FWS: Rabbinic Judaism: Literature and Beliefs

Catalog description

This course is an introduction to the earliest Jewish interpreters of the Bible. What did these interpreters of the Bible believe, and how did they interpret the Bible? And what do their writings teach us about the relationship between Jews, Christians, and other religions of the time? In this class, students read a variety of texts from the corpus of rabbinic literature—including stories about demons and angels; adultery and prostitution; the death penalty; redemption and the afterlife; covenant and exile; among other key themes. Readings focus on primary sources in translation and some introductory-level essays. Through close readings of texts, students learn the basics of argumentative writing in five essays, including: crafting an introduction; locating a problem; supporting a thesis; and writing effective conclusions.