This course helps you learn the art of reading ancient sacred texts, and the texts we read revolve around the themes of oppression, liberation, and revelation. We begin with a familiar story: the enslavement of the Israelites in Egypt, their miraculous escape, and the awesome experiences at Mount Sinai. The course follows the appearance of these themes in Jewish texts dated from the 500s BCE until the Middle Ages. We will examine include narrative (story), law, Biblical commentary, philosophy, and mysticism.

The course reading starts with a Bible of your own choosing. One of our guide books is Back to the Sources: Reading the Classic Jewish Texts, a collection of essays introducing the principal types of literature we are examining. The course reading includes the non-Biblical texts that we are studying, plus background reading. This is a discussion and writing course.

EVALUATION Classroom participation is worth 20% of your grade. Regular short writing assignments account for 55% of your grade. (Lowest assignment dropped). One take home exam accounts for 25% of your grade. Near-perfect attendance is required for adequate learning. After three absences, your course grade will be lowered 2% for each day’s absence.

WRITTEN WORK    The regular writing assignments consist of worksheets (short answers to short questions) and notes on the reading (some of these may be short answers to specific questions).  The take home exam consists of your own explanation and analysis of some of the primary texts and one of the themes we have studied together in class.  There is no final.

Barry W. Holtz, ed., Back to the Sources: Reading the Classic Jewish Texts (CSUN Bookstore)

A Bible of your choosing

RS 375 Reader of primary sources and background reading, available at Northridge Stationery & Copy Center, 9130 Reseda Blvd. (in the shopping center at Reseda and Nordhoff)

1) August 24 and 26 Introduction to the course.

READING FOR THURSDAY: Bring Bible to class, and read Exodus 1-4. RS 375 Reader: Seltzer, 41-46 on the authorship of the Pentateuch and for a synopsis of the books of the Hebrew Bible.

2) August 31 Slavery in Egypt, liberation from Egypt, and revelation.

READING for August 31: Exodus 4-24. Bring Bible to class.

and September 2 The Bible’s second exodus story, and a new form of revelation: leaving Babylon and returning to Judea in the 6th century BCE, Judea under Ezra and Nehemiah.

READING for September 2: Ezra 1, 3, 9-10. Nehemiah 1, 2, 8-9. RS 375 Reader: Seltzer 128-131. Bring Bible to class.

3) September 7 Continue topic from September 2 Bring Bible to class.

and September 9 The Maccabean Revolt against Greek oppression. Bring Reader to class.

READING for September 9: RS 375 Course Reader: 1 Maccabees 1-4 and 2 Maccabees 3-6, and chapter 10; Seltzer, 155-158, 171-177.

4) September 14 Maccabees, continued. Bring Reader to class.

5) September 21 How to find liberation under the Romans?

READING: RS 375 Reader: Josephus, The Jewish War (selection); Seltzer, 183-194, 213-224.

and 23 Revelation for the rabbis of Palestine, as preserved in the Mishnah

READING: RS 375 Reader: Mishna Avot (Pirkei Avot), Chapters 1-3. Back to the Sources, pp. 129-131, bottom. Bring Reader to class.

6) September 28 Contrast and compare rabbinic Judaism and early Christianity.

READING: RS 375 Reader: the Shema prayer; Seltzer, 231-237. Bring Reader to class.

7) October 5 How did the rabbis of the Talmud know God’s will?

READING: RS 375 Reader: Seltzer, pp. 253_260. Back to the Sources – I suggest reading in the following sequence: pp. 135-144 (until the star), 155-158, 144-155 (skim), 170-172.

8) October 12 and 14 Continue previous week. Liberation for the rabbis of the Talmud.

READING: RS 375 Reader: Babylonian Talmud Baba Metzia 59b. Ketubot 110a – plus, look up the proof texts in the Bible, and bring your Bible and Reader to class.

9) October 19 and 21 Oppression and liberation in classical Midrash

READING: Back to the Sources, pp. 177-204. RS 375 Reader: Midrash Rabbah on Exodus, chapter 1. Look up quoted proof texts in your Bible and bring Bible and Reader to class.

10) October 26 and 28 Revelation in classical Midrash.

READING: RS 375 Reader: Midrash Rabbah on Exodus, chapters 19 and 20; read Seltzer, 281-309, for his summary of "rabbinic theology."  Look up quoted proof texts in your Bible and bring your Bible and Reader to class.

11) November 2 and 4 The emergence of Jewish philosophy, and the codification of Jewish law. Contrast and compare rabbinic Judaism and early Islam.

READING: Back to the Sources, 403-421 (on the prayer book). RS 375 Reader: The Shemoneh Esreh prayer; Seltzer, 325-337 (historical background). Bring Reader to class.

12) November 9 and 11 Early medieval Jewish philosophers reflect on revelation.

READING: RS 375 Reader: from the philosophical writings of Sa'adia Gaon and Judah ha-Levi; Seltzer, 373-392. Bring Reader to class.

13) November 16 and 18 Two more medieval Jewish philosophers reflect on revelation.

READING: RS 375 Reader: from the philosophical writings of Maimonides and Albo; Seltzer, 393-408. Bring Reader to class.

14) November 23 Medieval Jewish mystics on revelation.

READING: RS 375 Reader: Seltzer, pp. 342-348; two selections from The Zohar. Back to the Sources, 305-352. Bring Reader to class.

15) November 30 and December 2 Continue with medieval mysticism. Bring Reader to class.