Spring 2007 Courses For a printable version of this semester's courses click here.
Classical
Studies
CLAS 101 —Modern Hebrew Literary
Classics (3)
TR 12:45 PM - 02:00 PM Peleg
Prose and poetry of a century of writing from
the beginning of the Hebrew literary renaissance to contemporary Israeli
literature. Discussions stress historical development and authors’ treatments of
tradition and modernity.
CLAS 105—Yiddish Literary Classics in
Translation (3)
TR 02:20 PM - 03:35 PM, Ticktin
Reading and discussion of translated short
stories, dramas, and poems from the Yiddish literary renaissance period
(including works by Sholom Aleichem, I.L. Peretz, Isaac Bashevis Singer, Sholem
Asch, Jacob Glatstein). Writing will be presented in the historical and
cultural contexts of earlier folktales and folk humor, life in the shetl
and in Eastern European urban communities, the Holocaust, Jews in the Soviet
Union and immigrant Jewish settings in America.
English
ENGL 188--Jewish-American Writing (3)
TR 011:10 PM - 12:25 PM Moskowitz
One hundred years of Jewish American writing
in fiction, autobiography, poetry, drama, and non-fictional prose. The immigrant
experience, American philosemitism and antisemitism, the Holocaust and after,
the New York intellectuals, Jewish feminism, and the patriarchal tradition.
Hebrew
HEBR 002--Beginning Hebrew (4)
Section 10: MW 09:35 AM - 10:50 AM, F 09:35 AM - 10:25 AM Moses
Section 11: MW 11:10 AM - 12:25 PM, F 11:10 AM - 12:00 PM Moses
Section 12: TR 09:35 AM - 10:50 AM, F 09:35 AM - 10:25 AM Staff
An active presentation of Hebrew as it is
spoken and written today. Comprehension, speaking, reading and writing skills
are stressed.
HEBR 004--Intermediate Hebrew (4)
Section 10: TR 09:35 AM - 10:50 AM, F 09:35 AM - 10:25 AM Staff
Section 11: TR 11:10 AM - 12:25 PM, F 11:10 AM - 12:00 PM Staff
Further development of skills in speaking,
reading, writing, and comprehension of modern Hebrew. Texts range from Israeli
newspaper items to selections from classical materials. Prerequisite: HEBR 1-2,
or equivalent.
HEBR 104--Modern Hebrew Fiction (3)
MW 12:45 PM - 02:00 PM Moses
Directed readings in humanities and social
sciences. Development of linguistic skills necessary for independent research.
Prerequisite: Hebr 4 or permission of instructor.
HEBR 106--The Israeli Media
TR 02:20 PM - 03:35 PM Peleg
Explores the Israeli press,
television and radio news broadcasts in Hebrew; focuses on developing increasing
proficiency in reading and aural comprehension through class discussions and
written assignments in Hebrew. Prerequisite: Hebr 103 or permission of
instructor.
HEBR 121--Advanced Hebrew Literature
(3)
TR 04:45 PM - 06:00 PM Ticktin
Selections from Hebrew literature throughout the ages:
Bible, Rabbinics, medieval, Hebrew literature; classical motifs in modern
Israeli literature. Literary analysis (writing and discussion) in Hebrew.
History
HIST 101—The Six Day War and its Impact on
Israeli-Arab Relations (3)
TR 09:35 AM - 10:50 AM Lassner
The Six Day War is considered a major
watershed in the history of Arab-Israel relations. The results of Israel's
decisive military victory gave that nation strategic depth and a hitherto
unknown sense of security and confidence in the future, leading to economic
changes that altered the nature of Israeli society. Jewish settlers set root in
the conquered territories further complicating relations between Jews & Arabs as
well as any future settlement of the issues dividing both societies. Arabs went
through a period of self searching that ultimately led to Islamic renewal and a
heightened sense of Palestinian nationalism.
HIST 114 —History of Jews in Islamic Lands
(3)
TR 12:45 AM - 02:00 PM Lassner
The legal status of Jews under Islam; the impact
of the Muslim conquest and Abbasid rule upon the Jewish community of Babylonia;
the flourishing Jewish civilization in Muslim Spain; the nature of Mediterranean
Jewish society in the High Middle Ages; Jewish life in Ottoman Turkey.
HIST 159--The Holocaust (3)
TR 09:35 AM - 10:50 PM Richter
Analyzes the origins, causes, and
significance of the Nazi attempt to destroy European Jewry, within the context
of European and Jewish history. Related themes: the behavior of persecutors,
victims, and bystanders; and literary responses. Prior course in Jewish or
European history recommended.
Religion
REL 009--The Hebrew Scriptures (3)
TR 4:45 PM - 6:00 PM Hostetter
The literature, history, and religious
thought represented by the Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament).Continuities and
contrasts between Israel and the ancient Near East are considered through study
of the world view, oral and literary tradition, main religious ideas, and chief
figures and movements of the biblical literature.
REL 103—Hebrew Prophets (3)
M 02:20 PM - 03:35 PM, W 03:35 PM - 05:00 PM Ticktin
This course deals with the development of
prophecy in Biblical Israel from about 850 to 400 BCE. It will cover all of the
“literary prophets” in the canon and modern criticism of prophecy stressing
historical, theological, and literary dimensions. Attention will also be given
to psychological and sociological studies.
REL 107--Rabbinic Thought and
Literature (3)
TR 11:10 AM - 12:25 PM Eisen
An examination of the thought and literature
of rabbinic Judaism in its formative period, 100-500 CE, through a close reading
of primary texts in translation; the development of early rabbinic law and
theology is explored in the Mishnah, Talmud, and Midrash.
REL 112—Jewish Mysticism (3)
TR 02:20 PM - 03:35 PM Eisen
A historical treatment of the major forms of
Jewish Mysticism: the ecstatic schools of Merkavah mysticism, medieval German
pietism, and Abraham Abulafia; the theosophic mysticism of medieval French and
Spanish Kabbalah, Lurianic Kabbalah, and modern Hasidism; examination of major
concepts, such as God, man, Israel, Torah, and redemption, as understood by
these schools.
REL 118--Women in Judaism (3)
MW 12:45 PM - 02:00 PM Berner
An exploration
of Jewish women's history and legal status; focus on feminist theological
perspectives and Jewish women's spirituality as reflected in personal writings,
ritual, liturgy, and midrash. The struggle between tradition and innovation,
feminism in the “next wave” will be explored and several films will be viewed.