JS217/RS217 • Introduction to Judaism

JS217/RS217 • Introduction to Judaism University of Waterloo

Instructor: Dr. D. Stoutenburg Winter 2004

Location: ML117 Office: HH324

Time: 2:30 p.m. – 3:50 p.m. Office Hours: Tues. & Thurs. 1:00 – 2:00 p.m.

Days: Tuesdays & Thursdays or by appointment

COURSE OUTLINE

I. COURSE DESCRIPTION

A basic introduction to the main concepts and rituals that constitute Judaism, this course will acquaint the student with the major canonical texts of Judaism; the rites of passage; religious law; liturgy; and Sabbath and the festivals. The student will gain a general knowledge of the unique way in which Judaism engages God, the world, and humanity.

II. COURSE REQUIREMENTS AND EVALUATION

A. Attendance and participation at all course sessions. (20%)

B. All reading assignments (course text and library reserve).

C. Mid-term exam (Thursday, February 12, 2004, in class). (30%)

D. Final exam [covering all reading assignments and lectures on the course). (50%)

III. COURSE TEXTS

A. Required Text

Cohn-Sherbok, Dan. Judaism: History, Belief and Practice. New York: Routledge, 2003.

B. Recommended Texts all titles are on library reserve

Donin, Hayim HaLevy. To Be A Jew: A Guide to Jewish Observance in Contemporary Life. New York: Basic Books, 1972. [BM700.D58 1972]

Feldman, Louis H. Jew & Gentile in the Ancient World. Princeton: PUP, 1993. [BM 534.F45]

Feldman, Louis H. and Gohei Hata. Josephus, the Bible, and History. Detroit: Wayne State University Press, 1989. [DS115.9.J6J68 1989]

Feldman, Louis H. and Meyer Reinhold, eds. Jewish Life and Thought Among the Greeks and Romans. Primary Readings. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 1996. [personal copy]

Kaplan, Aryeh. The Handbook of Jewish Thought. 2 vols. Jerusalem/New York: Maznaim Publishing Corporation, 1979. [personal copy]

Millgram, Abraham. Jewish Worship. Philadelphia: Jewish Publication Society, 1971. [BM660.M55 1971]

Neusner, Jacob. Rabbinic Judaism: The Documentary History of Its Formative Age, 70-600 C.E. Bethesda, MD: CDL Press, 1994. [personal copy]

Seltzer, Robert M. Jewish People – Jewish Thought: The Jewish People in History. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, 1980. [BM155.2 .S43]

Telushkin, Joseph. Jewish Literacy. New York: William Morrow, 1991. [BM155.2 .T44 2001]

IV. SCHEDULE

DATE	LECTURE	READINGS
Lectures 1-4 Jan 6/8 13/15	Introduction to Judaism 1. Overview 2. Terminology 3. Perspectives	Cohn-Sherbok 474-82, 577-81; class notes (cn)
Lectures 5-6 Tues/Thurs Jan 20/22	Jewish Thought 1. Foundations 2. God 3. Humanity	Cohn-Sherbok, 343-96; Kaplan; cn
Lectures 7-8 Tues/Thurs Jan 27/29	Jewish Thought 1. Torah 2. Tradition 3. Authority	Cohn-Sherbok, 397-425; Kaplan; cn
Lectures 9-10 Tues/Thurs Feb 3/5	Jewish Identity 1. Jewish Beginnings 2. Who Is A Jew?	Cohn-Sherbok, 426-60; Donin; cn
Lectures 11-12 Tues/Thurs Feb 10/12(MT)	Ancient Jewish History 1. Pre-Temple/First-Temple 2. Second Temple/Post-Temple 3. Mid-term exam	Cohn-Sherbok, 1-141; cn
Lectures 13-14 Tues/Thurs Feb 24/26	Medieval Jewish History 1. Pre-Maimonides 2. Maimonides 3. Post-Maimonides	Cohn-Sherbok, 142-219; cn
Lectures 15-16 Tues/Thurs Mar 2/4	Modern Jewish History 1. Pre-Shoah 2. The Shoah 3. Post-Shoah	Cohn-Sherbok, 220-327; cn

DATE

LECTURE

READINGS

Lectures 1-4

Jan 6/8

13/15

Introduction to Judaism

1. Overview

2. Terminology

3. Perspectives

Cohn-Sherbok 474-82, 577-81; class notes (cn)

Lectures 5-6

Tues/Thurs

Jan 20/22

Jewish Thought

1. Foundations

2. God

3. Humanity

Cohn-Sherbok, 343-96; Kaplan; cn

Lectures 7-8

Tues/Thurs

Jan 27/29

Jewish Thought

1. Torah

2. Tradition

3. Authority

Cohn-Sherbok, 397-425; Kaplan; cn

Lectures 9-10

Tues/Thurs

Feb 3/5

Jewish Identity

1. Jewish Beginnings

2. Who Is A Jew?

Cohn-Sherbok, 426-60; Donin; cn

Lectures 11-12

Tues/Thurs

Feb 10/12(MT)

Ancient Jewish History

1. Pre-Temple/First-Temple

2. Second Temple/Post-Temple

3. Mid-term exam

Cohn-Sherbok, 1-141; cn

Lectures 13-14

Tues/Thurs

Feb 24/26

Medieval Jewish History

1. Pre-Maimonides

2. Maimonides

3. Post-Maimonides

Cohn-Sherbok, 142-219; cn

Lectures 15-16

Tues/Thurs

Mar 2/4

Modern Jewish History

1. Pre-Shoah

2. The Shoah

3. Post-Shoah

Cohn-Sherbok, 220-327; cn

DATE

LECTURE

READINGS

Lectures 17-18

Tues/Thurs

Mar 9/11

Jewish Literature

1. Scripture

2. Targum and Midrash

3. Codes and Responsa

Cohn-Sherbok, 391-419; cn

Lectures 19-20

Tues/Thurs

Mar 16/18

Jewish Life

1. Family

2. Ethics

3. History

Cohn-Sherbok, 533-571; Telushkin; cn

Lectures 21-22

Tues/Thurs

Mar 23/25(LD)

Modern Jewish Demographics (Dr. Leo Davids)

1. Assimilation

2. Growth

3. The Future

Cohn-Sherbok, 336-40; cn

Lectures 23-24

Tues/Thurs

Mar 30/Apr 1

Jewish Literature

1. Fiction and Non-Fiction

2. Media and Web-based

Cohn-Sherbok, 312-35; Telushkin; cn

V. NOTE ON AVOIDANCE OF ACADEMIC OFFENCES

All students registered in the courses of the faculty of Arts are expected to know what constitutes an academic offence, to avoid committing academic offences, and to take responsibility for their academic actions. When the commission of an academic offence is established, disciplinary penalties will be imposed in accord with Policy #71 (Student Academic Discipline). For information on categories of offences and types of penalties, students are directed to consult the summary of Policy #71 (Student Academic Discipline) which is supplied in the Undergraduate Calendar (p. 1:11). If you need help in learning how to avoid offences such as plagiarism, cheating, and double submission, or if you need clarification on aspects of the disciplinary policy, ask your course instructor for guidance. Other resources regarding the discipline policy are your academic advisor and the Undergraduate Associate Dean.

VI. NOTE ON ABSENCE AND ACADEMIC RESPONSIBILITY

Consult (pre-arrange) with someone enrolled in the class who attended the class you missed before the next scheduled class, not by asking the professor to re-teach the class to you alone or by asking the professor to copy his notes. Use office time wisely.