Masterpieces of Medieval Hebrew Literature
Syllabus Fall 2019
| 211_-_2020_fall_syllabus.pdf |
HUNTER COLLEGE ‐ HEBR.211 - Class Schedule Fall 2020
1) Thursday, 08/27/2020 Introduction
2) Monday, 08/31/2020 Origins of Christian Antisemitism
3) Thursday, 09/03/2020 Byzantine Judaism before the Advent of Islam (330‐634)
(((Monday, 09/07/2020 NO CLASS: LABOR DAY)))
4) Thursday, 09/10/20209 Jews under Islam
5) Monday, 09/14/2020 Byzantine Judaism after the Advent of Islam
6) Thursday, 09/17/2020 Anan ben David (715‐795), Qara’ites
7) Monday, 09/21/2020 Saadia Ga’on (882‐942)
Wednesday, 09/23/2020 ‐‐ FIRST EXCERPT DUE ‐‐
8) Thursday, 09/24/2020 The Golden Age: Ḥasdái ibn Shaprūt (910‐970)
(((Monday, 09/28/2020 NO CLASS: YOM KIPPUR / DAY OF ATONEMENT)))
9) Tuesday, 09/29/2020 The Golden Age: Andalusian Poetry
10) Thursday, 10/01/2020 The Golden Age: Ibn Gabirol (1021‐1071)
11) Monday, 10/05/2020 Christian‐Jewish Polemics
12) Thursday, 10/08/2020 The Crusades and Ma’oz Tzur
Thursday, 10/08/2020 ‐‐ SECOND EXCERPT DUE ‐‐
(((Monday, 10/12/2020 NO CLASS: INDIGENOUS PEOPLE’S DAY)))
13) Wednesday, 10/14/2020 Rashi (1040‐1105)
14) Thursday, 10/15/2020 Tosafot (ca. 1100 - ca. 1600)
15) Monday, 10/19/2020 Ḥasidé Ashkenaz (ca. 1170-1238)
16) Thursday, 10/22/2020 Yehuda haLevi (1075‐1141)
Sunday, 10/25/2020 ‐‐ BOOK EXAM ‐‐
17) Monday, 10/26/2020 Abraham ibn Ezra (c. 1090 - c. 1165)
18) Thursday, 10/29/2020 Ritual Murder and Blood Libel (1st incident 1144)
Sunday, 11/01/2020 ‐‐ TAKE HOME MIDTERM EXAM ‐‐
19) Monday, 11/02/2020 Toledot Yeshu
20) Thursday, 11/05/2020 Moses Maimonides, the Philosopher (1135‐1204)
21) Monday, 11/09/2020 Moses Maimonides, the Rabbi
22) Thursday, 11/12/2020 Abraham Maimonides (1186‐1237)
23) Monday, 11/16/2020 The Maimonidean Controversy
24) Thursday, 11/19/2020 Host Desecration Libel (1st incident 1247)
25) Monday, 11/23/2020 Qabbala, Zohar, Moses de Leon (1240‐1305)
(((Thursday, 11/26/2020 NO CLASS: THANKSGIVING)))
Sunday, 11/29/2020 ‐‐ ESSAY DUE ‐‐
26) Monday, 11/30/2020 The Barcelona Disputation (1263)
27) Thursday, 12/03/2020 The New Sephardi Identity
28) Thursday, 12/07/2020 David Reubeni (1490‐1541), Shelomo Molkho (1500‐’32)
Monday, 12/14/2020 -- FINALS --
2) Monday, 08/31/2020 Origins of Christian Antisemitism
3) Thursday, 09/03/2020 Byzantine Judaism before the Advent of Islam (330‐634)
(((Monday, 09/07/2020 NO CLASS: LABOR DAY)))
4) Thursday, 09/10/20209 Jews under Islam
5) Monday, 09/14/2020 Byzantine Judaism after the Advent of Islam
6) Thursday, 09/17/2020 Anan ben David (715‐795), Qara’ites
7) Monday, 09/21/2020 Saadia Ga’on (882‐942)
Wednesday, 09/23/2020 ‐‐ FIRST EXCERPT DUE ‐‐
8) Thursday, 09/24/2020 The Golden Age: Ḥasdái ibn Shaprūt (910‐970)
(((Monday, 09/28/2020 NO CLASS: YOM KIPPUR / DAY OF ATONEMENT)))
9) Tuesday, 09/29/2020 The Golden Age: Andalusian Poetry
10) Thursday, 10/01/2020 The Golden Age: Ibn Gabirol (1021‐1071)
11) Monday, 10/05/2020 Christian‐Jewish Polemics
12) Thursday, 10/08/2020 The Crusades and Ma’oz Tzur
Thursday, 10/08/2020 ‐‐ SECOND EXCERPT DUE ‐‐
(((Monday, 10/12/2020 NO CLASS: INDIGENOUS PEOPLE’S DAY)))
13) Wednesday, 10/14/2020 Rashi (1040‐1105)
14) Thursday, 10/15/2020 Tosafot (ca. 1100 - ca. 1600)
15) Monday, 10/19/2020 Ḥasidé Ashkenaz (ca. 1170-1238)
16) Thursday, 10/22/2020 Yehuda haLevi (1075‐1141)
Sunday, 10/25/2020 ‐‐ BOOK EXAM ‐‐
17) Monday, 10/26/2020 Abraham ibn Ezra (c. 1090 - c. 1165)
18) Thursday, 10/29/2020 Ritual Murder and Blood Libel (1st incident 1144)
Sunday, 11/01/2020 ‐‐ TAKE HOME MIDTERM EXAM ‐‐
19) Monday, 11/02/2020 Toledot Yeshu
20) Thursday, 11/05/2020 Moses Maimonides, the Philosopher (1135‐1204)
21) Monday, 11/09/2020 Moses Maimonides, the Rabbi
22) Thursday, 11/12/2020 Abraham Maimonides (1186‐1237)
23) Monday, 11/16/2020 The Maimonidean Controversy
24) Thursday, 11/19/2020 Host Desecration Libel (1st incident 1247)
25) Monday, 11/23/2020 Qabbala, Zohar, Moses de Leon (1240‐1305)
(((Thursday, 11/26/2020 NO CLASS: THANKSGIVING)))
Sunday, 11/29/2020 ‐‐ ESSAY DUE ‐‐
26) Monday, 11/30/2020 The Barcelona Disputation (1263)
27) Thursday, 12/03/2020 The New Sephardi Identity
28) Thursday, 12/07/2020 David Reubeni (1490‐1541), Shelomo Molkho (1500‐’32)
Monday, 12/14/2020 -- FINALS --
Hunter College
Department of Classical and Oriental Studies
Division of Hebrew and Hebraic Studies
Hebrew 211 Masterpieces of Medieval Hebrew Literature Fall 2020
Mondays and Thursdays 9:45 - 11:00 AM
Professor Sjimon den Hollander
Office Hours: By Appointment
PH: (917) 805-6234
Email: Sjimon@FlatironRE.com
Website: www.SjimonDenHollander.com
Course Description
This course will present a survey of Hebrew writings from the Middle Ages. It will address the different genres of Jewish literature and their historical contexts, both from Jewish communities in Islamic lands as well as from those in Christian domains.
Course Objectives
Class Attendance Policy
Normal class attendance policies are suspended in light of the pandemic. You are encouraged to log in during the sessions and participate in the class with questions and discussions. If you are unable to participate live, you will be required to watch the – recorded – class later.
Code of Courtesy
Sign in on time. Give the professor your full attention. Have paper and a pen or a pencil ready. Remain logged in until the class ends. Never hesitate to ask a question, express a doubt, or request clarification.
Assigned Texts:
Further Expectations
ASSIGNMENTS AND PERCENTAGES OF TOTAL GRADE:
Midterm Exam (25%) The exam will be a take-home exam and will cover material from the provided sources as well as from the lectures, covering through session 13 on Abraham Maimonides.
Final Exam (25%) The final exam will cover material from the second half of the course.
Written Assignment (15%) You are to write a clear excerpt of two assigned paragraphs from: Robert Chazan, The Jews of Medieval Western Christendom: 1000-1500 (provided on Blackboard in PDF). As this text is somewhat dense at times, you will be required to understand the text well, research anything that is unclear, and explain/rewrite the paragraphs so that anyone can understand it. This will be part of a joint project in which each student will be assigned a section of the book. Be concise with your words but cover the main contents as fully as possible.
Essay (20%) You are to write an essay on a topic of choice from the course, using information given in the class and in the provided sources related to that topic.
This paper counts for 20% of your final grade. Your paper should be between three and four pages in length (double spaced). The paper should be related to one of the discussed topics.
Both paper and assignment must be sent in Word or PDF to my email address: sjimon@flatironre.com before the end of the day on which the assignment is due.
Book Exam (15%) This exam will be on assigned chapters of Robert Chazan, The Jews of Medieval Western Christendom: 1000-1500. Further details will be discussed in class.
Opportunities for Students:
Students of Jewish Studies at Hunter College have various opportunities to receive scholarships and merit-based awards to support their studies at Hunter, as well as in Israel.
In addition, the College offers financial award and recognition each year to students who have prepared exemplary essays or writing for a professor teaching courses in Hebrew, Hebraic or Jewish Studies. To see the application instructions, please choose this link: https://hunter.cuny.edu/artsci/jewish-studies-center/jewish-studies/scholarships-and-awards
Office Hours: By Appointment
PH: (917) 805-6234
Email: Sjimon@FlatironRE.com
Website: www.SjimonDenHollander.com
Course Description
This course will present a survey of Hebrew writings from the Middle Ages. It will address the different genres of Jewish literature and their historical contexts, both from Jewish communities in Islamic lands as well as from those in Christian domains.
Course Objectives
- Students will gain a familiarity with the different literary genres of Jewish writings from the Middle Ages.
- Students will develop the skill of critical textual reading.
- Students will learn how historical context is important in understanding texts and writings.
- Students will develop the ability to compare texts from different periods and learn to identify common themes and types of writing.
Class Attendance Policy
Normal class attendance policies are suspended in light of the pandemic. You are encouraged to log in during the sessions and participate in the class with questions and discussions. If you are unable to participate live, you will be required to watch the – recorded – class later.
Code of Courtesy
Sign in on time. Give the professor your full attention. Have paper and a pen or a pencil ready. Remain logged in until the class ends. Never hesitate to ask a question, express a doubt, or request clarification.
Assigned Texts:
- Robert Chazan, The Jews of Medieval Western Christendom: 1000-1500. Cambridge University Press, 2006 (will be provided!)
- Blackboard Site
Further Expectations
- Students are expected to attend all lectures on time, participate actively and to refrain from talking, passing notes or text messaging while class is in session.
- Readings are to be completed before class on the day for which they are assigned.
- The CUNY Policy on Academic Integrity will be strictly enforced. Any violation of these regulations, including acts of plagiarism or cheating will be dealt with on an individual basis according to the severity of the misconduct.
- Finally, it is your responsibility to be alert and pay attention to announcements in this class.
The syllabus, the sequence of lectures and the nature of the assigned work are all subject to change.
ASSIGNMENTS AND PERCENTAGES OF TOTAL GRADE:
Midterm Exam (25%) The exam will be a take-home exam and will cover material from the provided sources as well as from the lectures, covering through session 13 on Abraham Maimonides.
Final Exam (25%) The final exam will cover material from the second half of the course.
Written Assignment (15%) You are to write a clear excerpt of two assigned paragraphs from: Robert Chazan, The Jews of Medieval Western Christendom: 1000-1500 (provided on Blackboard in PDF). As this text is somewhat dense at times, you will be required to understand the text well, research anything that is unclear, and explain/rewrite the paragraphs so that anyone can understand it. This will be part of a joint project in which each student will be assigned a section of the book. Be concise with your words but cover the main contents as fully as possible.
Essay (20%) You are to write an essay on a topic of choice from the course, using information given in the class and in the provided sources related to that topic.
This paper counts for 20% of your final grade. Your paper should be between three and four pages in length (double spaced). The paper should be related to one of the discussed topics.
Both paper and assignment must be sent in Word or PDF to my email address: sjimon@flatironre.com before the end of the day on which the assignment is due.
Book Exam (15%) This exam will be on assigned chapters of Robert Chazan, The Jews of Medieval Western Christendom: 1000-1500. Further details will be discussed in class.
Opportunities for Students:
Students of Jewish Studies at Hunter College have various opportunities to receive scholarships and merit-based awards to support their studies at Hunter, as well as in Israel.
In addition, the College offers financial award and recognition each year to students who have prepared exemplary essays or writing for a professor teaching courses in Hebrew, Hebraic or Jewish Studies. To see the application instructions, please choose this link: https://hunter.cuny.edu/artsci/jewish-studies-center/jewish-studies/scholarships-and-awards