REL 203
Judaism: Innovation and Tradition Fall 2012
Division II Exploring Diversity Initiative
Cross-listed JWST 101
This is not the current course catalog

Class Details

What is the relationship between modern notions of Jewish identity, thought and practice and the Hebrew Bible? How does the modern Reform movement link itself to the laws of the rabbinic sages? Are there consistent values and ideals that mark Jewish moral thought throughout its history? What elements of the Jewish tradition have enabled its elasticity and historic persistence? By providing an introduction to the traditions of Jewish thought and practice through the ages, this course will take up these questions. Though the course’s method of progression will be primarily chronological, commencing with myths of Israel’s beginnings and culminating with contemporary debates over Jewish identity, we will additionally emphasize the strong ties between methods of Jewish thought and practices and the surrounding cultural environments in which they developed. We will approach the tradition not only with historical concerns, but with literary and philosophical aims as well. We will analyze the interpretive strategies, theological presuppositions, and political aims that accompany the tradition both in its continuities and its ruptures. Finally, we will consider the extent to which we can speak of Judaism under the category of religion, considering as well the other categories that have been proposed for Judaism, Jews and Jewishness, such as nation, people, race and ethnicity, and the motivations behind such designations. Texts will include the Hebrew Bible, Holz (ed), Back to the Sources; Halbertal, People of the Book; Mendelssohn, Jerusalem; Hertzberg (ed), The Zionist Idea; Levi, Survival in Auschwitz as well as excerpts and articles available in a course packet.
The Class: Format: lecture/discussion
Limit: 30
Expected: 15
Class#: 1673
Grading: yes pass/fail option, yes fifth course option
Requirements/Evaluation: participation in class discussion, three short papers (5-7 pages) and a take-home final exam
Prerequisites: none
Enrollment Preferences: Religion majors and Jewish Studies concentrators
Distributions: Division II Exploring Diversity Initiative
Notes: This course is cross-listed and the prefixes carry the following divisional credit:
REL 203 Division II JWST 101 Division II
Attributes: JLST Enactment/Applications in Institutions
JWST Gateway Courses
REL Jewish Tradition Courses

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