RS/MJIS 204: Judaism
“History, Practice, and Thought”
Professor Andrew Flescher (aflescher@csuchico.edu; x-5534)
Spring 2006 –Monday and Wednesday 4:00-5:15
Plumas 205
Trinity 247; Office hours: M, W: 2-4
Description:
This course takes the student through a broad survey of the history, practice, and thought of the Jewish people. We investigate Judaism from its innovative inception as a monotheistic religion, to the scattering of the Jews throughout the nations over the last few thousand years, to the formation of the state of Israel in the modern era. In this course students will gain an exposure to Jewish scriptures and authoritative texts (the Torah, the Talmud, the Zohar); the basics of religious law and practice (kashrut, prayer, ritual, shabbat, the holy days, the life cycle, and the major denominations); important Jewish personages (the rabbis, the messiah, mystics, Hassids); important historical moments and trends in Judaism (the Diaspora, the Enlightenment, anti-Semitism, the Holocaust, the formation of Israel, feminism); and, finally, to important Jewish thinkers (Maimonides, Mendelssohn, Heschel, Wiesel, Rubenstein, Fackenheim). We will read and discuss texts very closely, considering both “insider” and “outsider” representation of Jews and Judaism in society. Thus, the course intends to give students both anthropological familiarity with a major religion and its practitioners as well as engender a feeling of empathy for Jews themselves---to conceive of what it might be like to be a Jew. By the end of the course, the hope is that the student will be familiar with Jewish history and thought, and also with what some might informally call “the Jewish experience.”
Required Texts:
Requirements and Protocol:
We meet twice a week, consisting of lectures and discussions. Most Wednesdays, there will be a quiz on the readings for that week (eight total, one of which can be dropped). Additionally, there will be two papers, one, 5-6 pages, and a final one, 7-9 pages. Finally, there is a class participation grade (20% of the overall grade), which depends crucially on attendance. Attendance is mandatory in this class. Since class participation counts for so much of the overall grade, I want to take a moment to emphasize how important your active input is to succeeding in this course. This class is highly interactive. You must come prepared, with readings in hand, at the beginning of every class. Thus, it is crucial that you (1) maintain stellar, hopefully perfect, attendance and (2) come prepared each session to discuss the reading.
The reading is substantial and at times will be difficult. Do not despair. I will help you to understand the concepts and the authors’ arguments, and I will go out of my way, in class and in office hours, to answer any questions you may have. Please consider, however, that adequately understanding these authors necessarily requires effort on both of our ends. I cannot stress strongly enough how important both preparation at home and attendance are.
Grading Breakdowns are as follows:
Grading breaks down as follows:
Eight Quizzes: 25%
Paper 1: 25% (5-6 pages)
Paper 2: 30% (7-9 pages)
Class participation: (emphasizing attendance) 20%
Academic Honesty:
Cheating/plagiarism constitutes the worst possible thing that you can do as a student. It is automatically grounds for failure of the course. When writing papers, any ideas that are not your own require acknowledgement. Thus, even if you are paraphrasing someone else’s views you must always indicate the source. If you ever have any doubts, cite the source. If you still have doubts, contact me.
This course meets the general education requirement of area C, section 3.As such, this course seeks to provide students with readings in primary sources. In addition, the course will fulfill not just one but all three of the sub-requirements of area C-3, which include the following: (1) a critical historical reading of the material under study (and involving several centuries of both theistic and non-theistic metaphysical, epistemological, and ethical thought); (2) an analytical study of several major problems in these areas that include reference to the history of these problems; and (3) attention to more than one major artistic, literary, or philosophical figure in relation to a significant issue of either current public or intellectual import (including biographical information, development of the problems dealt with, and critical appraisal of the figures' achievements).
Students with Certified Disabilities
Please notify me of any special need relating to your disability within the first two weeks of the semester. I will make every reasonable effort to facilitate your success in this course. Please note that you may be required to show documentation of your disability.
Cultural Events:
Because this is a General Education course, you will be expected to attend 4 cultural events during the semester. Part of your class participation requirement will be met when you hand in (at the end of the semester) a single document detailing each event you attended in a description of one sentence or more. One of these events may be a current film related to religious studies or ethics. Other events might include a Center for Applied and Professional Ethics Event, PBS broadcasts or documentaries, musical performances, plays, lecturers, or a public gathering or festival.
Class Schedule:
Readings:
Trepp, Jewish Experience, pp. xv-xx (Introduction)
Readings:
Tanakh, Genesis, 1-11; 22.
Trepp, Jewish Experience, 1-16; 317-326
Targum Psuedo-Jonathan on Genesis 22 (Course Packet)
Readings:
Tanakh, Genesis 9, Genesis 15 and 17, Exodus 21-24; 32-34
Trepp, Jewish Experience, 16-22; 385-402; 403-416
Readings:
Tanakh, Leviticus 19:26-27; Deuteronomy 12: 13-25 (all on Kashrut)
Tanakh, Leviticus 11; Deuteronomy 14:1-21 (on unclean animals)
Trepp, Jewish Experience, 429-451; 347-368
Readings:
Trepp, Jewish Experience, 327-340.
Judith Abrams, “Where Are the Borders?” from The Talmud for Beginners (course packet)
---Quiz #3---
Readings:
Heschel, The Sabbath
Trepp, Jewish Experience, 369-383
Readings:
Tanakh, Isaiah 2:2-4; 6 and 11; Ezekiel 1 and 37; Daniel 12: 1-4
Trepp, Jewish Experience, 23-46; 485-496
Maimonides, Commentary on the Mishnah, Sanhedrin 10 (Heleq). The Thirteen Fundamental Principles of the Jewish Faith Maimonides (course packet)
Tracey R. Rich, “Moshiach: The Messiah”
Week 8 (March 20th): Jewish Mysticism (“Kabbalah”)
Readings:
Trepp, Jewish Experience, 463-484
Tracey R. Rich, “Kabbalah and Jewish Mysticism” (course packet)
Week 9 (March 27th): Jews and Gentiles; Wandering Jews among the Nations, Jews in Exile (The “Diaspora”), and “Anti-Judaism”
Readings:
Trepp, Jewish Experience, 89-143
Robert Chazan, excerpts from Church, State, and Jew in the Middle Ages (course packet)
---Quiz #6---
Readings:
Trepp, Jewish Experience, 169-180
Moses Mendelssohn, Jerusalem---section II (course packet)
Begin Reading Elie Weisel, Night
Readings:
Trepp, Jewish Experience, 203-213; 285-301
Continue Elie Weisel, Night
Readings:
Finish Elie Weisel, Night
Trepp, Jewish Experience, 203-213; 285-301; 517-528
Richard Rubenstein, “After Auschwitz” (course packet)
Emile Fackenheim, “The Jewish Return into History (course packet)
Week 14 (May 1st): Jewish Movements (Hasidism, Modern Orthodox, Conservative, Reform, and Reconstruction)
Readings:
Trepp, Jewish Experience, 161-168; 181-194;
Potok, The Chosen (to middle of book)
Week 15 (May 8th): Chosenness and Contemporary Jewish Expression
Potok, The Chosen (finish)
Final, 7-9 Page Paper Due Tuesday, May 16th, 2006----No Exceptions