REL 203(S) Introduction to Judaism (Same as Classics 203)

A proselyte once asked both Rabbi Shammai and Rabbi Hillel to explain Judaism while standing on one foot. Shammai drove the person off with a stick while Hillel gently reduced Judaism to one principle. The difficulty of defining such a complex religious system explains Shammai's anger and renders Hillel's over-simplification suspect. This course seeks to provide a more sure-footed understanding of the Jewish religion. While recognizing the value of an essentialist approach, the course also conveys the multifaceted, indefinable character of Judaism. Therefore we will examine Judaism from four different yet complementary perspectives: historical, theological, textual, and phenomenological. The historical survey will demonstrate how the past experience of the Jewish people has had a profound effect on the development of Judaism. Under the rubric of Jewish theology, we will consider both the predominant beliefs of Judaism and the modern streams of Judaism (Reform, Conservative, Orthodox, Reconstructionist). Since much of Judaism is textually based, students will be introduced to books sacred to the Jewish people-Bible, Talmud, Midrash, commentaries, codes, and mystical literature. Such texts are significant not only because of their content, but also because of their distinctive modes of discourse. An examination of Jewish ritual and practice will provide the phenomenological perspective; by being interspersed throughout the course it will help to integrate our experience of Jewish history, theology, and text just as Jewish ritual itself incorporates these elements into Jewish life. Classes will combine lecture and discussion, and students will be required to engage in "fieldwork" involving the observation of communal as well as home ritual. This course normally does not count toward the major in Classics. Evaluation will be based on a midterm, final, a 5- to 10-page paper, and a write-up of fieldwork. Open to all classes without prerequisite.

Hour:  KRAUS