Judaic Studies Curriculum

Major

1. Required courses: HEBR 111, 112, to be begun no later than the sophomore year (or other language if suitable; consult the coordinator)
RELG 103: Hebrew Scriptures in Context
JDST 104: Introduction to Judaism
JDST 219: History of the Jews
2. One course that views religion from a comparative or methodological perspective, e.g., RELG 111 or 390 or ANTH 233, taken in or before the junior year. (Courses from American Studies or Sociology might also be used to fulfill this requirement, with consent of the professor and the Judaic Studies coordinator.)
3. Three coordinated and complementary electives. To obtain Judaic Studies major credit in these courses, students are required: (1) to keep a journal or portfolio, as appropriate, of course materials having a Judaic Studies focus, and (2) to do a special project, with a Judaic Studies focus. The latter may serve as the regular term paper in that course, if permitted by the instructor. Judaic Studies work will be reviewed at least twice during the term by appropriate members of the Judaic Studies Steering Committee.
Examples include:
Classical Studies. 251: Greek History; 253: Roman History
English. 364: Studies in Fiction and Modern Poetry; 383: Contemporary American Fiction
Art & Art History. 203: Medieval Art
German. 241: German Cultural History II
History. 105: Medieval Europe; 117: American History I; 118: American History II; 121: History of the Middle East I; 122: History of the Middle East II; 230: Modern Germany; 313: Deviance in Modern Europe; 371: Arab-Israeli Conflict;
Judaic Studies. 206: Jews & Judaism in the United States; 219: History of the Jews; 241: Judaism in the Hellenistic Period
Philosophy. 382: Theories of Knowledge
Political Science. 280: American Foreign Policy since 1945
Religion. 207: Holocaust & the Future of Religion; 211: Religion and Fantasy; 241: American Jewish Fiction; 316: Modern Jewish Thought
4. JDST 490

Minor

1. One year (two courses) of Hebrew or other language if appropriate
2. RELG 103
3. JDST 104
4. Two electives (JDST 219 is recommended).

NOTE: See coordinator for further courses acceptable toward the major.

Suggested Four Year Program

First Year: HEBR 103, 104; RELG 103
Second Year: HEBR 116,231; JDST 219; RELG 104
Third Year: PHIL 261; JDST 260; RELG 260
Fourth Year: RELG/JDST 316, Women and Gender in Modern Judaism; RELG 241, American Jewish Fiction or RELG 206

NOTE: Numerous variations are possible; see the coordinator for further courses acceptable toward the major.

Independent Study

Examples of recent Independent Studies are: Maimonides' Medical Ethics, Jews of India, The Ordination of Gay and Lesbian Rabbis in the U.S., Women and Midrash. Contact Prof. Lieber for more information. Independent studies may be approved to substitute for certain requirements for the major.

Honors in the Major

Honors may be granted in Judaic Studies for a two-semester project that results in a well-researched, sophisticated, finely crafted theses within the range of 60 to 100 pages. Students will work closely with one advisor but will receive guidance and resources from other members of the department. Only the best projects will be granted Honors, but any student who completes the project will receive credit for the two semesters of work.

Opportunities for Off-Campus Study

As of 2004, Dickinson Programs in Israel have been indefinitely suspended due to an ongoing U.S. State Department travel warning. However, there are other opportunities for Judaic Studies majors to pursue off-campus study. In a unique partnership with the Jewish Theological Seminary of America, Dickinson students can spend the spring semester of their Junior year in New York City at List College, the Undergraduate College at JTSA. Please see the program coordinator for details and other study abroad options.

Courses

• 104 Introduction to Judaism
  See course description with RELG 104 listing.
  

• 105 Judaism in the Time of Jesus
  See course description with RELG 105 listing.
  

• 206 Jews and Judaism in the United States
  See course description with RELG 206 listing.
  

• 215 Jewish Environmental Ethics
  Since the 1960's many writers on environmental issues have blamed our contemporary environmental crises in part on a so-called "Judeo-Christian" worldview, rooted in the Hebrew Bible. Such writers assert that the biblical heritage shared by these two religious traditions advocates an unhealthy relationship between humanity and nature, one in which human beings are destined to conquer the earth and master it. In this course we will explore Jewish perspectives on nature and the natural world through close readings of biblical and other classical Jewish texts. Emphasizing the way "land" figures as an important theme in classical Jewish theology, history and ritual practice, we will also examine the ways in which this motif is re-conceptualized in modern secular contexts (i.e., Zionism and the kibbutz movement). We will conclude by studying contemporary varieties of Jewish environmental advocacy. In addition to texts focused specifically on Judeo-Christian traditions, the syllabus will include other classic works of Environmental ethics foundational to the field of Environmental studies.
  Offered every three years in rotation with the offering of ENST 111. This course is cross-listed as RELG 215 and ENST 215.

• 216 Topics in Judaic Studies
  Selected topics in Judaic Studies. Topics offered will vary from year to year, reflecting the interests of faculty and students as well as evolving concerns of the field. Examples of topics offered: American Jewish Fiction; Modern Jewish Thought; Jews in Film and Pop Culture; Women, Gender and Judaism.
  Prerequisite dependent upon topic.

• 219 History of the Jews
  See course description with RELG 219 listing.
  

• 240 Women in Judaism
  Half of any people's history is lived by its women, but their part in the history is often overlooked or minimized by (male) historians. From the Matriarchs to Golda Meir, this course examines the roles and contributions of noteworthy as well as ordinary women in Jewish society throughout 3500 years of history.
  

• 241 Judaism in the Hellenistic Period
  Greek culture posed the most potent challenge to the survival of Jewish culture from Alexander's time to ours. This course examines how Judaism coped with an essentially friendly, multicultural society into which it was involuntarily thrust. Covers the period 333 b.c.e. to 313 c.e.
  

• 316 Topics in Judaic Studies
  See course description with RELG 316 listing.
  Prerequisite dependent upon topic.

• 490 Senior Thesis
  An independent project supervised by the Judaic Studies coordinator and an adviser from the appropriate department. The product of this course will be a written term paper that is also defended orally before a panel of three professors.
  Open to senior Judaic Studies majors only.

Hebrew

• *101, 102 First-Year Biblical Hebrew
  Fundamentals of Hebrew morphology and grammar. Second term includes readings from Biblical narrative texts.
  

• *103, 104 Elementary Modern Hebrew
  Introduction to the modern Hebrew language. Alphabet, phonics and grammatical structures. Emphasizes development of reading comprehension, composition and conversational skills.
  

• *111, 112 Intermediate Hebrew
  Review of grammar, rapid reading of selected texts; Book of Amos in the second semester.
  Prerequisite: 102 or the equivalent.

• 116 Intermediate Modern Hebrew
  Formal study of Hebrew language with emphasis on oral practice and writing skills.
  Prerequisite: 104 or the equivalent.

• 200 Advanced Modern Hebrew
  Expansion of language proficiency through intensified study of cultural and literary texts, including poetry, prose, essays, newspapers, films, and songs. Extensive discussion of issues related to contemporary Israel. Emphasis on the development of reading, writing and conversation skills.
  Prerequisite: 116 or the equivalent.

• 231 Hebrew Conversation and Composition
  Advanced practice in conversation, reading and writing. Careful attention to grammar and style.
  Prerequisite: 116.

• 232 Topics in Hebrew Literature
  Thematic study of Hebrew literature, with an emphasis on close reading, comprehension and interpretation.
  Prerequisite: 116.

• 331 Topics in Hebrew Literature and Israeli Culture
  Intensive study of a particular author, genre, or period. Introduction to the use of critical theory in literary analysis.
  Prerequisite: 231.