jewish Identity: Seminar
Catalog Number: 2198
Avi Matalon
Half course (fall term). Th., 2–4.
Examines the work of philosopher Jacques Derrida (1930–2004) and the method of deconstruction. Focuses on Derrida’s writings that touch on questions of identity, as developed in his prolific career.
Jewish Studies 145. Agnon’s Art of the Jewish Novel - (New Course)
Catalog Number: 0937
Avi Matalon
Half course (fall term). Hours to be arranged.
Nobel laureate S.Y. Agnon reinvented the Hebrew novel and introduced a unique modernism that combines European and Jewish literary traditions. This course will analyze five novels by S.Y. Agnon and examine the creation of a new Jewish art of historical representation. Readings and discussion in English, supplemental Hebrew language section can be arranged.
Jewish Studies 146 (formerly Jewish Studies 215). Does Glikl Stand Alone? Medieval and Early Modern Jewish Autobiographical
Writing
Catalog Number: 9047
Rachel L. Greenblatt
Half course (fall term). Th., 1–3. EXAM GROUP: 15, 16
Weekly readings of Jewish writings about the self as they appear in a variety of literary genres, alongside recent scholarly literature on "Ego-documents" and Jewish autobiography.
Note: Readings will be in English. Optional extra meetings focusing on the original Hebrew (and/or Yiddish) texts may be arranged in case of interest.
Jewish Studies 147. Introduction to Pentateuch - (New Course)
Catalog Number: 0588
Andrew Teeter (Divinty School)
Half course (spring term). Tu., Th., 10–11:30. EXAM GROUP: 12, 13
A critical introduction to the first five books of the Jewish and Christian Bible - the Pentateuch or Torah - with attention to essential literary, thematic, historical, and theological features, and with a view toward the continuing interpretive afterlife of these texts in Judaism and Christianity.
Note: Offered jointly with the Divinity School as 1303.
Jewish Studies 154. Land, Center, and Diaspora in Ancient Judaism - (New Course)
Catalog Number: 3430
Isaiah M. Gafni (Hebrew University)
Half course (spring term). Tu., 3–5. EXAM GROUP: 17, 18
The theme of this course is the relationship of the Jewish diaspora to the Judaean homeland in antiquity (Hellenistic, Roman and early Byzantine periods). Topics include: "the Land" as a marker of Jewish identity; the reality of the diaspora as an ideological problem; center-diaspora tensions and cohesion; the diaspora as a factor in the development of Jewish religion and society. No prior knowledge of the subject is assumed.
Jewish Studies 160. History and Historiography in Rabbinic Literature - (New Course)
Catalog Number: 2385
Isaiah M. Gafni (Hebrew University)
Half course (spring term). Th., 3–5. EXAM GROUP: 17, 18
This course will compare and contrast the representations of the past and the present in ancient rabbinic literature. The rabbinic modes of presenting ’the facts’ of the past, provide a measure of control by which to understand rabbinic presentations of contemporary events. The course will illustrate how to apply critical tools to the reading of rabbinic texts.
Note: Recommended but not required: familiarity with ancient rabbinic texts.
Jewish Studies 207. Rewriting Scripture in Jewish Antiquity:
Seminar - (New Course)
Catalog Number: 9572 Enrollment: Limited to 15.
Andrew Teeter (Divinty School)
Half course (spring term). F., 11–1.
A study of the exegetical literature of so-called rewritten Bible texts from the Second Temple period, considered in relation to the received Hebrew Bible and its later interpretive traditions. Examination of exegetical techniques, aims, and presuppositions, with attention to higher level compositional strategies, underlying conceptions of scripture/scriptural authority, and the dynamics of canon formation. Primary sources will include, among others: the book of Jubilees, the Temple Scroll, Reworked Pentateuch, the Genesis Apocryphon, as well as selected prophetic and hymnic exemplars.
Note: Offered jointly with the Divinity School as 1302.
Prerequisite: Ability to read (unpointed) Hebrew.
*Jewish Studies 300. Reading and Research in Postbiblical Jewish Studies
Catalog Number: 1544
Shaye J.D. Cohen 4180 (on leave spring term), Jay M. Harris 2266, Bernard Septimus 7160, and Ruth R. Wisse 3177
Hebrew Language Courses
Classical Hebrew A. Elementary Classical Hebrew
Catalog Number: 8125
John L. Ellison
Full course (indivisible). M., W., F., at 10. EXAM GROUP: 3
A thorough and rigorous introduction to biblical Hebrew, with emphasis on grammar in the first term, and translation of biblical prose in the second. Daily preparation and active class participation mandatory.
Note: Offered jointly with the Divinity School as 4010.
Classical Hebrew 120a. Intermediate Classical Hebrew I
Catalog Number: 5545
Jo Ann Hackett and assistant
Half course (fall term). M., W., F., at 9. EXAM GROUP: 2
Readings in prose books; review of grammar.
Note: Offered jointly with the Divinity School as 4020.
Prerequisite: Classical Hebrew A or equivalent.
Classical Hebrew 120b. Intermediate Classical Hebrew II
Catalog Number: 8494
Jo Ann Hackett and assistant
Half course (spring term). M., W., F., at 9. EXAM GROUP: 2
Readings in prose and poetic books; review of grammar.
Note: Offered jointly with the Divinity School as 4021.
Prerequisite: Classical Hebrew 120a or equivalent.
Classical Hebrew 130ar. Rapid Reading Classical Hebrew I
Catalog Number: 7895
Jo Ann Hackett
Half course (fall term). Th., 1–3. EXAM GROUP: 15, 16
Note: Offered jointly with the Divinity School as 1625/4030.
Prerequisite: Classical Hebrew A, 120a, and 120b, or equivalent.
Classical Hebrew 130br. Rapid Reading Classical Hebrew II
Catalog Number: 7896
Jo Ann Hackett
Half course (spring term). Th., 1–3. EXAM GROUP: 15, 16
Note: Offered jointly with the Divinity School as 1626/4031.
Prerequisite: Classical Hebrew 130a or equivalent.
Classical Hebrew 138. Historical Grammar of Biblical Hebrew
Catalog Number: 4415
John Huehnergard
Half course (fall term). Tu., Th., at 11. EXAM GROUP: 13
Prerequisite: Classical Hebrew 130, or equivalent.
Modern Hebrew B. Elementary Modern Hebrew
Catalog Number: 4810
Irit Aharony
Full course (indivisible). M., through F., at 9. EXAM GROUP: 2, 11
For students with no previous instruction in Hebrew and for those who have had some unsystematic exposure to the language. Emphasis on developing skills necessary for reading, speaking, and writing. Grammar and vocabulary are taught through Israeli contemporary music.
Note: Offered jointly with the Divinity School as 4015.
Modern Hebrew 120a. Intermediate Modern Hebrew I
Catalog Number: 1711
Irit Aharony
Half course (fall term). M., through F., at 10. EXAM GROUP: 3, 12
Continuation of Modern Hebrew B. Reading of various Modern Hebrew texts including texts from the media. Further developing of writing, listening and speaking. Vocabulary is taught through Israeli contemporary music. Note: Conducted primarily in Hebrew. Offered jointly with the Divinity School as 4040. Prerequisite: Modern Hebrew B or passing of special departmental placement test.
Modern Hebrew 120b. Intermediate Modern Hebrew II
Catalog Number: 2563
Anna Grinfeld
Half course (spring term). M., through F., at 11. EXAM GROUP: 4, 13
Continuation of Modern Hebrew 120a.
Note: Conducted primarily in Hebrew. Offered jointly with the Divinity School as 4041.
Prerequisite: Modern Hebrew 120a.
Modern Hebrew 125a. Advanced Modern Hebrew I:
"All About Boys and Girls"
Catalog Number: 4985
Anna Grinfeld
Half course (fall term). M., W., 1–2:30. EXAM GROUP: 6, 7
Continuation of Intermediate Modern Hebrew 120a and 120b. The course goal is to further develop practical skills in the language. The course will concentrate on topics of childhood, adolescence, gender and relationships in contemporary Israeli culture.
Note: Conducted in Hebrew. Offered jointly with the Divinity School as 4042.
Prerequisite: Modern Hebrew 120a, 120b, or equivalent.
Modern Hebrew 125b. Advanced Modern Hebrew II: "Bible Now!"
Catalog Number: 3201
Anna Grinfeld
Half course (spring term). M., W., 1–2:30. EXAM GROUP: 6, 7
Continuation of Modern Hebrew 120a 120b and 125a. The course examines Biblical motifs and narratives in contemporary Israeli literature and discourse.
Note: Conducted in Hebrew. Offered jointly with the Divinity School as 4043.
Prerequisite: Modern Hebrew 120a, 120b, and 125a.
Modern Hebrew 130r. Seminar in Advanced Modern Hebrew:
A Cultural History of Israel
Catalog Number: 8127
Irit Aharony
Half course (fall term). Tu., Th., 1–2:30. EXAM GROUP: 15, 16
A chronological survey of key moments in Israel history as viewed in culture through various media and texts. Note: Discussion, papers, and texts presented in Hebrew.
Prerequisite: Modern Hebrew 125a, 125b or equivalent.
Modern Hebrew 134r. Seminar in Advanced Modern Hebrew: Israeli Humor and Satire
Catalog Number: 6949
Irit Aharony
Half course (spring term). Tu., Th., 10–11:30. EXAM GROUP: 12, 13
This course proposes a look at humor and satire in Israel over the last 60 years in various media. It focuses on political satire and it examines the complex relationship of Israeli humor to Jewish Humor in general.
Note: Discussion, papers and texts presented in Hebrew.
Prerequisite: Modern Hebrew 125a, 125b, or equivalent.
Modern Hebrew 136ar (formerly Modern Hebrew 136r).
Hebrew for Academic Reading
Catalog Number: 3383
Anna Grinfeld
Half course (fall term; repeated spring term). Tu., Th., 1:30–3. EXAM GROUP: 15, 16
Hebrew for academic reading is designed for advanced undergraduate and graduate students with a strong background knowledge of Hebrew, seeking to master reading skills in a range of Hebrew texts in the fields of Jewish studies, Middle Eastern studies, government, literature, religion, and history. Some selections of the reading material will be decided by the individual needs and interests of the students.
Note: Conducted in Hebrew.
Modern Hebrew 136br (formerly Modern Hebrew 136r).
Hebrew for Academic Reading - (New Course)
Catalog Number: 3114
Anna Grinfeld
Half course (spring term). Hours to be arranged.
Hebrew for academic reading is designed for advanced undergraduate and graduate students with a strong background knowledge of Hebrew, seeking to master reading skills in a range of Hebrew texts in the fields of Jewish studies, Middle Eastern studies, government, literature, religion, and history. Some selections of the reading material will be decided by the individual needs and interests of the students.
Note: Conducted in Hebrew.
Hebrew Literature Courses
Hebrew 148 (formerly Hebrew 240). Rabbinic Stories and Rabbinic Thought: Seminar
Catalog Number: 4201
Jonathan Schofer (Divinity School)
Half course (fall term). Th., 3–5. EXAM GROUP: 17, 18
Examines classical rabbinic narratives, including sage stories, accounts of biblical figures, and parables. Key themes include ethics, theology, and community. Strong consideration will be given to exegetical dynamics and legal issues.
Note: Readings are in Hebrew. Offered jointly with the Divinity School as 3795.
Prerequisite: Two years of Biblical Hebrew or three years of modern Hebrew or the permission of the instructor.
Hebrew 160. The Origins and Development of the Classical Jewish Liturgy
Catalog Number: 9703
Bernard Septimus
Half course (fall term). M., 1–3. EXAM GROUP: 6, 7
An examination of current scholarship and controversy on the origins of the classical liturgy and a consideration of the primary-source evidence. Related topics include: rabbinic liturgy and Second Temple sources, differences between the ancient Palestinian and Babylonian rites, the standard prayers and the origins of liturgical poetry (piyyut), the crystallization of the liturgy, and the emergence of local variations in the early Middle Ages.
Prerequisite: A good reading knowledge of Hebrew.
Hebrew 164. Hebrew City - (New Course)
Catalog Number: 0146
Avi Matalon
Half course (spring term). Hours to be arranged.
Examines the representation of cities and urban life in Jewish literature, with special emphasis on the Hebrew literature of Tel-Aviv. Readings and discussion in Hebrew.
Hebrew 171. The Problem of Language in Medieval Jewish Thought
Catalog Number: 7205
Bernard Septimus
Half course (spring term). Tu., 1–3. EXAM GROUP: 15, 16
The status and significance of language generally and Hebrew, in particular, viewed from a variety of perspectives in texts from several genres (exegetical, linguistic, literary, legal, philosophical and mystical) ranging chronologically from late antiquity through the Renaissance.
Prerequisite: A good reading knowledge of Hebrew.
Hebrew 191. From Jewish Literature to Israeli Literature: Seminar
Catalog Number: 3376
Avi Matalon
Half course (spring term). Hours to be arranged.
Examines the development and transition of Hebrew literature from Europe to Israel beginning in the 1850s.
Prerequisite: Reading knowledge of Modern Hebrew required.
*Hebrew 200r. Problems in the Literature, History, and Religion of Israel: Seminar
Catalog Number: 3265
Lawrence E. Stager and members of the Department
Half course (fall term). Th., 3–5. EXAM GROUP: 17, 18
Topic for 2008-09: Israel before the Monarchy.
Note: Primarily for doctoral students in Hebrew Bible. Offered jointly with the Divinity School as 1810.
Hebrew 211r. Literature of Israel: Seminar
Catalog Number: 0727 Enrollment: Limited to 10.
Paul D. Hanson (Divinity School)
Half course (fall term). Hours to be arranged.
The Book of Ezekiel, studied through the application of historical-critical methods of research, with attention to the relation of the Book to earlier prophetic and halakic tradition and to its influence on Second Temple Judaism.
Note: Offered jointly with the Divinity School as 1821.
Prerequisite: Intermediate to advanced reading knowledge of biblical Hebrew.
Hebrew 235. The Binding of Isaac (Aqedah): Seminar
Catalog Number: 0170
Jon D. Levenson (Divinity School)
Half course (fall term). W., 1–3. EXAM GROUP: 6, 7
An examination of Genesis 22 and its afterlife in ancient Judaism, early Christianity, and the Qur’an. Ample consideration of the interpretation and expansion of the story in modern theology and of critical responses to it.
Note: Offered jointly with the Divinity School as 1808.
Prerequisite: Three years of Hebrew or the equivalent.
Hebrew 236. Song at the Sea: Seminar
Catalog Number: 6496
Jon D. Levenson (Divinity School)
Half course (spring term). W., 1–3. EXAM GROUP: 6, 7
A close reading of Exod 13:17-15:21 in two contexts, that of the Hebrew Bible (together with its ancient Near Eastern background) and that of rabbinic Judaism. Ample Hebrew readings in rabbinic midrash.
Note: Offered jointly with the Divinity School as 1816.
Prerequisite: An introductory course in the critical study of the Hebrew Bible and a solid command of Hebrew grammar (any period).
*Hebrew 300. Classical Hebrew Language and Literature
Catalog Number: 7831
Shaye J.D. Cohen 4180 (on leave spring term), Jo Ann Hackett 2389, Paul D. Hanson (Divinity School) 1394, John Huehnergard 7697, Peter Machinist 2812 (on leave 2008-09), and Lawrence E. Stager 1468
*Hebrew 350. Postbiblical Hebrew Language and Literature
Catalog Number: 4408
Shaye J.D. Cohen 4180 (on leave spring term), Jay M. Harris 2266, and Bernard Septimus 7160
Yiddish
Yiddish A. Elementary Yiddish
Catalog Number: 4623
Yuri Vedenyapin
Full course (indivisible). M., W., F., at 10. EXAM GROUP: 3
Introduction to the Yiddish language, as written and spoken in Eastern Europe, the Americas, Israel, and around the world, and to the culture of Ashkenazic Jews. Development of reading, writing, speaking, and oral comprehension skills. Course materials include rich selections from Jewish humor, Yiddish songs, and films of Jewish life past and present.
Note: For students with little or no knowledge of Yiddish. Additional sections at different times may be added as needed.
Yiddish Ba. Intermediate Yiddish I
Catalog Number: 6023
Yuri Vedenyapin
Half course (fall term). M., W., (F.) at 11. EXAM GROUP: 4
Further development of reading, writing, speaking, and oral comprehension skills. Introduction to features of the main Yiddish dialects: Polish/Galician, Ukrainian/Volhynian, and Lithuanian/Belorussian. Course materials include selections from modern Yiddish fiction, poetry, songs, the press, and private letters, as well as pre-WWII and contemporary Yiddish films. Occasional visits from native Yiddish speakers.
Note: Additional sections at different times may be added as needed.
Prerequisite: Yiddish A or equivalent.
Yiddish Bb. Intermediate Yiddish II
Catalog Number: 1239
Yuri Vedenyapin
Half course (spring term). M., W., (F.), at 11. EXAM GROUP: 4
Continuation of Yiddish Ba.
Prerequisite: Yiddish Ba or permission of the instructor.
Yiddish Ca. Advanced Yiddish I
Catalog Number: 8331
Yuri Vedenyapin
Half course (fall term). M., W., (F.), at 1. EXAM GROUP: 6
Emphasis on building advanced vocabulary from the three main lexical components, Germanic, Hebrew-Aramaic, and Slavic, and further development of writing, reading, and speech. Continued exploration of the main Yiddish dialects. Introduction to various styles of Yiddish literature, journalism, theater, film, and song, particularly from the nineteenth century to the present, including contemporary sources from both secular Yiddish culture and the Yiddish-speaking "ultra-orthodox" communities of New York, Jerusalem, and elsewhere.
Note: Additional sections at different times may be added as needed.
Prerequisite: Yiddish Bb or permission of the instructor.
Yiddish Cb. Advanced Yiddish II
Catalog Number: 8968
Yuri Vedenyapin
Half course (spring term). M., W., (F.), 1–2:30. EXAM GROUP: 6, 7
Continuation of Yiddish Ca.
Prerequisite: Yiddish Ca or permission of the instructor.
Yiddish 108. Golden Atlantis: The Submerged Culture of Yiddish in America
Catalog Number: 6058
Ruth R. Wisse
Half course (spring term). Tu., Th., at 11. EXAM GROUP: 13
Mass migration of European Jews to America after 1881 generated a new branch of Yiddish culture in literature, theater, music, film, criticism, and institutions. Successive waves of immigrants, including refugees of World War II reinforced Yiddish even as the younger generation transposed parts of Jewish culture into English. Course studies major Yiddish works and strands of influence on English America.
Note: Course assumes no knowledge of Yiddish. Readings will be in English. There will be an extra section for Yiddish readers.
Yiddish 110. Yiddish Drama on Stage and Screen - (New Course)
Catalog Number: 5353
Ruth R. Wisse
Half course (spring term). Th., 2–4. EXAM GROUP: 16, 17
Explores the development of Yiddish drama from the mid- 19th century to the present. Features major plays from the repertoire, stage and screen adaptations, theatrical innovations; competing aesthetic, political, and cultural trends. New translations make it possible to offer this course in English.
Note: An extra section will be added for students who can read works in the original Yiddish.
Yiddish 120. Modern Yiddish Classics: Seminar - (New Course)
Catalog Number: 6574
Ruth R. Wisse
Half course (fall term). Th., 3–5. EXAM GROUP: 17, 18
Late as compared with other European literatures, Yiddish was jump started in the last quarter of the 19th century by Mendele Mocher Sforim, Sholem Aleichem, and I.L. Peretz. This course examines the writings and cultural influence of these Masters, their shifting critical reception, modern perspectives on their work, adaptations and desiderata.
Note: All readings in English translation. Additional section for Yiddish readers
Yiddish 210. Modern Yiddish Literature: Seminar - (New Course)
Catalog Number: 9279
Ruth R. Wisse
Half course (spring term). Hours to be arranged.
Given in conjunction with Yiddish 108. Concentrates on American Yiddish prose, poetry, drama, and popular culture.
Prerequisite: Reading knowledge of Yiddish required.
*Yiddish 300. Yiddish Language and Literature
Catalog Number: 7833
Ruth R. Wisse 3177
THE STUDY OF RELIGION
Religion 1005. World Religions in Boston: Seminar
Catalog Number: 2655 Enrollment: Limited. Application online.
Diana L. Eck
Half course (fall term). Tu., 1–3. EXAM GROUP: 15, 16
Investigates religious traditions of the world in the dynamic context of the US, focusing on the presence of these traditions in the increasingly complex and diverse religious life of the Boston area today. Visits to a Hindu temple, a Sikh gurdwara, an Islamic Center, and a Buddhist temple or meditation center. Consideration of encounters, connections, and tensions with Christian and Jewish communities. Each student undertakes research on a particular community or issue in the Boston cosmopolis.
Note: Expected to be omitted in 2009-10. Offered jointly with the Divinity School as 3901.
Religion 1007. Religion in Multicultural America:
Case Studies in Religious Pluralism
Catalog Number: 8833 Enrollment: Limited. Application online.
Diana L. Eck
Half course (spring term). Tu., 1–3. EXAM GROUP: 15, 16
An exploration and analysis of the dynamic multi-religious landscape of the US with special focus on Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, and Sikh traditions. In what contexts do minority religious communities encounter long-dominant Christian and Jewish communities? How is America changing as religious communities struggle with civic, constitutional, and theological issues, especially in the post-9/11 period? Reading, discussion, and class projects will focus on particular cases and controversies.
Note: Offered jointly with the Divinity School as 3847.
Religion 1076. Religion and Politics in Current “Fundamentalist” Movements
Catalog Number: 8243
Harvey G. Cox, Jr. (Divinity School)
Half course (fall term). Th., 1–3. EXAM GROUP: 15, 16
Why have so-called "fundamentalist" movements emerged in Judaism, Christianity and Islam in recent years? Why have they attracted so many people? How are they changing, and what future do they have? Is the term "fundamentalist" useful or misleading? We put these questions to such phenomena as TV evangelism, Christian Zionism, mega-churches and Opus Dei (Christian); the Muslim Brotherhood and Hamas (Islamic); Chabad Lubavitch and West Bank Settler Messianic Zionism (Jewish).
Note: Offered jointly with the Divinity School as 2511.
Religion 1212a. Judaism: The Liturgical Year
Catalog Number: 5679
Jon D. Levenson (Divinity School)
Half course (fall term). M., W., 10–11:30. EXAM GROUP: 3, 4
An introduction to the Jewish tradition through an examination of its liturgical calendar. The ancient Near Eastern affinities and biblical forms of the Jewish holidays; the observance of the holidays in rabbinic law, their characteristic themes as developed in rabbinic non–legal literature, their special biblical readings, the evolution of the holidays over the centuries, contemporary theological reflection upon them. Emphasis on classic texts, focus on theological and literary issues.
Note: Offered jointly with the Divinity School as 1667a/3667a.
Religion 1212b. Judaism: The Liturgical Year
Catalog Number: 8074
Jon D. Levenson (Divinity School)
Half course (spring term). M., W., 10–11:30. EXAM GROUP: 3, 4
A continuation of Religion 1212a.
Note: Offered jointly with the Divinity School as 1667b/3667b.
Prerequisite: Religion 1212a.
Religion 1241. Classical Rabbinic Literature in Translation -
(New Course)
Catalog Number: 9876
Jonathan Schofer (Divinity School)
Half course (fall term). Tu., Th., at 11, and a weekly section to be arranged. EXAM GROUP: 13
Examines the texts of late ancient Rabbinic Judaism with emphasis on literary features. The primary focus is aggadah (non-legal material), including biblical interpretation concerning the Exodus and the revelation at Sinai, and passages from the Babylonian Talmud concerning mysticism, magic, miracles, martyrdom, myth, and dream interpretation. Readings in English translation. If there is sufficient student interest, a section for study in original languages will be offered.
Note: Offered jointly with the Divinity School as 3646.
Religion 1529. The Holocaust and the Churches, 1933-45 -
(New Course)
Catalog Number: 8653
Kevin J. Madigan (Divinity School)
Half course (spring term). Th., 1–3. EXAM GROUP: 15, 16
This course will be an historical study of the systematic, bureaucratic annihilation of European Jewry by the Nazi regime during the Second World War. It will also be an historical study of what the Protestant and Catholic churches and individual Christians did and did not do - how they stood by, collaborated with or resisted the Nazis - during the emigration, expropriation, persecution, ghettoization, deportation and annihilation of their Jewish neighbors. It will close with a brief study of some of the philosophical and religious implications of the Holocaust and with the possibility of its artistic representation.
Note: Offered jointly with the Divinity School
*Religion 2501. The Religious History of American Women: Seminar
Catalog Number: 6508 Enrollment: Limited to 20.
Ann D. Braude (Divinity School)
Half course (fall term). Th., 1–3.
Assesses both the role of gender in shaping American religious history and the impact of religion on gender norms. Women’s experience explored in Protestant, Catholic, and Jewish, and North American groups such as in Shakerism and Christian Science.
Note: Offered jointly with the Divinity School as 2325.
Prerequisite: Previous work in American religious history or women’s studies.
Religion 2841. Orthodoxy: Religion, Truth, and Authority: Seminar
Catalog Number: 5529
M. Shahab Ahmed
Half course (fall term). W., 2–5. EXAM GROUP: 7, 8, 9
Orthodoxy is defined as “truth or sound belief according to an authoritative norm” (Encyclopaedia of Religion). Focuses comparative examination of the historical, social, institutional, and discursive constitution of orthodoxy in Buddhism, Christianity, Confucianism, Islam, and Judaism.
Note: Offered jointly with the Divinity School as 3979. Open to advanced undergraduates. Not open to auditors.
HARVARD DIVINITY SCHOOL
1469 Reading Midrash
Catalog Number: HDS 1469_3677
John T. Townsend
Half Course, Fall 2008, Times to be arranged. First meeting Sept. 19, 3-5
Location to be announced.
This introduction to the world of midrash will consist of reading and interpreting midrashic literature. The course is designed for those with a minimum of two to three years of Hebrew. Translation assignments will be adjusted for individual students, according to their abilities in Hebrew. The readings this year will begin with Tanhuma Buber and continue with Abba Gorion (on Esther). Those who wish will also have the option of reading a little Midrashic Aramaic.
HDS 2146_4231 Advanced Greek: Alexandria
Catalog Number: HDS 2146_4231
Annewies van den Hoek
Half Course, Spring 2009, M., F., 9:30-11. Location to be announced.
This course will offer a selection of readings from early Christian and Jewish authors who were working in the cultural environment of ancient Alexandria. Its markedly Platonic traditions on the one hand and allegorical interpretations of scripture on the other have had a profound influence on later Christian developments. Attention will be given not only to the style and rhetorical techniques, but also to the historical and theological context of the writings, whose Greek will be of a reasonable degree of difficulty. Prerequisite: 4221 or the equivalent and the passing of the HDS qualifying exam in Greek.
Enrollment Limited: No
Open to BTI Students: Yes
HDS 4221Intermediate Greek II
Catalog Number: HDS 4221
Annewies van den Hoek
Half Course, Spring 2009, M., F., 11-12:30. Location to be announced.
Selected readings of early Christian and Hellenistic Jewish authors, ranging from the Apostolic Fathers, Apologists, hagiographic, apocryphal, and gnostic materials to Irenaeus, Clement, Origen, Philo, and Josephus. The texts will be placed in their literary and historical context. Grammatical tools will be provided to facilitate the reading. Designed both for those who wish to have only a limited experience of readings in the original language and also for those who plan further study of Greek, e.g., in Advanced Greek (4230). Prerequisite: Intermediate Greek I or equivalent.
Enrollment Limited: No
Open to BTI Students: Yes HDS 4221
HARVARD LAW SCHOOL
Israel/Palestine Legal Issues
Fall term, Block D
Th,F 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM
Professor Duncan Kennedy
3 classroom credit LAW-40014A
This course will examine a wide variety of legal issues raised in the various stages of conflict in Israel/Palestine. These will include issues arising inside Israel proper and issues arising with respect to the Occupied Territories. For each issue, there will be some background readings and then presentation of opposing legal positions, sometimes with a U.S. case to give a comparative perspective. Issues covered will involve Israeli civil and constitutional law and international and humanitarian law; areas will include local government, land, water, education, and taxation, as well as more familiar issues around the treatment of the Arab minorityh in Israel and legality of the occupation and its administration. Three classes will be devoted to the legal analysis of violent resistance and terrorism.
Jewish Law: The Legal Thought of Maimonides
Spring term, Block C
T,W 10:15 AM - 11:15 AM
Visiting Professor Hanina Ben-Menahem
2 classroom credits LAW-40320A
This class will examine Maimonides' legal corpus--including his explicitly legal works, the Code and the responsa; the philosophical Guide for the Perplexed; and the interpretative Commentary on the Mishnah--and the jurisprudential assumptions on which it rests. Though we will be focusing on
the legal thought and jurisprudential strategies of one individual, Maimonides is so central to the development of Jewish law that in studying his approach, a wide range of topics pertaining to Jewish law in general will of necessity be touched upon. Students will thus acquire a broad understanding of various theoretical and socio-pragmatic aspects of Jewish law. A reader with all the material in English translation will be provided.
Holocaust and the Law: Seminar (The)
Spring term, Block H
M 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Professor Bruce L. Hay
2 classroom credits LAW-96455A
The holocaust, the law's response to it, and its place in the contemporary legal imagination. Readings selected from law, history, fiction, and theoretical writings.
Holocaust Litigation
Winter term, Block B
M,T,W,Th,F 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Mr. Morris Ratner
3 classroom credits LAW-38098A
This course follows the plaintiff class actions filed in the 1990s to recover for Nazi-era wrongs, from inception to settlement. The cases, against Swiss, German, Austrian, and French entities, produced a combined total of more than $7 billion in settlements which are in the process of being allocated to victims of Nazi persecution. The aim of the course is to give students a real-world example of how a major category of international human rights litigation is actually prosecuted and settled. The class will explore the practical/business, substantive legal, ethical, and procedural aspects of this complex, multi-party litigation. Lessons from the course will apply to other kinds of mass/complex litigation matters. Readings will include (1) historical texts, (2) pleadings and other documents generated in the course of the litigation, and (3) relevant case law, statutes, and international agreements.
Talmudic Law Advanced: The responsa literature: Reading Group
Spring term, Block L
M 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Visiting Professor Hanina Ben-Menahem
1 classroom credit LAW-46678A
The responsa literature, which contains, according to conservative estimates, over a quarter of a million legal opinions generated by halakhic authorities throughout the ages in every center of Jewish life, is a manifestation of the translation of halakhic principles into everyday reality. It also constitutes a rich repository of detailed historical information that cannot be ignored by students of Jewish history. Alongside legal issues, the response literature also discusses philosophical and theological questions, though to a lesser extent. From a legal perspective, it demonstrates the constant struggle between loyalty to the tradition, on the one hand, and accommodation to changing realities, on the other.
The response literature thus provides a window into the inner world of the halakhic decision-maker at work, by revealing the deliberation that leads to his conclusion. This reading group will explore the responsa literature from the jurisprudential point of view, inquiring into the distinction between the response literature and case reports; the status of the halakhic determinations found in the responsa, and its relationship to that of the determinations found in other halakhic genres; the rhetoric of the response literature; the legal argumentation and legal devices used by the responsist; and the phenomenon of fictitious responsa. The legal profiles of some of the outstanding responsists will also be sketched.
Talmudic Law for Beginners
Spring term, Block E
M 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Visiting Professor Hanina Ben-Menahem
2 classroom credits LAW-46680A
The Talmud, covering all areas of law--civil, criminal and ritual--is the foundational text of Jewish law. This seminar seeks to introduce the student who has little or no background in Talmud to the fascinating world of talmudic law, by systematically studying twelve selected passages dealing with explicitly legal questions. In class, students will be actively engaged in analyzing the texts, which will be provided in English translation
HARVARD EXTENSION SCHOOL
HIST E-1152 History of Jewish-Christian Interaction from Jesus to the French Revolution (23076)
Kevin Madigan, PhD, Professor of the History of Christianity, Harvard Divinity School.
Graduate seminar. Course tuition: graduate credit $1,725. Limited enrollment.
Spring term: Saturdays, Jan. 31, 10 am-noon, 51 Brattle Street, Room 121.
This seminar examines the religious, social, and economic relations that prevailed between Jews and Christians over roughly 1,500 years. Special attention is given to Jesus of Nazareth in his context, Jews and Christians in antiquity, Jews before the First Crusade (1096), crusade and martyrdom, shifts in Jewish-Christian relations in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries, the Black Death and its consequences, Hasidism and mysticism, the Spanish Inquisition and the Conversos, the expulsion from Spain, Renaissance Italy and the Jews, the Reformation, Poland and the Catastrophe of 1648, traditional Jewish Society in Central and Eastern Europe, the Sabbateian movement, enlightenment and emancipation, and the French Revolution. (4 credits)
RELI E-1027 From the Hebrew Bible to Judaism, from the
Old Testament to Christianity (13081)
(Website)
Shaye J. D. Cohen, PhD, Nathan Littauer Professor of Hebrew Literature and Philosophy, Harvard University.
Course tuition: noncredit and undergraduate credit $800, graduate credit $1,725.
Fall term: Thursdays, Sept. 18, 5:30-7:30 pm, Harvard Hall, Room 104.
Online and on-campus options. See Distance Education.
The Hebrew Scriptures, what Christians call the Old Testament and Jews call the Bible, are the basis of both Judaism and Christianity. In this course we survey how this book spawned two different religious systems. Topics include canon and prophecy; exegesis and Midrash; temple, synagogue, and church; the oral Torah and the Logos; sin and righteousness; messiah and redemption; salvation and resurrection; faith and works. (4 credits)
RELI E-1029 The Interpretation of the Hebrew Bible (22944)
John Lee Ellison, PhD, Lecturer on Near Eastern Languages and
Civilizations, Harvard University.
Course tuition: noncredit $450, undergraduate credit $800, graduate credit $1,725.
Spring term: Mondays, Jan. 26, 5:30-7:30 pm, Sever Hall, Room 213.
In this course we examine some of the most recognized stories in the Hebrew Bible (Christian Old Testament) and examine how these stories are elucidated by the techniques used by modern scholars and how they were understood by ancient Christian and Jewish interpreters. (4 credits)