and
Religious Studies 5938
Jacob Neusner
Department of Religious Studies
Tues 2-4:50 p.m. Office: CPR 315
CPR 127 Phone: 2221
Office Hours: Tues. 11-12 A.M.
And the First Friday of Each Month, 1-2 p.m.
And any time, by appointment, at USF/St. Pete Campus (Davis 134)
The purpose of this course is to illustrate, through the study of the history of Judaism, the problem of describing, analyzing, and interpreting a religion. What is introduced is the method of the study of religion by treating a given religion, in this case, Judaism, as exemplary of the phenomenon of religion in politics, society, and culture. The thesis of the course is that religion is an independent variable, a means of explaining what people do together in politics, society, and culture — and not merely something thta is private and personal. Through religion people solve problems that they share, and when we understand the urgent questions addressed by a social group, we also can make sense of the (to them, self-evidently valid) answers that they propose.
Class Assignments
1. After the first session, all reading must be done in advance of the class meeting; lectures will take for granted the contents of the reading.
2. A term paper that sets forth and argues a single proposition, or answers a question, showing how you can clearly and accurately express your idea(s) in a cogent way, selecting relevant evidence, putting forth persuasive arguments, making a case. The paper should be no more than six pages long. It should follow an outline that is readily apparent to the reader. Notes and bibliography should be kept to a minimum, and the paper should not be padded with quotations; the professor in this course is not to be quoted in your paper. You are advised to consult the instructor well in advance of writing the paper, at a regular office hour, on your proposed paper. The purpose of this assignment is to help you learn how to present your ideas cogently and in an economical manner.
Due: Tuesday, April 2. Will be returned: Tuesday, April 9.
3. A final, according to exam schedule, which will focus on the reading of the course and consist of brief answers to identification-questions. The review-reading, Torah through the Ages, will contain most of the information covered in the identification questions.
Grade
The grade will be based on the written work, 50% on the propositional paper, 50% on the final.
Religious Studies 5938
Judaism in the History of Religions
Graduate students enrolled in this course will attend all sessions listed below and do all reading. In addition, they will meet from 5 p.m. as required, for additional discussion, with attention to both the what and the how of the teaching of the course. In addition to the propositional paper, they will undertake a research paper on a topic of their choosing within the program of the course, involving additional reading and attention to research problems and techniques. This will be under the close supervision of the instructor. Graduate students’ grades will be based on the two papers. The second paper is due Tuesday, April 9.
The Reading
Books for this course will be on reserve in the library, so it is not necessary to buy any of them, although all of them will be read in toto. The first three are anthologies, edited by the instructor for giving this course, and the opinions and presentations of many different scholars are included in them. Nos. 5 and 6 are introductions to the classic literature, with extensive translations of primary sources. Nos. 4 and 7 represent the instructor’s theory of the history of Judaism; they are the only readings particular to him.
1. Neusner, ed., Life of Torah (Wadsworth Publishing Co, 1976)
2. Neusner, ed., Understanding Rabbinic Judaism (Ktav Publishing House, 1974)
3. Neusner, ed., Understanding American Judaism I. The Rabbi and the Synagogue. (Ktav Publishing House, 1975)
4. Neusner, The Way of Torah. An Introduction to Judaism. Fourth Edition. (Wadsworth Publishing Co, 1988)
5. Neusner, Invitation to the Talmud. Second Edition, expanded and revised. (Harper & Row, 1984)
6. Neusner, Invitation to Midrash (Harper & Row, 1989)
7. Neusner, Torah through the Ages. A Short History of Judaism (Trinity Press International, 1989)
The Program of the Course
Introduction
I.
Tuesday, January 8, 1991
1. Studying religion by treating a religion as exemplary.
2. The case of Judaism.
3, Overview of the History of Judaism
3. The two things everyone knows about Judaism — both of them errors:
a. Judaism is the same thing as "the religion of the Old Testament"
b. Judaism is the same thing as the Jews’ history and culture.
4. When Judaism begins, and why that is the starting point.
5. The urgent question, the self-evidently valid answer.
Part One
The History of Judaism
II.
Tuesday, January 15, 1991
1. Before the beginning of Judaism: ancient Israel before 586: other questions, other answer.
2. The beginning of Judaism: 586 B.C. - A.D. 70
Reading:
The Book of Leviticus (any translation is acceptable)
The Book of Ezra
The Book of Nehemiah
J. Neusner, The Way of Torah. An Introduction to Judaism. Fourth Edition, pp. 1-22
III.
Tuesday, January 22, 1991
1. Judaism before A.D. 70
2. The beginning of Rabbinic Judaism: Judaism without Christianity (70-312)
3. The Mishnah
4. The earlier Midrash-compilations
Reading:
J. Neusner, Invitation to the Talmud pp. 28-69
J. Neusner, Invitation to Midrash, pp. 21-56
IV.
Tuesday, January 29, 1991
1. The Judaism of the dual Torah: Judaism despite Christianity (312-640)
2. The Talmud of the Land of Israel
3. The Talmud of Babylonia
4. The later Midrash-compilations
Reading:
J. Neusner, Invitation to the Talmud, pp. 96-115, 167-200
J. Neusner, Invitation to Midrash, pp. 99-163
V.
Tuesday, February 5, 1991
1. The Way of Life and world view of Rabbinic Judaism/the Judaism of the Dual Torah
Reading:
J. Neusner, Invitation to Midrash, pp. 235-276
J. Neusner, ed., Life of Torah, pp. 25-62
J. Neusner, Way of Torah, pp. 41-87
VI.
Tuesday, February 12, 1991
1. The Domination of Rabbinic Judaism/the Judaism of the Dual Torah (640-1789)
2. Rabbinic Judaism as a System
3. Amplification of the System: Philosophy
4. Amplification of the System: Mysticism
Reading:
J. Neusner, ed., Understanding Rabbinic Judaism, pp. 29-36, 39-53, 101-116, 185-212, 277-300
J. Neusner, The Way of Torah. An Introduction to Judaism. Fourth Edition, pp. 86-113
VII.
Tuesday, February 19, 1991
1. The Age of Competing Judaisms (1800-the present)
2. Reform Judaism
Reading:
J. Neusner, ed., Life of Torah, pp. 172--178
J. Neusner, Way of Torah, pp. 113-131
J. Neusner, ed., Understanding Rabbinic Judaism, pp. 337-352
VIII.
Tuesday, February 26, 1991
1. Judaisms in the 19th century
4. The advent of a new form of "study of the Torah"
Reading:
J. Neusner, ed., Life of Torah, pp. 156-166, 179-204
J. Neusner, Way of Torah, pp. 136-144
IX.
Tuesday, March 5, 1991
1. Judaisms in the 20th century
2. Zionism
3. Jewish Socialism-Yiddishism
4. Orthodoxy
Reading:
J. Neusner, ed., Life of Torah, pp. 205-234
J. Neusner, Way of Torah, pp. 132-135
J. Neusner, ed., Understanding Rabbinic Judaism, pp. 353-382
Part Two
Contemporary Judaism in the USA
Introducing a Judaism in its own terms
X.
Tuesday, March 12, 1991
1. American Jews and Judaism
Reading:
J. Neusner, ed. Understanding American Judaism. I. The Rabbi and the Synagogue, pp. 3-66, 115-130, 165-216
Tuesday, March 19, 1991: Spring Semester Break
XI.
Tuesday, March 26, 1991
1. Judaism in America: The rabbi and the synagogue
Reading:
J. Neusner, ed. Understanding American Judaism. I. The Rabbi and the Synagogue, pp. 131-164, 219-268
XII.
Tuesday, April 2, 1991
1. The enchantments of Judaism for (some) Jewish Americans
2. The human meaning of the faith: from this worldly human situation to transformation, from words to worlds
3. Thanksgiving and prayer
4. Passover Seder vs. Sabbaths and (other) Festivals
5. The Days of Awe vs. Sabbaths and Festivals
Reading:
J. Neusner, ed., Life of Torah, pp. 81-154
XIII.
Tuesday, April 9, 1991
1. What we have not learned: the unsolved problem of the course — and of the study of religion. Finding language of thought to hold together differentiation and analysis, integration and synthesis
Reading:
J. Neusner, ed., Life of Torah, pp. 1-16
J. Neusner, ed., Way of Torah, pp. 23-40, 145-156
J. Neusner, Invitation to Midrash, pp. 263-280.
J. Neusner, Invitation to the Talmud, pp. 271-296
XIV.
Tuesday, April 16, 1991:
No Class, Reading assignment only.
1. Judaism and its history seen whole
Reading:
Neusner, Torah through the Ages. A Short History of Judaism, pp. 1-174.