RELG 382/ HIST384: History Of Judaism
The Middle Ages And Modern Period
Professor: Rabbi Sanford T. Marcus
tel: (day) 787-2182 /
(night) 788-8971
email: rabbimarcus@sc.rr.com
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Spring 2007
Tu/Th 11:00 A.M. - 12:15
P.M.
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COURSE SUMMARY
full syllabus will be posted when available
OBJECTIVES
This course surveys the period extending from the end of the Talmudic era (c. 500 C. E.) to the present. It offers a unique opportunity to explore historic events in history from the vantage point of Jews and Judaism. Students are encouraged to explore such subjects as Jewish demography, life styles and customs, holidays, values and beliefs, and the legacy of Judaism in western civilization. The text for the course is A History of the Jewish People, by H. H. Ben-Sasson. Other reading materials will be found on the reserve shelf at the library as announced. The student should read the text prior to class and make every effort to attend regularly.
COMMUNICATION
To confer with me you may make an appointment to meet in my university office (Gambrell 140) on Tuesdays and Thursdays prior to class or immediately following. Other arrangements to meet may be made as necessary. I can be reached by phone during the day at 787-2182 or at night at 788-8971. You can reach me by e-mail at rabbimarcus@sc.rr.com .
GRADING
Grading will be comprised as follows: 25% for each of two exams - a short-answer/multiple-choice midterm exam and a similar final exam. 50% of the grade will be based on a term paper on a subject of interest to you within the parameters of this course. Students are expected to question and discuss the material in class.
POSSIBLE EXTRA CREDIT OPPORTUNITY
There may be an opportunity during the semester to earn extra credit by attending a program in the community that promotes this course's objectives. Such events will be announced in class and a maximum of 2% may be added to the final grade for attendance and the submission of a two-page reflection paper.
CLASS ATTENDANCE
The student must plan to attend class regularly for a fuller understanding of the subject. A maximum of three (3) absences will be allowed for personal reasons without penalty. For four to six absences the semester grade will be lowered by one full letter unless a medical excuse is presented. From seven to nine absences the grade will be lowered by two letter grades. Ten or more absences will result in a failing grade, unless there are certifiable extenuating circumstances. There will be no opportunity to substitute an additional paper to compensate for absences.
Punctuality is likewise expected. If there is a problem with this let's discuss it now. Three times tardy count as one absence. It is fully the student's responsibility to notify the instructor when entering the class after the role has been taken.
QUESTIONS TO GUIDE YOUR STUDY
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How did Jews relate to Moslems at the inception of Islam? What rights and privileges did they enjoy?
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What factors led eventually to the decline of the Jewish community in Islamic lands? Who were the Karaites and what were their teachings? How did they differ from Rabbinites?
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Why did the center of Jewish life move to Spain?
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What effect did the crusades and the Fourth Lateran Council have on Jewish community life? What is the "blood libel?" What was the status of the Jew in the feudalistic structure of society? How were Jewish communities besieged? How did some manage to survive?
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Due to what influences did the security of Jews in medieval Christian Europe decline? What part did Jews play in international trade?
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What effect did the Spanish Inquisition have on Jews? On Christians? On Marranos? In what various ways did Jews respond to the order of expulsion? What became of Sephardic Jews?
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Describe various aspects of ghetto life - both positive and negative.
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Why did many Jews move from Western to Eastern Europe?
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Who was Sabbetai Zvi? Why did his movement spread so quickly? What effect did it have on future messianic speculation?
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Identify: Zohar, Kabbalah, Baal Shem Tov, Hasidic masters. Contrast Hasidim with Mitnagdim.
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How did life in the Netherlands facilitate the return of Marranos to Judaism? How did Baruch Spinoza, Uriel da Costa and Manasseh ben Israel develop from Marrano roots? How did the Jews in W. Europe emerge from ghettos to attain civil rights? How did this change in legal status affect their religious, social, political, and cultural life?
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How did the plight of Jews in Russia differ from that of Jews in Western Europe?
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Identify: Moses Mendelssohn, Israel Jacobson, Abraham Geiger, Zacharia Frankel, and S. R. Hirsch. Identify Reform, Conservative and Orthodox Judaism in the 19th century and cite some differences.
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How did anti-Semitism influence the development of Zionism in the 19th century and early 20th century?
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What effect did the "Final Solution? Have on the worldwide Jewish community?
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How did Israel become a nation? Who was instrumental in shaping the new nation? What were its challenges? Discuss the historic precursors of the intifada and attempts made to achieve peace between Israel and its neighbors
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TERM PAPER GUIDELINES
A. Written Reports:
- All reports are due and to be turned in no later than March 31.
- They should be about 10 to 12 pages in length, grammatically correct, and neatly typed, double spaced.
- If you wish to have yours returned you need to make a second copy and turn them both in on March 31.
- The report should include:
- An overview of the contents (about one page.)
- A discussion of what you feel are the major points or issues. You will probably need to be selective.
- Your reaction to or critique of the book (about one or two page.)
- Your grade will depend on your citation of references, which should be noted in a bibliography appended to the paper. A good
number of references should be used - certainly not just a few. References from the web may be used, but you should do some good
library research.
BOOKS SUGGESTED FOR REFERENCE AND FURTHER READING
(The ones starred can be obtained from the Tree of Life Library)
General History
The Jews in Christian Europe 1400-1700, J. Edwards
Rashi, the Man and His World, E. Shereshevsky
*None is too Many, Abella & Troper
Exodus, L. Uris
*My Life, Golda Meir
*In Pursuit of the Tree of Life, Gergel & Gergel
The House of Nasi: Dona Gracia, C. Roth
*Third to None: The Saga of Savannah Jewry, S. Rubin
*Fear No Evil, N. Sharansky
*The Chosen, C. Potok
*The Other Jews: The Sephardim Today, D. Elazar
*The Rescue of Danish Jewry, L. Yahil
Social Studies
Jews in the Center: Conservative Synagogues and their Members, J.
Wertheimer
Piety and Society: The Jewish Pietists of Medieval Germany, I.G. Marcus
The Earth is the Lord's: The Inner World of the Jew in East Europe, A.J.
Heschel
Defenders of the Faith: Inside Ultra-Orthodoxy, S. Heilman
*Mixed Blessings: Overcoming the Stumbling Blocks in an Interfaith
Marriage, P. Cowan & R. Cowan
Theology
Searching for a Distant God: The Legacy of Maimonides, K. Seeskin
The Ecumenical Perspective and the Modernization of Jewish Religion, S.D.
Breslauer
American Jewish Orthodoxy, J.S. Gurock
*The Nine Questions People Ask about Judaism, D. Prager
The Challenge of America: Can Judaism survive in Freedom?, ed. J. Neusner
*Reform Judaism, E. Borowitz
Conserving Conservative Judaism: Reconstructionist Judaism, ed. J. Neusner
Chasidism: Its Development, Theology, and Practice, N. Gurary
The Hasidic Community of Williamsburg, S. Poll
Sabbatai Sevi, G. Scholem
Jews and German Philosophy, N. Rotenstreich
Profiles in American Judaism: The Reform, Conservative, Orthodox and
Reconstructionist Traditions in Historical Perspective, M.L. Raphael
God in Search of Man, A.J. Heschel
Holocaust & Anti-Semitism
I Didn't Say Goodbye, C. Vegh
Anti-Semitism in France, P. Birnbaum
Nationalism and Anti-Semitism in Modern Europe 1815-1945, S. Almog
The Final Solution, G. Reitlinger
An Underground Life, G. Beck
Antisemitism, R.S. Wistrich
A Holocaust Reader, L.S. Dawidowicz
Why the Jews?, D. Prager
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