Assignment Schedule

Syllabus: Introduction to Judaism

Required Texts

Course Description

  The course will focus on the nature and significance of Jewish rituals and liturgy, with special attention to the Passover seder; the use of midrash by the early rabbis; the role of mysticism and messianism in Judaism; the significance of the Sabbatian movement; Hasidism; and Heschel's neo-Hasidic interpretation of Judaism.

Students will be expected to take advantage of the resources provided to them for this course that are available on the campus computing network. This will require that students have an "Easy Access" account if they do not already have one. Students will join the "virtual classroom" discussion list (see below, Section 4 for more information) and they will be required to use the resources provided on the "Home Page for Introduction to Judaism" (see below, Section 5 for further information). Neither of these activities demands more knowledge than that required for the use of electronic mail.