Undergraduate Catalog 2005 - 2006

Judaic Studies (JUDS)

Associate Director, Center for Judaic Studies and Contemporary Jewish Life: Professor Stuart S. Miller
Offices: Room 154, Thomas J. Dodd Research Center and Room 220, Arjona Building

For more information, please refer to the "College of Liberal Arts and Sciences" section of this Catalog.

101. The Land of Israel from Biblical Times to the Present

(Also offered as HEB 101.) Either semester. Three credits. Offered in alternate years. Miller

An in-depth look at the history, culture and civilizations of the land of Israel. The importance of the land in Judaism and its significance for Christianity and Islam will be discussed. Lectures and discussion will be enhanced by slide presentations.

103. Literature and Civilization of the Jewish People

(Also offered as HEB 103.) Either semester. Three credits. Miller

The major concepts, personalities and literary works of the Hebraic tradition from the Biblical and Talmudic periods to the present.
CA 1, CA 4.

104. Modern Jewish Thought

(Also offered as HEB 104.) Second semester. Three credits.

Nationalism, culture, ethics and philosophy in the writings of the major Jewish thinkers from Spinoza to the present. Emphasis will be placed on the work of Moses Mendelssohn, Nachman Krochmal, Ahad Haam, Hermann Cohen, Franz Rosenzweig, Martin Buber and Mordecai Kaplan.

201. Selected Books of the Hebrew Bible

(Also offered as HEB 201.) Either semester. Three credits. Prerequisite: INTD 294 or HIST 213 or HEB 103, which may be taken concurrently. A knowledge of Hebrew is not required. May be repeated with change of content and consent of instructor. Miller

Focuses on a biblical book (or books) and emphasizes its literary structure and content using modern approaches as well as midrashic and medieval exegesis. Historical and archaeological material introduced where relevant.

202. Sects and Movements in Judaism

(Also offered as HEB 202). Either semester. Three credits. Offered in alternate years.

Varieties of Jewish expression and belief from Biblical times to the present. Topics include: the Dead Sea Sect, Pharisees, Sadducees, Karaites, Marranos, Hasidism and the Reform, Conservative, Orthodox and Reconstructionist movements of the modern era.

203. The Holocaust

(Also offered as HEB 203). Either semester. Three credits.

A discussion of the Holocaust to be preceded by an examination of the roots of anti-semitism and its effect upon the Jewish experience. Special emphasis will be given to the impact of the Holocaust on Jewish and Christian thought.

218. Palestine Under the Greeks and Romans

(Also offered as CAMS 256, HEB 218, and HIST 218.) Either semester. Three credits. Recommended preparation: HIST 213 or 214 or 216 or INTD 294 or HEB 202. Miller

The political, historical and religious currents in Greco-Roman Palestine. Includes the Jewish Revolts; sectarian developments, the rise of Christianity and the Talmudic academies.

242. American Jewry

(Also offered as SOCI 242.) Three credits. Either semester. Dashefsky

Historical, demographic, organizational, and sociopsychological perspectives.