KAB1010x - Introduction to Kabbalah

Transcription

1 SYLLABUS Please take a moment to review this syllabus. It contains important information about the course objectives, schedule, structure, assignments and grading, and other policies. Introduction to Kabbalah Learn about the major ideas and practices of the Kabbalah in their historical and cultural settings. Course Description For hundreds of years, Kabbalah has been perceived as a body of secret theoretical and practical knowledge concerning creation, the divine world, and human interaction with it. This course will introduce you to the major ideas and practices of the Kabbalah from an academic point of view. The course will examine basic Kabbalistic themes such as the theory of the sefirot, ecstatic and prophetic Kabbalistic techniques, reincarnation, demonology, and practical Kabbalah. It will introduce major Kabbalistic works and movements, including the Zohar, Lurianic Kabbalah, Hasidism, and the contemporary revival of popular Kabbalah. In recent decades, interest in Kabbalah has been increasing and many non-academic Kabbalah centers have been founded throughout the world. Most of the information available online for the layman is non-academic and at times it is misleading and confusing. The aim of this course is to introduce students with no background in Kabbalah or Jewish thought to the major ideas and practices of the Kabbalah in their historical and cultural settings. The ideas are presented in an accessible manner without jeopardizing the course s academic rigor.

2 Methodology and Research Approach The course approaches Kabbalah from a historical and sociological perspective. Kabbalistic theories and practices will be studied through reading and analyzing primary sources (the Kabbalistic texts themselves) as well as applying the most up-to-date secondary literature (academic research). The course presents a variety of different perspectives on the themes it covers. Through the assignments and discussions that accompany the video lectures, students will be encouraged to express their opinions and individual perspectives, and to contribute to fruitful intellectual discussions. What you will learn The main concepts, doctrines, and practices of Kabbalah. The historical development of Kabbalah from medieval to modern times, including its major schools, central texts, and figures. The historical significance of Kabbalah, and the cultural roles it has played from the late medieval to the modern periods. Lessons Program and Schedule Lesson 1. Introduction: Kabbalah and its Academic study The lesson will introduce you to Kabbalah and to its academic study. We will discuss the term Kabbalah, and the varieties of forms and schools of Kabbalah throughout history Lesson 2. Sefirot: The Kabbalistic Theory of the Divine Structure

3 We will learn about one of the most central concepts of Kabbalah the sefirot: a structure of ten divine powers. We will also explore the concept of God as En-Sof (the Infinite) and its relationship with the sefirot Lesson 3. The Inner Life of God: The Dynamics within the Sefirot We will explore the interrelation of the different sefirot and the effect of their inner dynamics on the lower realms. We will also learn about Kabbalistic theories of the formation of evil and Kabbalistic demonology Lesson 4. Human Influence on the Divine We will learn about the theories and practices of the kabbalists that relate to their belief in the ability of human beings to influence and repair the divine. We will introduce the theory of the rectification of the Divine - tikkun Lesson 5. Connecting with the Divine: Prophecy, Attachment, and Union This lesson will be dedicated to encounters with the Divine in Kabbalah in different forms, such as ascents, visions, and automatic speech, the idea of unio mystica, and the techniques Kabbalists used to connect and unite with the Divine Lesson 6. Kabbalistic Perceptions of the Human Body and Soul We will explore Kabbalistic perceptions of the human body and the structure of the soul, and the structural resemblance between the human body and the structure of the sefirot. We will discuss different notions of reincarnation as well the idea of possession (dybuk) and exorcism, which is still practiced by Kabbalists today

4 Lesson 7. Early Kabbalah and the Zohar This lesson will be dedicated to the early Kabbalah and the authorship of the Zohar. We will also learn about the Kabbalistic schools of Spain and the ecstatic Kabbalah of Rabbi Abraham Abulafia Lesson 8. Lurianic Kabbalah We will learn about the Kabbalist center in early-modern Safed and the school of Isaac Luria. We will also discuss the Christian Kabbala Lesson 9. Kabbalah and Modernity We will explore Kabbalah and modernity in its main schools of Hasidism, Lithuanian Kabbalah, and the school of Shalom Sharaabi as well as the contemporary revival of Kabbalah. Schedule and Required Effort The course has 9 lessons. Each lesson demands hours. For the first three weeks, we will release 2 lessons every week, one on Tuesday and one on Thursday, starting on 28 November. The last 3 lessons will be released once a week (due the Holiday period). Please note the dates of each lesson release above. Course deadlines and due dates Course starts: November 28, 2017 Verification upgrade deadline: Jan 5, 2018 Final test: Jan 4, 2018 Course end: Jan 30, 2018

5 Grading policy Assignments & exercises- 40% Final exam- 60% Certification EdX offers an optional fee-based verified certificate to those who have passed the course. If you achieve a passing grade of minimum 60% in this course, you are eligible to receive a verified certificate. Your certificate will indicate you have successfully completed the course, but will not include a specific grade. Discussion forum etiquette We encourage you take part in the forum discussion as a way of sharing your ideas and learning from your colleges. Each lesson will have a few discussion units that will take place in the EDX discussion forum. We also invite you to join our closed Facebook group: Introduction to Kabbalah which provides a place for further discussions. Our course aims to provide a harassment-free experience for everyone, regardless of gender, age, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, or religion (or lack thereof). We do not tolerate harassment of participants in any form. Sexual language and imagery is not appropriate for any venue, including discussion boards, the Facebook group, and other online media. Course participants violating these rules may be sanctioned or expelled from the course at the discretion of the instructors. If you are being harassed yourself, or notice that someone else is being harassed, or have any other concerns, please contact an instructor or TA immediately in the course forum.

6 Course Contact To contact the instructors of the course, you can post questions or comments regarding content or exercises on our discussion board. Please note that each lesson will have a special thread, so please make sure to post your questions in the right place. Due to the high number of students enrolled, your instructors will not be able to reply to individual s.