| Creating Judaism: History, Tradition, Practice Michael L. Satlow |
Judaism
Fall, 2006
This course surveys the major practices, traditions, and beliefs of the Jews, with an emphasis on modern Jewish
communities. How does a Jewish community shape its practices and beliefs against its own specific historical
circumstances to create a coherent and meaningful religious system?
A problem of definition lies at the heart of this course. What is “Judaism”? How can a definition of “Judaism” be inclusive
enough to include the black-caftanned Lubavitch Hasidim of Brooklyn, the Reform Jews of Israel, religious Zionists and
anti-Zionists, and American Reconstructionist Jews who have replaced many references to a male God with references
to a female One? Might it be more accurate to talk of “Judaisms,” or are there in fact characteristics that hold these
different Jewish communities together into a single coherent group?
In addition to the definitional problem there is an analytical one. It is not enough to describe a religious system; as
students of religion we also seek to explain it. One goal of this course is to introduce you to the academic study of
religion. Each discipline has “good” and “bad” questions: Within the context of the academic study of Judaism (or
indeed, any religion), what are the “good” questions, and what are the methods for trying to answer them?
Objectives, Approach, Structure
The goal of the class, of course, is to give you an overview and general understanding of “Judaism” as we grapple with
the meaning of that term. This objective, though, can be subdivided into several discrete ones:
1. To introduce you to the academic study of religion, especially to approaches to religious traditions;
2. To give you a broad overview of and framework for understanding Jewish religious communities, their sacred
texts, and their rituals;
3. To strengthen your ability to read primary texts critically;
4. To help you develop basic research skills in this field;
5. More generally, to develop collaborative working and presentation skills.
My goal is to create a learning environment in which we can all challenge each other without competition or fear. In order
to do this, we will use three basic class formats. Most units will begin with a more or less traditional lecture/discussion,
that I hope to be able to illustrate with relevant A/V materials. A second kind of class involves group work, in which four
different groups of students (referred to as A, B, C, and D below) prepare different materials in advance, briefly discuss
them within each group, and then teach the rest of the class. The third kind of class involves grappling together (or
perhaps first in groups) with a short primary text. The final project will also be done in groups.
While I will develop feedback and evaluation mechanisms throughout the semester to see whether this structure is
working, you should never hesitate to let me know how you feel things are going. The class is dynamic, and I am more
than willing to change things if those changes will increase learning.
Requirements
1. Attendance and Participation (10% of grade). You are expected to attend class regularly and to be prepared.
Always bring the relevant materials to class as we will refer to them frequently.
2. Journal Entries (15% of grade). On most days that we will be doing either group or primary text work, you will be
required to post in your online Journal a short reaction to the reading or response to a question based on the reading.
These posts must be made by noon of the day of the class. The goal of such posts is to ascertain that you have not
only done the reading, but have begun to think about it. There will be periodic quizzes based on assigned readings
throughout the semester, both in class and online.
3. Short Group Presentation (5% of grade). This will be a short presentation on a contemporary Jewish movement,
to take place the week of September 18.
4. Take-Home Midterm (20% of grade). This will be a short, take-home exam distributed October 4, and due back
on October 11.
5. Group Project (25% of grade). This is an in-depth examination of a Jewish religious community (contemporary or
historical) along the lines and with attention to the themes of this course. Groups will form around midterm and the final
project can take different forms, from a written paper to a website or a poster presentation. Each group will present its
project to the class during the last two classes, and it will be made available publicly. You will receive more guidelines
later in the semester.
6. Take-Home Final (25% of grade). The questions will be distributed on the last day of class, and is to be returned
to me in the Judaic Studies office by 5 PM on Thursday, December 14. Please note that you must receive a “C” or
above on the final in order pass this course.
7. Policy on grading. All assignments will be graded on an ABCF scale. For computation of the final grade, letter
grades will be converted as follows: A (95); B (85); C (75); F (50). All missed assignments will be scored as a 0. My
grading scale is A (90-100); B (80-89); C (70-79). Late papers, unless you have obtained prior permission from the
instructor (which will be given only in exceptional circumstances), will be penalized one full grade for each day or fraction
thereof that the assignment is late.
Books and Resources
You should buy:
1. Michael Satlow, Creating Judaism: History, Tradition, Practice, Columbia University Press, 2006
2. Arthur Green, A Guide to the Zohar, Stanford, 2004
3. Arnold Eisen and Steven Cohen, The Jew Within, Indiana University Press, 2000
4. Barry W. Holtz, ed., Back to the Sources, Simon and Schuster, 1986
5. Jon Levenson, Sinai and Zion, HarperSanFrancisco 1987, or Susan Niditch, Ancient Israelite Religion, Oxford
University Press, 1998 (depending on your group)
6. Abraham J. Heschel, The Sabbath, Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2005
7. Isidore Twersky, ed., Maimonides Reader, Behrman, 1976
8. Jack Wertheimer, A People Divided, Brandeis University Press, 1997
All other readings will be made available.
Schedule
Below is our tentative schedule:
September 6 Introduction
September 8 Studying Religion and Defining Judaism
Reading: Satlow, “Introduction”
Powerpoint Presentation
September 11 Contemporary Judaism: Overview
Reading: Satlow, “Promised Lands” (chapter 1)
Powerpoint Presentation
September 13 National Jewish Population Survey
Readings:
Groups
A,B: Calvin Goldscheider, Studying the Jewish Future, pp. 3-12, 72-85
C, D: “The OU’s Initial Five- Part Response to the Jewish Population Survey”
September 15 Jewish Identity in America
Readings:
1. Eisen and Cohen, The Jew Within (2000), pp. 1-12, 182-207
2. Groups
A. The Jew Within, pp. 13-72
B. Ibid., pp. 73-99
C. Ibid., pp. 100-134
D. Ibid., pp. 135-181
September 18, 20, 22 Contemporary Jewish Movements
Reading: Wertheimer, A People Divided (to be completed by Friday)
Assignment: For this week, each group will present on a different contemporary Jewish
movement: Reform, Conservative, Reconstructionist, and Orthodox. The goal is to present the major ideas and states of
the movements.
September 25 Creating Judaism
Reading: Satlow, “Creating Judaism” (chapter 2)
Powerpoint Presentation
September 27 Israelite Religion
Reading: Groups
A, B: Jon Levenson, Sinai and Zion
C, D: Susan Niditch, Ancient Israelite Religion
September 29 Text Workshop: Hebrew Bible
Readings: Genesis 1-3, 17; Exodus 19-20; Leviticus 19; Deuteronomy 4-6, 34; Isaiah 6;
Ezekiel 1; Proverbs 8 (you can use any Bible translation, although the New Jewish Publication Society version is
preferred. Bring a Bible to class)
October 2 Cancelled: Yom Kippur
October 4 The Second Temple Period
Readings:
1. Satlow, “Between Athens and Jerusalem” (chapter 3)
2. Groups
A: Community Rule (1QS) (translation in G. Vermes, The Complete Dead Sea Scrolls in
English (1998), pp. 97-117)
B: Damascus Document (CD) (translation Vermes, pp. 125-43)
C, D: Josephus, Jewish War, book 2, chapter 8, sections 2-13
Powerpoint Presentation
October 6 The Rabbis
Reading: Satlow, “The Rabbis” (chapter 4)
Powerpoint Presentation
October 9 Cancelled: Columbus Day
October 11 Text Workshop: Midrash
Readings:
1. “Midrash,” in Back to the Sources, pp. 177-211
2. Selection from Genesis Rabbah, to be distributed
October 13 Text Workshop: Talmud
Readings:
1. “Talmud, in Back to the Sources, pp. 129-175
2. Selection from Talmud, to be distributed
October 16 Rabbinic Concepts: God and Creation
Readings: Satlow, “Rabbinic Concepts” (chapter 5)
October 18 Rabbinic Concepts: Torah and Revelation
Reading: Selection of sources, to be distributed
October 20 Rabbinic Concepts: Israel and Redemption
Reading: Selection of sources, to be distributed
October 23 Mitzvot: Overview and Kashrut
Reading: Satlow, “Mitzvot” (chapter 6)
Powerpoint Presentation
October 25 Mitzvot: Sacred Time and Prayer
Readings:
1. Heschel, The Sabbath
2. Groups
A: Sabbath: Mishnah, Shabbat 7
B: Passover: Mishnah, Pesahim 10
C: Tabernacles: J. Rubenstein, “The Symbolism of the Sukkah” (parts 1 and 2), Judaism 43:
4 (1994), pp. 371-87, and 45: 2 (1996), pp. 387-98 (available online)
D: High Holy Days: Mishnah Rosh HaShanah 1; Mishnah Yoma
October 27 Mitzvot: Lifecycle
Readings: Groups
A: Circumcision: S. Cohen, Why Aren’t Jewish Women Circumcised, pp. 3-54
B: Marriage: M. Satlow, Jewish Marriage in Antiquity, pp. 4-41
C: Family Purity: C. Fonrobert, Menstrual Purity, pp. 15-67
D: Death: Ivan Marcus, The Jewish Life Cycle, pp. 193-248, 292-300
Powerpoint Presentation
October 30 Geonim
Reading: Satlow, “The Rise of Reason” (chapter 7)
November 1 The Origins of Jewish Philosophy
Reading: Selections from Saadya Gaon, in Three Jewish Philosophers, pp. 25-47, 93-105, 167-79
November 3 Siddur (Prayer-Book)
Readings:
1. Mintz, “Prayer and the Prayerbook,” in Back to the Sources, pp. 403-29
2. J. Tabory, "The Prayerbook as an Anthology of Judaism" Prooftexts, 17 (1997), pp. 115-132
Powerpoint Presentation
November 6 Maimonides
Reading: Satlow, “From Moses to Moses” (chapter 8)
Powerpoint Presentation
November 8 Maimonides and Halakhah
Reading, Twersky, A Maimonides Reader, pp. 213-248, 310-335
November 10 Text Workshop: Mishneh Torah
Reading: Twersky, A Maimonides Reader, pp. 35-85, 101-19
November 13 Kabbalah: Overview
Reading: Green, A Guide to the Zohar
November 15 Kabbalah: Basic Ideas
Reading: Gershom Scholem, Major Trends in Jewish Mysticism (reissue, 1995), pp. 1-39
November 17 Text Workshop: Zohar
Reading: Selection from the Zohar, to be distributed
November 20, 22, 24 Cancelled
November 27 The Dawn of Modernity
Reading: Satlow, “”East and West” (chapter 10)
Powerpoint Presentation
November 29 A Religion of Reason?
Reading: Selections from Moses Mendelssohn, Jerusalem, printed in Jewish Philosophy Reader, ed. D.
Frank, O. Leaman, C. Manekin (2000), pp. 340-61.
December 1 Geiger v. Hirsch v. Frankel v. Sofer: A Debate
Readings:
1. Michael Meyer, Response to Modernity (1988), pp. 62-99
2. Groups
A. Geiger, Judaism and Its History, in Jewish Philosophy Reader, pp. 398-400; Holdheim, “This is
our Task,” ibid., pp. 404-6
B. Hirsch, “Religion Allied to Progress,” in Jewish Philosophy Reader, pp. 391-96
C. Frankel, “On Changes in Judaism,” in The Jew in the Modern World, ed. P. Mendes-Flohr and
J. Reinharz (1980), pp. 173-76
D. “These are the Words of the Covenant,” and M. Sofer, “A Reply Concerning the Meaning of
Reform,” in ibid., pp. 150-56
December 4 Group Presentations
December 6 Group Presentations and Conclusions
Fall, 2006
This course surveys the major practices, traditions, and beliefs of the Jews, with an emphasis on modern Jewish
communities. How does a Jewish community shape its practices and beliefs against its own specific historical
circumstances to create a coherent and meaningful religious system?
A problem of definition lies at the heart of this course. What is “Judaism”? How can a definition of “Judaism” be inclusive
enough to include the black-caftanned Lubavitch Hasidim of Brooklyn, the Reform Jews of Israel, religious Zionists and
anti-Zionists, and American Reconstructionist Jews who have replaced many references to a male God with references
to a female One? Might it be more accurate to talk of “Judaisms,” or are there in fact characteristics that hold these
different Jewish communities together into a single coherent group?
In addition to the definitional problem there is an analytical one. It is not enough to describe a religious system; as
students of religion we also seek to explain it. One goal of this course is to introduce you to the academic study of
religion. Each discipline has “good” and “bad” questions: Within the context of the academic study of Judaism (or
indeed, any religion), what are the “good” questions, and what are the methods for trying to answer them?
Objectives, Approach, Structure
The goal of the class, of course, is to give you an overview and general understanding of “Judaism” as we grapple with
the meaning of that term. This objective, though, can be subdivided into several discrete ones:
1. To introduce you to the academic study of religion, especially to approaches to religious traditions;
2. To give you a broad overview of and framework for understanding Jewish religious communities, their sacred
texts, and their rituals;
3. To strengthen your ability to read primary texts critically;
4. To help you develop basic research skills in this field;
5. More generally, to develop collaborative working and presentation skills.
My goal is to create a learning environment in which we can all challenge each other without competition or fear. In order
to do this, we will use three basic class formats. Most units will begin with a more or less traditional lecture/discussion,
that I hope to be able to illustrate with relevant A/V materials. A second kind of class involves group work, in which four
different groups of students (referred to as A, B, C, and D below) prepare different materials in advance, briefly discuss
them within each group, and then teach the rest of the class. The third kind of class involves grappling together (or
perhaps first in groups) with a short primary text. The final project will also be done in groups.
While I will develop feedback and evaluation mechanisms throughout the semester to see whether this structure is
working, you should never hesitate to let me know how you feel things are going. The class is dynamic, and I am more
than willing to change things if those changes will increase learning.
Requirements
1. Attendance and Participation (10% of grade). You are expected to attend class regularly and to be prepared.
Always bring the relevant materials to class as we will refer to them frequently.
2. Journal Entries (15% of grade). On most days that we will be doing either group or primary text work, you will be
required to post in your online Journal a short reaction to the reading or response to a question based on the reading.
These posts must be made by noon of the day of the class. The goal of such posts is to ascertain that you have not
only done the reading, but have begun to think about it. There will be periodic quizzes based on assigned readings
throughout the semester, both in class and online.
3. Short Group Presentation (5% of grade). This will be a short presentation on a contemporary Jewish movement,
to take place the week of September 18.
4. Take-Home Midterm (20% of grade). This will be a short, take-home exam distributed October 4, and due back
on October 11.
5. Group Project (25% of grade). This is an in-depth examination of a Jewish religious community (contemporary or
historical) along the lines and with attention to the themes of this course. Groups will form around midterm and the final
project can take different forms, from a written paper to a website or a poster presentation. Each group will present its
project to the class during the last two classes, and it will be made available publicly. You will receive more guidelines
later in the semester.
6. Take-Home Final (25% of grade). The questions will be distributed on the last day of class, and is to be returned
to me in the Judaic Studies office by 5 PM on Thursday, December 14. Please note that you must receive a “C” or
above on the final in order pass this course.
7. Policy on grading. All assignments will be graded on an ABCF scale. For computation of the final grade, letter
grades will be converted as follows: A (95); B (85); C (75); F (50). All missed assignments will be scored as a 0. My
grading scale is A (90-100); B (80-89); C (70-79). Late papers, unless you have obtained prior permission from the
instructor (which will be given only in exceptional circumstances), will be penalized one full grade for each day or fraction
thereof that the assignment is late.
Books and Resources
You should buy:
1. Michael Satlow, Creating Judaism: History, Tradition, Practice, Columbia University Press, 2006
2. Arthur Green, A Guide to the Zohar, Stanford, 2004
3. Arnold Eisen and Steven Cohen, The Jew Within, Indiana University Press, 2000
4. Barry W. Holtz, ed., Back to the Sources, Simon and Schuster, 1986
5. Jon Levenson, Sinai and Zion, HarperSanFrancisco 1987, or Susan Niditch, Ancient Israelite Religion, Oxford
University Press, 1998 (depending on your group)
6. Abraham J. Heschel, The Sabbath, Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2005
7. Isidore Twersky, ed., Maimonides Reader, Behrman, 1976
8. Jack Wertheimer, A People Divided, Brandeis University Press, 1997
All other readings will be made available.
Schedule
Below is our tentative schedule:
September 6 Introduction
September 8 Studying Religion and Defining Judaism
Reading: Satlow, “Introduction”
Powerpoint Presentation
September 11 Contemporary Judaism: Overview
Reading: Satlow, “Promised Lands” (chapter 1)
Powerpoint Presentation
September 13 National Jewish Population Survey
Readings:
Groups
A,B: Calvin Goldscheider, Studying the Jewish Future, pp. 3-12, 72-85
C, D: “The OU’s Initial Five- Part Response to the Jewish Population Survey”
September 15 Jewish Identity in America
Readings:
1. Eisen and Cohen, The Jew Within (2000), pp. 1-12, 182-207
2. Groups
A. The Jew Within, pp. 13-72
B. Ibid., pp. 73-99
C. Ibid., pp. 100-134
D. Ibid., pp. 135-181
September 18, 20, 22 Contemporary Jewish Movements
Reading: Wertheimer, A People Divided (to be completed by Friday)
Assignment: For this week, each group will present on a different contemporary Jewish
movement: Reform, Conservative, Reconstructionist, and Orthodox. The goal is to present the major ideas and states of
the movements.
September 25 Creating Judaism
Reading: Satlow, “Creating Judaism” (chapter 2)
Powerpoint Presentation
September 27 Israelite Religion
Reading: Groups
A, B: Jon Levenson, Sinai and Zion
C, D: Susan Niditch, Ancient Israelite Religion
September 29 Text Workshop: Hebrew Bible
Readings: Genesis 1-3, 17; Exodus 19-20; Leviticus 19; Deuteronomy 4-6, 34; Isaiah 6;
Ezekiel 1; Proverbs 8 (you can use any Bible translation, although the New Jewish Publication Society version is
preferred. Bring a Bible to class)
October 2 Cancelled: Yom Kippur
October 4 The Second Temple Period
Readings:
1. Satlow, “Between Athens and Jerusalem” (chapter 3)
2. Groups
A: Community Rule (1QS) (translation in G. Vermes, The Complete Dead Sea Scrolls in
English (1998), pp. 97-117)
B: Damascus Document (CD) (translation Vermes, pp. 125-43)
C, D: Josephus, Jewish War, book 2, chapter 8, sections 2-13
Powerpoint Presentation
October 6 The Rabbis
Reading: Satlow, “The Rabbis” (chapter 4)
Powerpoint Presentation
October 9 Cancelled: Columbus Day
October 11 Text Workshop: Midrash
Readings:
1. “Midrash,” in Back to the Sources, pp. 177-211
2. Selection from Genesis Rabbah, to be distributed
October 13 Text Workshop: Talmud
Readings:
1. “Talmud, in Back to the Sources, pp. 129-175
2. Selection from Talmud, to be distributed
October 16 Rabbinic Concepts: God and Creation
Readings: Satlow, “Rabbinic Concepts” (chapter 5)
October 18 Rabbinic Concepts: Torah and Revelation
Reading: Selection of sources, to be distributed
October 20 Rabbinic Concepts: Israel and Redemption
Reading: Selection of sources, to be distributed
October 23 Mitzvot: Overview and Kashrut
Reading: Satlow, “Mitzvot” (chapter 6)
Powerpoint Presentation
October 25 Mitzvot: Sacred Time and Prayer
Readings:
1. Heschel, The Sabbath
2. Groups
A: Sabbath: Mishnah, Shabbat 7
B: Passover: Mishnah, Pesahim 10
C: Tabernacles: J. Rubenstein, “The Symbolism of the Sukkah” (parts 1 and 2), Judaism 43:
4 (1994), pp. 371-87, and 45: 2 (1996), pp. 387-98 (available online)
D: High Holy Days: Mishnah Rosh HaShanah 1; Mishnah Yoma
October 27 Mitzvot: Lifecycle
Readings: Groups
A: Circumcision: S. Cohen, Why Aren’t Jewish Women Circumcised, pp. 3-54
B: Marriage: M. Satlow, Jewish Marriage in Antiquity, pp. 4-41
C: Family Purity: C. Fonrobert, Menstrual Purity, pp. 15-67
D: Death: Ivan Marcus, The Jewish Life Cycle, pp. 193-248, 292-300
Powerpoint Presentation
October 30 Geonim
Reading: Satlow, “The Rise of Reason” (chapter 7)
November 1 The Origins of Jewish Philosophy
Reading: Selections from Saadya Gaon, in Three Jewish Philosophers, pp. 25-47, 93-105, 167-79
November 3 Siddur (Prayer-Book)
Readings:
1. Mintz, “Prayer and the Prayerbook,” in Back to the Sources, pp. 403-29
2. J. Tabory, "The Prayerbook as an Anthology of Judaism" Prooftexts, 17 (1997), pp. 115-132
Powerpoint Presentation
November 6 Maimonides
Reading: Satlow, “From Moses to Moses” (chapter 8)
Powerpoint Presentation
November 8 Maimonides and Halakhah
Reading, Twersky, A Maimonides Reader, pp. 213-248, 310-335
November 10 Text Workshop: Mishneh Torah
Reading: Twersky, A Maimonides Reader, pp. 35-85, 101-19
November 13 Kabbalah: Overview
Reading: Green, A Guide to the Zohar
November 15 Kabbalah: Basic Ideas
Reading: Gershom Scholem, Major Trends in Jewish Mysticism (reissue, 1995), pp. 1-39
November 17 Text Workshop: Zohar
Reading: Selection from the Zohar, to be distributed
November 20, 22, 24 Cancelled
November 27 The Dawn of Modernity
Reading: Satlow, “”East and West” (chapter 10)
Powerpoint Presentation
November 29 A Religion of Reason?
Reading: Selections from Moses Mendelssohn, Jerusalem, printed in Jewish Philosophy Reader, ed. D.
Frank, O. Leaman, C. Manekin (2000), pp. 340-61.
December 1 Geiger v. Hirsch v. Frankel v. Sofer: A Debate
Readings:
1. Michael Meyer, Response to Modernity (1988), pp. 62-99
2. Groups
A. Geiger, Judaism and Its History, in Jewish Philosophy Reader, pp. 398-400; Holdheim, “This is
our Task,” ibid., pp. 404-6
B. Hirsch, “Religion Allied to Progress,” in Jewish Philosophy Reader, pp. 391-96
C. Frankel, “On Changes in Judaism,” in The Jew in the Modern World, ed. P. Mendes-Flohr and
J. Reinharz (1980), pp. 173-76
D. “These are the Words of the Covenant,” and M. Sofer, “A Reply Concerning the Meaning of
Reform,” in ibid., pp. 150-56
December 4 Group Presentations
December 6 Group Presentations and Conclusions
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Introduction to Judaism: Undergraduate Syllabus |
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