There are many different avenues into the complexity of a religious tradition: its major languages and texts, its histories, its movements, schisms, and debates with other traditions, its theologies and philosophies, its practices, laws, rituals. This course is an introduction to Judaism through its complex of practices, laws, rituals-its liturgy. By exploring the festivals and observances that comprise a single Jewish year, we will, on the one hand, be delving into the more experiential dimensions of the tradition, pursuing its conceptions of time, the body, food, suffering, love. On the other hand, we will also be attentive to the other avenues of analysis since each festival and observance is conditioned by its textual sources and commentaries, its changes throughout history, its contesting voices, and the theologies and philosophies to which it has given rise. Emphasis will be placed on gaining a sense of Judaism as it is and has been lived. At the same time, we will also critically assess the utility and the limits of the two major rubrics in the course, namely Judaism (understood as a coherent tradition) and ritual (understood as an organizing concept that all traditions share). Format: lecture/discussion. Requirements: attendance and active participation, one class presentation; four short (2-3 page) papers, take-home final exam. Open to all classes without prerequisite. Enrollment limit: 30 (expected: 20).