Department of Jewish Studies 12 College Avenue, New Brunswick, NJ 08901 Tel: (732) 932-2033 Fax: (732) 932-3052 e-mail: jsdept@rci.rutgers.edu website: http://jewishstudies.rutgers.edu UNDERGRADUATE COURSES SPRING 2005 HEBREW LANGUAGES Elementary Modern Hebrew (Middle Eastern Studies, 685:101) 563:101:01; Index #49547; MWTh2; Moshenberg GH B001 :02; Index #52822; MWTh2; Bryn-Noiman Murray 204 Introductory Hebrew: This course develops primary language skills through extensive practice in reading and writing. Since emphasis is put on the sentence as a unit of language, students are engaged from the very beginning in creative writing and speech as well as in achieving basic competence in grammar. Communication skills are enhanced by engaging in conversations based on everyday situations. No previous knowledge of Hebrew required. Elementary Modern Hebrew (Middle Eastern Studies, 685:102) 563:102:01; Index #46742; MWTh2; Levy Scott 220 :02; Index #46743; MWTh3; Moshenberg Scott 214 Prerequisite: 563:101 or placement test. A continuation of Elementary Modern Hebrew 101, this course further develops primary language skills that were introduced in the previous semester. Basic competence in the four areas of language (reading comprehension, creative writing, grammar, and speech) is acquired through extensive practice of grammar, reading various Hebrew texts, and writing. Communication skills are enhanced by engaging in conversations based on everyday situations. Intermediate Modern Hebrew Part 1 (Middle Eastern Studies, 685:131) 563:131:01; Index #53857; MWTh3; Staff Scott 201 Prerequisite: 563:102 or placement test The objectives of this course are twofold: development of language skills and preparing the students to approach Hebrew literature in an analytical and comprehensive manner. Students develop conversational skills by regular participation in class presentations and discussions of current events and cultural issues. Advanced grammatical forms are integrated into the reading material, which is selected from various Hebrew sources, such as Biblical and Talmudic texts, as well as modern Israeli stories. Intermediate Modern Hebrew Part 2 (Middle Eastern Studies, 685:132) 563:132:01; Index #70083; MWTh3; Levy Scott 220 Prerequisite: 563:131 or placement test. The objectives of this course are twofold: (1) development of language skills, and (2) preparing students to read and analyze Hebrew literature. Students develop conversational skills by regular participation in class presentations and discussions of current and cultural events. Advance grammatical forms are integrated into the discussion of reading material, which is selected from various Hebrew sources. 1
Introduction to Modern Hebrew Literature (In Hebrew) (Middle Eastern Studies, 685:372) 563:372; Index #49544; MW4; Moshenberg Scott 104 Prerequisite: 563:371 or placement test. The objective of this course is to develop a critical approach to literature through text analysis, class discussions and written compositions. Readings include poetry and short stories. Students also examine the structure of language and explore how language is used to convey literary, cultural, and personal meanings. Note: This course is conducted in Hebrew and all readings are in Hebrew. Literature & Society (in Hebrew) (Middle Eastern Studies 685:496:04) 563:495; Index #53858; MW4; Bryn-Noiman 12 College Ave This course traces the development of modern Israeli literature beginning with the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948, up until the present day. Reading and analyzing a variety of short stories through the semester will enrich the students Hebrew and allow them to enhance their understanding of the language. Through these stories, written by influential Israeli authors, we will define the Israeli hero and discuss the question of the Israeli identity. Note: This course is conducted in Hebrew and all readings are in Hebrew. YIDDISH Elementary Modern Yiddish 563:104; Index #53112; MWTh2; Gluck Freylinghuysen B4 Prerequisite: 563:103 A continuation of Elementary Modern Yiddish 103, this introductory course is designed to teach basic conversational and reading skills. The origins of Yiddish and its dialectal variants are also discussed. Class activities also include participation in Yiddish skits and songs, screening Yiddish films and visiting the Yiddish theatre. Emphasis is placed on the importance of Yiddish language and culture as a tool in the study of Jewish history and literature. OTHER COURSES Jewish Society and Culture I: From Antiquity to the Middle Ages (core course) 563:201; Index #49495; TTH4; Yadin (History, 506:271) Frelinghuysen A6 This course examines the social, religious, intellectual and political experience of the Jewish people from the crystallization of their national-religious consciousness until the end of the fifteenth century. The religion and culture of Jews are discussed within the broader context of their environment. The course traces the experience of the Jews from the Babylonian exile through the Bar Kochba revolt, emphasizing the confrontation between Hellenism and Judaism, the Macabbean dynasty, the rise of Christianity, destruction of the Second Temple and the Jewish revolt against Rome. In the study of the medieval era, the course explores the consolidation and expansion of Rabbinic Judaism, the history of the Jews in both the Christian and Moslem spheres, the legal foundations of Jewish life and the theological conflicts between Judaism and Christianity, the interaction of philosophic and mystical cultures under Islam, Jewish communal organization and economic activities. The course concludes with the Expulsion of the Jews from the Iberian Peninsula. Note: This course is required for minors and majors in Jewish Studies. Jewish Society and Culture II: The Modern Experience (History, 506:272) 563:202; Index #46604; TTh4; Klein-Pejovsa Campbell A4 This course surveys the major trends in Jewish life from the ferment caused by the expulsion of the Jews from the Iberian Peninsula at the end of the fifteenth century until the years between Europe's two great twentiethcentury wars. Lectures will highlight the political, social, religious, and intellectual life of the Jews. Topics of study include the emergence of Marranism, the rise of mercantilism and the resettlement of the Jews in Europe, the development of Jewish enlightenment (Haskalah), the debates over the political emancipation of the Jews, 2
the emergence of Hasidism, the rise of Reform Judaism, modern anti-semitism, Zionism, and Jewish life in Eastern Europe from the nineteenth century until the Russian Revolution. The course concludes with Jewish life in Weimar Germany during the interwar years. Note: This course is required for minors and majors in Jewish Studies. This course is required for minors and majors in Jewish Studies. Jewish Mysticism and Kabbalah 563:250; Index #53114; TTh6; Yadin Campbell A4 The course is a survey of the history and evolution of Jewish mystical traditions from the early rabbinic traditions to the central text of kabbalistic literature the Zohar (Book of Splendor) in 13th century Spain. The survey will include the literature of heavenly ascent (Hekhalot and Merkavah), The Book of Creation (Sefer Yetzirah), and the early precursors of the Zohar-the Bahir, and the kabbalistic schools of Provence and Geronaand the Zohar itself. Discussion will cover a number of topics, including: tension between legal and mystical aspects of Judaism, magical the theurgic techniques, the evolution of the doctrine of Sefirot, mystical interpretation of Scripture, the erotic dimension of Kabbalah and more. Arab-Israeli Conflict (History, 508:300, Middle Eastern Studies, 685:300) 563:300; Index #67165; MTh2; Sundelin Murray 213 This course examines the origins and evolution of the Arab-Israeli conflict from the emergence of Zionism and the beginning of modern Jewish immigration to Palestine in the late nineteenth century to the present. Through a critical reading of scholarly literature, historical documents in translation, memoirs, and reportage, students are encouraged to seek an understanding of the conflict and its complexities, rather than prescriptions for solutions. American Jews and the Media (American Studies, 050:301:03, Comparative Literature, 195:395:03) 563:306; Index #53115; T2&3; Shandler Freylinghuysen A1 This course examines the wide range of interactions that American Jews have had with sound recordings, film, radio, television, and computers over the course of the 20 th century. Attention is not only placed on significant works of American media by or about Jews (e.g., The Jazz Singer, Gentleman s Agreement), but on the role that these media have played in shaping American Jewish life from the period of mass emigration of East European Jews to America at beginning of the century (e.g., early sound recordings, early silent film, Yiddish talkies ) to the present (especially the use of videos and computers in transforming traditional Jewish community life). Special attention is placed on the use of new media for self-portraiture, propaganda, and collective memory. Modern Jewish Philosophy (Philosophy, 730:312) 563:312; Index #48307; TTh5; Levin Hardenberg A7 The course explores the relationship between Judaism and modernity. It will examine the ways in which general philosophy and the currents of Jewish life have shaped modern Jewish thought. This course will acquaint students with the teachings of Spinoza, Moses Mendelssohn, the founders of Reform, Neo-Orthodoxy, Conservatism and Zionism, and the works of Martin Buber, Franz Rosenzweig, Joseph B. Soloveitchik, Mordecai Kaplan, and Abraham Joshua Heschel. Issues discussed throughout the course will include God, revelation, religious authority, religion and science, Jewish peoplehood, Messianism and personal immortality. American Jewish History (History, 512:345) 563:345; Index #53117; MW6; Sherman Campbell A4 This course will survey the American Jewish experience from the earliest migration of Jews during the Colonial period through the 20 th century to the present. Topics will include: the foundation of religious institutions and novel forms of communal life; acculturation; German and East European migrations of Jews; the emergence of Reform Judaism; expressions of American Zionism; Conservative and Reconstructionist Judaism; anti- Semitism; and contemporary issues in American Jewish life. 3
Special Topics: Performing Jews on Stage 563:395:01; Index #47911; MW5; Quint Hardenberg B5 This course explores the depiction of Jews in classic dramas and operas, written by both Jews and non-jews. It begins with a consideration of Shakespeare s The Merchant of Venice and Christopher Marlowe s The Jew of Malta and then continues to explore the later German and French works of Lessing (Nathan the Wise) and Halevy (The Jew). Students will then consider a number of modern dramatic works penned in Yiddish including Ansky s The Dybbuk, H. Leivik s The Golem and Sholem Asch s daring God of Vengeance. Our final component will cover important works staged in America by writers including contemporary playwright Tony Kushner. Special Topics: From Sabras to Israelis: Modern Hebrew Literature in Translation 563:395:02; Index #53118; MW4; Hollander (Middle Eastern Studies; 685:496;02) Scott 216 This course will explore the changing nature of Israeli identity as reflected in key works of Hebrew literature. After being introduced to the narrow parameters given to Israeli identity in the early state period, students will learn how issues such as the Holocaust, gender, ethnicity, and religion, fomented debate over Israeli identity and the individual's relationship to the collective that has led to the development of a more pluralistic society more accepting of diversity within its midst. Authors whose works will be read include Yizhar, Agnon, Shahar, Shabtai, Kahana-Carmon, Almog, Appelfeld, Shammas and Matalon. Special Topics: The Jews and the State in Central Europe (History, 510:392:01) 563:395:03; Index #53833; TTh6; Klein- Pejšová Hardenberg A5 This course concerns the development of Jewish/State interrelations since the end of the nineteenth century until the present. Students will explore the religious, political, and national affiliations of the Jews and other subjects of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy and its successor states (in particular, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, and Romania). Attention will be given to the manner in which the Jewish communities of these countries adapted to the major social, political, economic, and religious challenges of the twentieth century. Topics to be covered include: integration, nationalism, anti-semitism, the Holocaust, Communism, and the revival of Jewish life in the post-communist states. Special Topics: Critical Perspectives on the Middle East 563:396:01; Index #67570; F1&2, Davis Hickman 313 (Middle Eastern Studies, 685:451; Political Science, 790:451) Prerequisite: 685:350 This course promotes critical thinking about the Middle East by analyzing how stereotypes and Western political thinking hinder intercultural understanding and encourages students to think more dynamically about the relationship between the United States and the Third World. Special Topics: Israeli Society (Sociology, 920:394; Middle Eastern Studies, 685:496:03) 563:396:02; Index #53120; MTh3, Waxman Scott 221 This course entails an in-depth analysis of contemporary Israel society. Topics include the Zionist movement and the establishment of the State of Israel, immigration and social change, ethnicity, social stratification, religion, politics, gender relations, Arabs in Israel, and Israeli-Palestinian relations. Jewish Studies Internship 563:460; Index #50046; By arrangement; open only to Jewish Studies majors and minors in their junior or senior year This course enables students to pursue an independent research project while working in a Jewish public cultural or social institution as a supervised intern. Students are expected to work 8 hours per week (i.e. 112 hours during the semester, or its equivalent in a summer internship) at a site approved by the Jewish Studies department. 4
Student s pre-approval by both the department and the hosting agency is required. In addition to their internship hours, students are required to prepare a report, paper, or other project related to the nature of the internship. Jewish Studies Seminar: The Bible and Modernity 563:464; Index #46605; TTh2; Rendsburg 12 College Ave This seminar will focus on the manner in which the Bible has been studied in the modern period, starting with the Enlightenment in the 18th century and ending with the current debate raging between the maximalists and the minimalists. Along the way we shall view the Bible through the lens of various ideologies, social movements, and academic disciplines associated mainly with the 19th and 20th centuries, including nationalism, colonialism, Marxism, Zionism, fundamentalism, archaeology, gender studies, and literary theory. This course, accordingly, will examine the juncture between the most ancient and the most modern periods of the Jewish historical experience. Modern Middle Eastern Literature in Translation (Middle Eastern Studies, 685:490:70) 563:480, Index #50498; W5&6, Sprachman Janice Levin 219 Modern literature in the Arabic, Hebrew, Persian, and Turkish traditions, focusing on poetry, the short story, and the novel. Independent Study and Research 563:492; Index #47363; By arrangement; Staff Students can pursue an independent study project beyond the department's normal offerings with a faculty member who has expertise in the student's area of interest, subject to the approval of the Department s Undergraduate Advisor. An independent study should be the equivalent of a one-semester course and can include guided research, fieldwork, or a directed reading. A research paper or written report is required for all independent study projects. Senior Honors 563:497:H1; Index #47908; By arrangement; Staff (Prerequisite: Permission of the Department Chair) The honors program offers qualified students the opportunity to pursue a research project in depth for the entire senior year, culminating in the writing of a thesis, under the supervision of a faculty advisor. To be considered, students must have a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or better, and 3.4 or better in Jewish Studies courses. Jewish Studies majors who wish to pursue an honors thesis are encouraged to meet with the Department s Undergraduate Advisor during the second term of their junior year in order to plan their project, and by the end of their junior year they should submit the formal proposal to the Department s office. Approval of the honors thesis is required for admission to the honors program. Honors students enroll in 01:563:496 and 01:563:497 Jewish Studies honors courses, and upon the completion of their honors thesis should pass an oral examination given by the department. Standard Periods (80 min each): 1 8:10-9:30 a.m. 5 2:50-4:10 p.m. 2 9:50-11:10 a.m. 6 4:30-5:50 p.m. 3 11:30-12:50 p.m. 7 6:10-7:30 p.m. 4 1:10-2:30 p.m. 8 7:40-9:00 p.m. 5