Department of Jewish Studies

Department of Jewish Studies 12 College Avenue, New Brunswick, NJ 08901 Tel: (732) 932-2033 Fax: (732) 932-3052 e-mail: csjl@rci.rutgers.edu website: http://jewishstudies.rutgers.edu Fall 2008 LANGUAGE COURSES Elementary Modern Hebrew Part I (Middle Eastern Studies, 685:101) 563:101:01; Index #05246; MWTh2; Moshenberg Murray 208 :02; Index #05258; MWTh3; Levy Scott 205 Prerequisite: Placement test. This course develops primary language skills through reading and writing. Emphasis is put on the sentence as a unit of language and students are engaged from the very beginning in creative writing and speech. Basic competence in grammar and comprehensive reading is achieved as well. Communication skills are enhanced by engaging in conversations based on everyday situations covering a variety of cultural topics. No previous knowledge of Hebrew required. Elementary Modern Hebrew Part 2 (Middle Eastern Studies, 685:102) 1:563:102:01; Index #07591; MWTh2; Bryn-Noiman Murray 115 :02; Index #11678; MWTh 3; Moshenberg MTh Sc 101/ W Sc 207 Prerequisite: 563:101 or placement test. A continuation of Elementary Modern Hebrew 101, this course further develops the primary language skills introduced in the previous semester. Basic competence in the four areas of language (reading, writing, grammar and speech) is acquired through extensive practice of grammar, reading various Hebrew and Israeli texts, and writing. Communication skills are enhanced through conversations based on everyday situations. Elementary Modern Yiddish Part 1 563:103; Index #05247; MWTh3; Portnoy 12 College Avenue An introduction to speaking, reading, and writing Yiddish, focusing on acquiring the fundamentals of grammar and basic vocabulary. Class activities also include Yiddish songs and Yiddish films. No previous knowledge of Yiddish required. Intermediate Modern Hebrew Part 1 (Middle Eastern Studies, 685:131) 563:131:01; Index #05248; MWTh2; Levy Scott 220 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, based on a variety of modern Israeli literature. Advanced Modern Hebrew Part 2 (Middle Eastern Studies, 685:211) 563:211:01; Index #13910; MW4; Bryn-Noiman Scott 201 Prerequisite: 563:132 or placement test This course is designed to increase proficiency in reading and writing skills. The course provides an intensive training in Hebrew Grammar and syntax through the reading and analysis of short essays, and newspaper and magazine articles. Reading and writing assignments as well as creative writing and oral presentations are part of the course work. 1

Readings in Modern Hebrew Literature (in Hebrew) [ML] (Middle Eastern Studies, 685:471) 563:471:01; Index #13913; MTh3; Bryn-Noiman Miller Hall 211 Prerequisite: 563:372 or placement test The course examines Israeli life through the lens of Hebrew Literature. Students are introduced to the Hebrew masters through poetry and selection of short stories. The goal of the course is to develop skills in critical reading of literary texts and to improve writing and conversational skills. Films in Hebrew relevant to the texts discussed in class are viewed throughout the semester. Note: This course is conducted in Hebrew and all readings are in Hebrew. OTHER COURSES Jewish Society and Culture I: From Antiquity to the Middle Ages (core course) 563:201:01; Index # 05249; MW4; Rendsburg (History, 506:271; 685:208) Hardenberg A7 This course will examine the social, economic, religious, and political experiences of the Jewish people from the crystallization of their national-religious consciousness in the Biblical period until the 15th century C.E. The religion and culture of the Jews will be discussed within the broader context of their environment. In the study of the ancient period, the course will survey the people of ancient Israel against the backdrop of ancient Near Eastern history and culture, starting with the emergence of the Israel in the land of Canaan c. 1200 B.C.E. through the compilation of the Mishna c. 220 C.E. Special areas of investigation will include the Babylonian Exile, the Second Temple period, the challenge of Hellenism, the Macabbean dynasty, the Jewish sects of late antiquity (Pharisees, Sadducees, Essenes), the Dead Sea Scrolls as a new source for Jewish historical and religious inquiry, the rise of Christianity, the Jewish revolts against Rome, and the importance of the Mishna as a code of law. In the study of the medieval era, the course will explore the consolidation and expansion of Rabbinic Judaism, the rise of Karaism as a challenge to the rabbis, the history of the Jews in both the Christian and Muslim spheres, theological debates between Judaism and Christianity, the joint cultural heritage of Jews and Muslims in the areas of poetry, philosophy, and science, the enterprise of biblical commentary, and the rise of Kabbalah. The course is required for majors and minors in Jewish Studies. Introduction to Rabbinic Literature: Second Temple Judaism and the Emergence of Rabbinic Judaism 563:241:01; Index #13911; MTh2; Yadin [CT] 12 College Avenue This course will trace the historical developments that led to the establishment and eventual dominance of rabbinic Judaism. We will examine the historical and literary context of late Second Temple Judaism as the background to rabbinic Judaism, including the apocryphal writings and the Dead Sea Scrolls. The second part of the course will examine how the rabbis responded to these developments and came to a position of authority within the Jewish world. In discussing these matters we will read various rabbinic texts closely (especially the Mishnah and Tosefta). We will discuss the following topics: the Rabbis and the Synagogue, the Rabbis and scriptural interpretation, and the social standing of the Rabbis. No prior knowledge necessary; all readings will be in English. History of the Holocaust (History, 510:261:01) 563:261:01; Index #11664; TTh 7; Hanebrink Murray 211 This course is a detailed examination of the programs of persecution and mass murder carried out by the Nazi German regime between 1933 and 1945. Several themes will be prominent throughout the semester. First, we will examine when and how policies of exclusion can be transformed into a systematic program of murder. In this regard, we will examine not only the development of Nazi Germany as a "racial state," but also the role of ideologies, such as anti-semitism, nationalism, and racism, in shaping policies of exclusion in Germany and elsewhere in Europe. Second, we will focus on the place of the Holocaust in European, and not only German, history. The events we associate with the Holocaust took place across the continent of Europe and were shaped by local histories; throughout the course we will pay close attention to the interaction between Germans, Jews, and non-german native populations. The mass murder of European Jews will be the central focus of this course. We will, however, also discuss programs of discrimination and murder carried out against other groups (e.g. Roma, the disabled, homosexuals, and Poles) and attempt to place these phenomena within the context of Nazi German racial policy. 2

Classical Jewish Philosophy [CT] (Philosophy, 730:311) 563:311:01; Index #05250; TTh5; Redl T Scott 220/ Th Scott 202 This course provides an introduction to the classical Jewish philosophical tradition, covering the works of Sa adia Gaon, Judah Halevi, Maimonides, and others. We will examine their conceptions of God, creation, prophecy, ethics, free will, providence, Jewish peoplehood, eschatology, and dogma. Focusing on the tension between traditional Jewish faith and rational models of inquiry, we will gain an appreciation of the intellectual range and diversity that characterized Jewish thought during the Middle Ages and set a pattern for later ages. Jewish Women & Spirituality (Women s Studies, 988:396:01) 563:321; Index #15332; MW5; Koren Hardenberg B5 This course will examine a variety of issues pertaining to gender and women in Judaism. Specifically, we will investigate some of the theological and social aspects of the tension between traditional Judaism and feminism, along with the ways contemporary Jews respond to changing women's roles and calls for greater sex equality. We will examine how women have attempted to stretch the boundaries of Judaism by finding new and creative ways to relate to a historically-patriarchal a tradition... Required reading will comprise scriptural sources, rabbinic literature, scholarly and activist feminist theories. We will explore the following topics: gender power relations within Jewish society; textual hierarchies; the status of women in Jewish law; Judaism s constructions of sexuality and modesty; female communal status; feminist theology and liturgy. Jewish-American Women: Contested Lives [ML] (American Studies, 050:335; Women s Studies, 988:334) 563:335; Index #14198; M 12:35 3:35; Fishbein RAB 018 This seminar will focus on Jewish-American women's lives through memoir, social history, literature, and film to assess the interplay of religious belief, secularism, social mobility, and other acculturating influences within the American experience. The following works will be examined: Mary Antin s The Promised Land (1912), a celebration of immigrant acculturation; Anzia Yezierska s far more troubled Red Ribbon on a White Horse (1950); Kate Simon s Bronx Primitive (1982), a memoir of a second generation female s adolescence; Lucy Dawidowicz s From That Place and Time (1989), the story of a young historian s attempt to preserve Vilna s cultural heritage in the aftermath of the Holocaust; Vivian Gornick s Fierce Attachments (1997), a writer s embattled relationship with her mother; Gerda Lerner s Fireweed (2003), an eminent historian of women s attempt to confront her Holocaust past and her involvement with American communism, civil rights, and second wave feminism; Rebecca Walker s Black, White, and Jewish (2002), the memoir of the daughter of black writer Alice Walker and Jewish lawyer and civil rights activist Mel Leventhal; and Jyl Lynn Felman s Cravings (1997), introspective essays about family and identity by a Jewish lesbian performance artist. History of Zionism (History, 510:386, Middle Eastern Studies, 685:343) 563:343; Index #08036; TTh4; Stauber Scott 214 This course examines the Zionist movement from the precursors of Zionism to the founders of the modern State of Israel. We will examine the origins of Zionist ideology and enquire into the historical conditions as well as the political strategies that made its success possible. Topics of study will include the thought of Moses Hess, Theodore Herzl, Ahad Ha-am; Zeev Jabotinsky, and David Ben-Gurion. The varieties of Zionist thought (cultural Zionism, socialist Zionism, religious Zionism and their critiques) will also be examined. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Introduction to the Modern Middle East (Middle Eastern Studies, 685:350) 563:350; Index #09925; T 6&7; Sprachman Lucy Stone Hall, B115 This course explores various aspects of the Modern Middle East, including art and architecture, ethnic diversity, literature, modern history, music, religion, and writing systems. It will encourage participants to analyze what they have learned about the region through education, family ties, travel, print and electronic media, etc. The course will strive to foster common understanding and break down stereotypes through collegial in-class activities. 3

Modern Jewish Art (Art History, 082:380) 563:383; Index #13837; Th 6&7; Shandler 12 College Avenue This course examines the role of visual art in Jewish engagements with modernity, including works of fine art, architecture, photography, and popular culture, in Jewish communities around the world. Course activities include museum visits and a curatorial project. Modern Yiddish Literature [ML] (Comparative Literature, 194:398:01, German Dept., 470:384:01) 563:386; Index #13912; MW5; Portnoy Scott 116 This course offers an introduction to the literary and cultural activity of Yiddish-speaking Jewish communities in Eastern Europe, the Soviet Union, and the United States from the late nineteenth century until the mid-twentieth century. Materials include prose fiction, autobiography, poetry, and drama by major writers (including Sholem Aleichem, Y. L. Peretz, S. Ansky, and Isaac Bashevis Singer), as well as a selection of Yiddish films. Knowledge of Yiddish is not required; all readings are in English. Jewish-Christian Relations Through the Ages (History, 510:388) 563:388; Index #13229; TTh 4; Tartakoff Murray 115 This course introduces students to the history of Jewish-Christian relations from the first century of the Common Era through to the start of the twenty-first century. The course focuses both on the history of interactions between Jews and Christians persecutions, collaborations, conversions, etc. and also on the history of theological stances and popular attitudes. The goals of the course are three-fold: first, to acquaint students with the general outlines of the history of Jewish-Christian relations; second, to help students hone some of the skills of the historian (especially the critical analysis of primary sources); and third, to encourage students to grapple with questions that confront Jews and Christians in the present, questions about history, memory, theological differences, and the potential for dialogue. Jewish Power, Jewish Politics (History, 510:389) 563:389:H1; Index #13680; MW4; Sinkoff Hardenberg A4 By special permission only. This semester-long course will examine the political relationship of the Jewish community to the gentile authorities among whom they lived (and live), to the internal authority structures within the Jewish community, and to the modern Jewish state. We will examine how Jews rebelled against and accommodated to structures of power in varying historical contexts. We will examine select aspects of traditional Jewish politics, such as the concepts of /dina de-malkhuta dina/ ( the law of the gentile hosts is the law ) and the royal alliance, as the basis for our study of the continuities and challenges inherent in modern Jewish politics. The ideological assumptions in the words power and powerlessness will be critiqued throughout the course, which covers discrete topic areas in chronological order. Topics to be discussed include: Roman Rebels; Spanish Inquisitors and Jewish Courtiers; Kings, Nobles and Jewish Administrators in Early Modern Poland; Military Conscription and Communal Responses in Nicholas I s Russia; Jewish Socialists in late Imperial Russia; Gender Politics of Jewish Women; The Appeal of Communism and Socialism in the Interwar Years; Jewish Liberalism and its Discontents; Zionist Empowerment and the challenge of the Holocaust. Primary and secondary sources, as well as fiction, poetry and films, will be used. Topics: Anti-Semitism in Modern Times (History, 510:391:01) 563:395:01; Index #11686; TTh6; Stauber Scott 220 By the end of the 19th century Anti-Semitism became a major component in the ideology and the political practice of nationalist movements in Europe. They perceived the Jews as an alien and as a destructive element. The most extreme and dangerous manifestation of this hatred against the Jews was racial anti-semitism. After World War I, this concept was adopted by the Nazi party and eventually led to the Holocaust. Extreme anti-semitic canards regarding the Jewish conspiracy to control the world penetrated the United States as well. This course examines the origins of modern anti- Semitism from the end of 19th century until 1930s and its impact on the fate of the Jewish people. It explores the differences between the traditional hatred towards the Jews in Europe in the Middle Ages and modern anti-semitism. At the end, course will examine manifestations of anti-semitism today. 4

Special Topics: Jewish Historical Fictions (History, 510:391:02) 563:396:01; Index #09345; MW6; Sinkoff Campbell A2 This course will explore a variety of Jewish historical fictions and their relationship to the historical periods they purport to represent, starting from late antiquity and continuing into the modern period. The course will investigate the differences and similarities between two kinds of narrative, history and fiction, and readings will include primary and secondary historical sources, as well as several novels. Topics to be covered include: Second Temple Sectarianism; Medieval Jewish Marriage Law and Customs; Mysticism; The Blood Libel; Jewish Conscription into the Modern European State; Jewish Revolutionaries; The American "Dream". Jewish Studies Internship 563:460:01; Index #07600; by arrangement; Staff (special permission required) Open only to junior and senior Jewish Studies majors and minors. Supervised work in historical society, archive, museum, communal agency, etc.; 112 hours required. Advisor will supervise and evaluate the student s project/paper and sponsor s assessment. Independent Study and Research 563:491:01; Index #05932; by arrangement; Staff (special permission required) Students (juniors and seniors only) 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, field work, or an internship along with directed reading. A research paper or written report is required for all independent study projects. Senior Honors 563:496:01; Index #06040; 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 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 project 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 application to the Department s office. Approval of the honors project 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 project should pass an oral examination given by the department. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Standard Periods (80 min each): 1 8:10-9:30 a.m. 3 11:30-12:50 p.m. 5 2:50-4:10 p.m. 7 6:10-7:30 p.m. 2 9:50-11:10 a.m. 4 1:10-2:30 p.m 6 4:30-5:50 p.m. 8 7:40-9:00 p.m. 5