Course Offerings

MORNING COURSES
Sunday 2-4 pm and
Monday-Thursday 9 am-1 pm

Introduction to Jewish Studies
[MSJS concentration or elective, MAJS core, open to DSJS students to fulfill Methodologies core course]
(3 quarter hours)
Dean Bell

Jewish Studies as an academic discipline is in some ways a relatively new endeavor. As an interdisciplinary field, it draws from a broad range of scholarly methodologies, covers a dizzying array of topics, and utilizes many genres of source materials. As such, Jewish Studies is an amalgam that tells us quite a bit about Jews and Judaism (both past and present) as well as the current state of the Academy. At the same time, Jewish Studies writ large is a much older discipline—in the guise of Biblical study, exegesis, historical writing, and debate, for example. In this course, we’ll examine the general lines of development of Jewish Studies in the Academy, with special emphasis on recent developments. We consider each of the major chronological periods through a close look at recent scholarship to understand central themes and current trends in Jewish Studies today.

The Book of Ruth and Heroism in the Bible
[MSJS concentration or elective, MAJS second-level core, DSJS text course]
(3 quarter hours)
Rachel Havrelock

The characters in Genesis and Exodus are quite different from other heroes in the ancient world—characters such as Gilgamesh and Hercules.  What constitutes heroism in these biblical books?  How are the heroic paradigms for men and women different?  To what degree do these paradigms overlap?  In this course, we’ll consider what makes a hero in Genesis and Exodus and contrast these traits with heroes in the books of Joshua and Judges. We’ll also delve into the book of Ruth, an intriguing tale that redefines heroism, gender, and the very make-up of Israel.  We’ll analyze the characters in the book of Ruth in light of other biblical heroes and see how the book uniquely defines the nation and its borders.

The Works of Flavius Josephus: What They Tell Us — and Don't Tell Us — About Jews and Judaism Up Until the First Century CE
[MSJS concentration or elective, MAJS second-level core, DSJS text course]
(3 quarter hours)
Leonard Greenspoon

This course places emphasis on the life and works of the first-century CE Jewish historian Flavius Josephus. We’ll look closely at Josephus’ many autobiographical comments and determine the best ways to evaluate their veracity. We’ll study selected passages from his extensive work The Jewish Antiquities, comparing his narratives with parallel accounts in the Hebrew Bible.  In the process, we’ll discern how Josephus used primary documents to shape the history he recounts.  We’ll then turn to his account of the First Jewish Revolt, The Jewish War, for which he is our primary (often sole) witness. Because he took part in many of these events, we’ll uncover and seek to account for his biases in this work. We’ll also investigate his other major work, Contra Apion, in which he counters anti-Jewish sentiments and constructs an apologia (defense) for Judaism as an ancient and valid religion. We’ll analyze the various arguments Josephus recounts and promotes in terms of his own times and within the larger context of anti-Jewish and anti-Semitic words and actions throughout history. We’ll analyze the transmission and study of Josephus’ works from the first century until modern times, noting the lack of interest by Jews in Josephus until the nineteenth century. Finally, we’ll highlight Jewish contributions to the study of Josephus over the past two centuries.

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AFTERNOON COURSES
Sunday 4:15-6:15 pm and
Monday-Thursday 2-6 pm

Jewish Thinking
[DSJS core, Open to Masters students with at least 15 credits completed]
(3 quarter hours)
Byron Sherwin

This course looks at the development of Jewish thought patterns and Weltanschauung (world views) in the biblical and rabbinic periods and compares them to ancient mythologies, philosophies, religions, and a Greco-Roman way of looking at the world. Among these, we’ll explore the medieval philosophical attempt to make a hybrid between classical Jewish and classical philosophical categories, the symbolic, multivalent thinking in medieval Kabbalah, and methods of Jewish legal discourse compared to other forms of legal discourse such as the Anglo-American.

Reading Biblical Narrative
Pre-requisite: One year of Biblical Hebrew
[MSJS elective or concentration course, MAJS elective course, Also open to DSJS students reviewing their Hebrew]
(3 quarter hours)
Anne Knafl

In this course we’ll engage in close readings of passages from classical Hebrew narrative (Genesis-Kings). Passages will be chosen for their theological import. Students will produce their own translations and discussion will focus on translation as an act of interpretation. The course will function as a review of grammar and syntax for students who have an introductory knowledge of biblical Hebrew.

Contemporary Jewish Experiences
[MAJS core, MSJS concentration or elective]
(3 quarter hours)
Peter Knobel 

In this course we’ll explore the rich and variegated world of contemporary Jewry since 1948, with particular emphasis on theological developments and religious expressions in America. While we will consider the broad sociological developments of the past half century, the course will quickly turn to theological discussion, religious movements, questions of Jewish identity, the role of gender, interfaith relations, Jewish engagement in politics, liturgy and ritual, and the role of Israel in contemporary Jewish thought. 

DROP-IN INDEPENDENT STUDY
Sunday 6-7:30 pm or Monday-Thursday 1-2 pm

For Masters and Doctoral Students
Elliot Lefkovitz

Sign up for a meeting with Dr. Lefkovitz to discuss possible independent study projects and courses.

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