Course Descriptions Fall 2015

Course Descriptions Fall 2015 BIB 101 Introduction to Bible Dr. Ora Horn Prouser This course will introduce the student to modern critical studies of the Bible. Selected texts of the Bible will be studied in depth while broader thematic issues will be surveyed. Various methodologies used by biblical scholars will be introduced to the students. The many meanings of the text and the centrality of the Bible in the Jewish world will be emphasized through careful study. (2 credits) BIB 140 Introduction to Parshanut Rabbi Allen Darnov An introduction to the medieval Jewish commentators found in the printed tradition of rabbinic Bibles (Mikra ot Gedolot). Selections, mostly from the Torah, will be examined to compare and contrast opinions of Rashi, Ibn Ezra, Rashbam, Ramban and other commentators. Students will also become familiar with other features and interpretive tools found on the pages of rabbinic Bibles. (2 credits) BIB 320 In God s Shadow: Ruth, Esther, and Ecclesiastes Rabbi Jill Hammer In this course, we ll explore three books from the Writings: Ruth, Esther, and Ecclesiastes. We ll read the text of each book as well as secondary literature. We ll become familiar with the intricacies of each book and its setting, whether palace or threshing floor. We'll consider and compare major themes and characters, discuss the liturgical setting of each book, and note how God's presence and/or absence are depicted in each of these vibrant texts. Prerequisite: Introduction to Bible. (2 credits) CAN 131 Musical Skills Stanley Dorn This series of courses is designed to prepare prospective cantors for the technical musical demands of their profession. These include the ability to sing the written literature at sight, to harmonize those melodies for choral or instrumental performance and to create their own melodies to texts they may wish to use with their congregations. The course builds on the natural musical abilities of each student and helps to focus and refine these abilities so that the antors can achieve mastery over these techniques. CAN 316 Cantillation: Eikhah and Festivals Cantor Robin Joseph A continuation of the study of cantillation focusing on Eikhah and Shalosh Regalim. Prerequisite: CAN 308 (1 credit) 1

CAN 355 Neginah Cantor Sol Zim Public prayer is challenging when it comes to creating a presence of spirituality in congregations. Neginah can create a spiritual elevation and a spark, making the worshiper feel uplifted and exhilarated. Students will learn how to create their own melody & liturgical chants. They will also learn how antiphonal refrains invite participation and command involvement and ultimately create a sense of oneness and unity in the worship service. Students will learn how to blend the richness of Jewish liturgy with the freshness of contemporary New Age sounds, thus creating a bridge of old and new.the result is.a blessing. This course can count toward the Music for Rabbis requirement. (2 credits) CAN 425 Advanced Nusah Shabbat I Cantors Lisa Klinger-Kantor and Sol Zim The first part of this course will be a study of the nusah and cantorial pieces for Shabbat focusing on traditional melodies, prayer modes, and Misinai tunes. The Targil section will focus on reviewing, reinforcing and shaping the material taught. We will analyze the modes, motifs and melodies as music, from a cantorial viewpoint, how it fits the text, etc. Each week, students will davven assigned pieces learning how to master Shabbat material and will work on required recordings. This will be the performance class where students can develop their own cantorial style. Students are encouraged to bring in their collections of Shabbat material to share with the class. Attendance at both parts of the course is required. (4 credits) CAN 486 Contemporary Repertoire Shabbat II Master Cantors This course will include visiting master cantors and teachers, each presenting choices and approaches to contemporary musical literature (with some classics) of the Shabbat morning liturgy. The music will be illustrated in class by the instructor and students with piano or other musical accompaniment. The material covered will be for solo cantor; cantor and/or volunteer, youth, or professional choir and communal singing, and will be performed, analyzed, and discussed. (2 credits) HAL 401 Introduction to Codes Rabbi David Wise This course will introduce students to the literature of the halakhic codes, with a focus on Maimonides Mishneh Torah. We will explore several facets of the text: its internal dynamics and unique features; the way in which it sets the standard for Jewish legal codification; and the ways in which it its faithful to its earlier sources and how it reshapes them. Emphasis will be placed on precise and accurate reading of the text, with commentaries consulted as necessary. Prerequisite: Introduction to Mishnah. (2 credits) HEB 350 Hebrew IIA Ilana Davidov Students will finish Hebrew from Scratch B (Ivrit min HaHatchala Bet). Students will learn new grammatical topics, develop strategies for reading comprehension and word recognition, and practice conveying ideas and opinions in both speech and writing. Prerequisite: 4 credits of Hebrew. (4 credits) HEB 351 Hebrew IIB Ilana Davidov Students will complete the last few lessons of Ivrit min HaHatchla Bet supplementing the textbook with materials from level Gimel books. Students will learn new grammatical topics 2

and practice writing ideas and opinions about independent readings. (Gesher books) Prerequisite: 6 credits of Hebrew. (4 credits) HEB 414 Advanced Hebrew Varda Hubara An opportunity for advanced Hebrew students to improve their Hebrew skills through reading and analyzing various texts: Biblical, Rabbinic and Modern. In addition we will look at Hebrew syntax in order to understand and appreciate more Biblical and Classic texts. We will write essays, poetry, and prayers that will be read and discussed in class. This course may be taken multiple times as the subject matter will change each semester. Prerequisite: two semesters of Hebrew II. (1 credit) LIT 101 Introduction to Liturgy Rabbi Rob Scheinberg A close study of the weekday liturgy, addressing structure, historical context, canonization and applicable halakha/minhag. This course, designed for rabbinical and cantorial students, will also engage with theology of the siddur as explored in medieval and modern commentaries and through contemporary liturgical changes. We will also explore questions of prayer s personal meaning and spiritual significance in contemporary Jewish life. (2 credits) LIT 271 Tefillah and Seminar TBA This course, open to cantorial and rabbinic students as part of the Tefillah and Seminar track, will be taught by a team of creative and thoughtful prayer leaders each one a deeply examining practitioner who builds community through tefillah. The semester s focus will be on recognizing the many liturgical moments that can be mined for their spiritual potential. (1 credit) MEC 130/131 Mechina Hebrew and Jewish Studies TBA The Mechina Program is made up of two sections. One class covers the basics of both modern and liturgical Hebrew, preparing the students to enter the required Hebrew classes of both the Rabbinical and the Cantorial Programs. No credit is given for this class. The other half is a preparatory course for the Rabbinic and Cantorial Programs. The course includes a survey of Jewish history; introduction to the Siddur (prayer book) for weekdays, Sabbaths and festivals, with guided reading and analysis of selected Hebrew passages; introduction to classical Jewish literature, including Mishnah and Midrash; and orientation to Jewish liturgical observances and religious and cultural institutions. (No credit) PHI 312 Modern Philosophy Dr. Len Levin For the past 350 years, Jewish thinkers have been articulating Judaism in the light of the (ever-developing) modern world-oulook. Familiarity with their ideas can help us in developing those articulations of Judaism that ring true to us on all levels; scientifically, ethically, religiously/spiritually, and with respect to Jewish authenticity. In this course we will encounter and discuss the Jewish philosophies of Spinoza, Mendelssohn, the 19th-century movements (religious and secular), Buber, Rosenzweig, Kaplan, Heschel, Soloveitchik, and a sampling of more recent thinkers. (2 credits) 3

PHI 510 Zohar Rabbi Jeff Hoffman The Zohar is the masterpiece of medieval Jewish mysticism known as Kabbalah. While it claims to be the product of the 2 nd century sage, Rabbi Shimon bar Yohai, it was actually created by Rabbi Moshe DeLeon and his circle of mystics in 13 th century Spain. The form in which it expresses itself is similar to that of ancient Rabbinic midrash but its content is shockingly dissimilar to anything in Rabbinic Literature. The Zohar concerns itself with nothing less than the inner life of God, which, in the Zohar s view, involves the interplay between Ein Sof (the infinite, unknowable part of God), the Ten Sefirot (ten slightly more knowable divine energies) and the physical world especially the Jewish People. Its contents are expressed in a most concealed way that does not yield much meaning upon first glance. Deciphering its contents involves decoding the many allusions to biblical verses, midrashic and talmudic interpretations, and myriad poetic and mythic images and symbols. While we will read the original Aramaic of the text, we will utilize both Hebrew and English translations of all passages to ease our study. Fulfills mysticism elective requirement for rabbinical students or spirituality elective requirement for cantorial students. (2 credits). PRO 002 Core Concepts II Dr. Ora Horn Prouser This is a multi-year sequence of seminars. The seminars cover some of the fundamental values, concepts and vocabulary of Jewish tradition. The student is expected first to gain a basic acquaintance with these terms and then to delve more deeply into them so as to appreciate their range of significance. The goal of the seminars is not simply to gather information, but to develop an integrated way of thinking about and expressing these valueconcepts, so that the student may grow from an appreciation of the tradition to active and creative participation in the discourse of Torah. Every student is required to take two years of the seminars given in the sequence, but they need not be taken in order. Core Concepts II begins with the terms nefesh/neshama. (No credit) PRO 015 Ritual Skills Workshop TBA In this workshop students will have the opportunity to learn and practice ritual skills to prepare for fulfillment of the ritual skills requirement. (No credit) PRO 312 Parashat Hashavua/Homiletics TBA An exploration into the structure and content of the pulpit sermon and the written D var Torah. Attention will be paid to traditional and nontraditional varieties of pulpit and other rabbinic discourse as well as to available resource materials in the sermonic field. Students will also focus on the structure and development of a written D var Torah. (2 credits) PRO 326 Education II Dr. Renee Holtz This course will address the role of rabbis and cantors as communal educators. The focus will be on practical issues such as programming, curriculum development, and the many areas involved in running educational programs and schools at synagogues. (2 credits) PRO 341 Life Cycle I Rabbi Jeffrey Segelman This course is designed to prepare religious leaders to participate in the various life cycle rituals of the Jewish people. Beginning with traditional sources and ideas, our discussion will extend to a wide range of innovative possibilities spanning the spectrum of Jewish pluralism. 4

Students will have the opportunity to role play and to give and receive feedback on their developing skills. Primary focus during this semester will be on life cycle events from birth through Bar/Bat Mitzvah leading up to marriage. (2 credits) PRO 373 Marketplace Professional Skills Sandra Kilstein and guest presenters This class will bring in a series of speakers to discuss important areas of non-profit management and professional conduct that are relevant to the various settings of clergy practice that will also help students prepare for the job market. Topics to be discussed will include budget planning and presentation, strategic planning, community organization, PR and marketing, legal issues and much more. (2 credits) PRO 377 Israel Rabbi Aryeh Meir In this course we will try to gain perspective on a range of approaches to Israeli life, culture, and politics. We will be hearing from a wide range of viewpoints by bringing in speakers from many different organizations and approaches so that we can then, as a class, try to process the broad scope of opinions, facts, and approaches. It is hoped that this process of hearing from many different viewpoints, and analyzing them together will lead each student to develop a more nuanced, sophisticated approach to Israel, and will enable students to develop a personal understanding of his or her relationship with the State of Israel, with the idea of nationhood, as an individual and as a member of the clergy. (2 credits) PRO 436 Guitar II Stanley Dorn This is the continuation of the introductory course in guitar, designed to teach cantors and rabbis how to use the guitar to accompany themselves and/or congregational singers. The approach is two-pronged, using a folk-based style to teach basic accompanying skills and a classical approach to teach note reading and the ability to play more complex textures. As ability develops, the two styles will be blended to create a comprehensive and easy familiarity with the instrument and its potential. Some previous experience with guitar is required. (1 credit) PRO 700 FWSS TBA This seminar group focuses upon issues that arise in the course of rabbinical and cantorial work. Students will explore the challenges they face in their work and in their developing rabbinate/cantorate through the presentation of a case study. Participation is required of all students whose work is counting as a required internship experience. All fieldwork must be approved prior to the beginning of the semester by Sandy Kilstein. Tuition is charged but no academic course point is given for this seminar. (No credit) RAB 100 Introduction to Mishnah Rabbi Michael Pitkowsky An introduction to the study of Mishnah. The students will be introduced to basic rabbinical concepts that underlie the Mishnah. The structure of the Mishnah and its subject matter will be studied. Selections will be chosen to illustrate the variety of literary styles and some distinctive features of Rabbinic Hebrew that are found in the Mishnah. The course will also include a brief introduction to the scholarly issues regarding the development and redaction of the Mishnah. (2 credits) 5

RAB 230 Introduction to Talmud Rabbi Jeff Hoffman A study of the necessary skills in language, logic and text required to read a Talmudic text with the help of dictionaries and the Steinsaltz commentary. Covers basic Aramaic terms as well as Talmudic organic logic. Students expected to prepare and submit charts of Talmudic passages each week. Prerequisite: Mishnah and familiarity with basic halakhic terminology. The Havruta session is required of all students. (2 credits) RAB 430 Intermediate/Advanced Talmud Rabbi Michael Pitkowsky This course will continue the study of the Talmud, its structure, and concepts. Tractate to be announced. Havruta session is required of all students. Prerequisite: 2 credits in Talmud (2 credits) SPI 365 Jewish Dreamwork Rabbi Jill Hammer From antiquity, Jews have understood dreams as revelations that can guide the spirit. In this course, we will study biblical, Talmudic, mystical, and contemporary approaches to dreams. We will learn techniques for Jewish dream practice, based on ancient and modern techniques. We will consider how dreaming may be important for Jews today. We will also engage in dream circles and keep dream journals, to discover where our own dreams are leading us. (2 credits) 6