JDST 600:Biblical Literature and Civilization
(Graduate Only)
Dr. Barry M. Gittlen
Monday,
7:00-9:40pm
The major literary product of Israelite
civilization, the Bible is the primary vehicle for the understanding of this
civilization.Critical examination
of the Bible, its literature, and its cultural setting produces a more informed
knowledge of literary form, style and function in ancient Israel; an intelligent
understanding of Israel’s literature, history and civilization during the first
millennium B.C.E.; and insight into Israel’s religious ideas, institutions and
theology which are reflected in this great literature.
RLST 370/570:
Special Topicsin Religious Studies - Exploring
Exodus (Graduate and Undergraduate)
Dr. Barry M. Gittlen
Thursday,
3:30 – 6:10 pm
From murder to manna to Mt. Sinai, ancient
Israel’s national liberation saga, the Book of Exodus, reverberates within many
more recent liberation movements down to today.Through careful reading, students will gain new and deeper understanding
and appreciation of the literary, social, theological and historical aspects of
the narrative and its ancient context.
RLST
201: Introduction to the Hebrew Bible/ Old
Testament
Dr. Susanna Garfein
Tuesdays
and Thursdays, 12:30-1:45
The Hebrew Bible or Old Testament is arguably the
most read text in the history of civilization. It may also be the most misread.
This course introduces you to the Old Testament (or Tanakh as Jews refer to it)
and the culture that produced it. This course delivers a broad overview of the
history and literature of the Bible, surveying various biblical books and
offering not only a background to the biblical period but also to the structure
of biblical literature and its interpretation. (meets
Gen Ed II.C.1 requirement and Core Curriculum area 5)
Explores and develops the archaeological evidence
for Biblical Israel and instructs on how to understand the material remnants of
ancient life (belief and practice).
Jewish History
JDST 650: Special Topics in Jewish
Studies-Medieval Jewish History
Dr. Benjamin Fisher
Tuesday,
7:00-9:40 pm
This course provides an examination of the major
factors that shaped Jewish life in the medieval period. Topics covered include:
the relationship between the Jews and the Church and State; the economic role of
the Jews in medieval Europe; popular images of Jews; the autonomous Jewish
community and its functions; and the development of Rabbinic learning Europe.
survey in European Jewish History (undergraduate)
Dr. Benjamin Fisher
survey in European History
Dr. Benjamin Fisher
HIST 462/HIST 588 The Holocaust in Historical and
Comparative Perspective (Graduate and Undergraduate)
Dr. Valerie Thaler
Tuesday and Thursday, 11:00
am-12:15 pm This course will examine the Holocaust, beginning with a survey of the history
of anti-Semitism in Europe. We will examine political, cultural, social and
psychological factors which contributed to the rise of Nazi Germany, and the
genocide of European Jewry that took place between 1939 and 1945. Other topics
to be considered include the role of propaganda and authority in German society;
bystanders and rescuers, spiritual and physical resistance, and the Holocaust in
historical memory as well as contemporary representation. The Holocaust will
also be considered alongside other examples of genocide in the 20th century.
JDST 610:
Diaspora Jewish Communities
Dr. Valerie Thaler
Wednesday, 7:00 - 9:40 pm This course explores Jewish communities around the world, some large and
well-known, and others smaller and less well-understood. It examines the recent
history of each Jewish community, as well as contemporary issues and concerns.
Of critical importance is the way in which Jewish identity is defined
differently in each cultural context.
jewish Thought and
Mysticism
RLST 370/ JDST 570:Ethics and Mysticism in Judaism and
Islam: A Jewish-Sufi Dialogue
Dr. Shimon Shokek
Tuesday &
Thursday, 12:30-1:45 pm
This course examines selected classical works
that have shaped the foundations of ethics and mysticism in Judaism and Islam.
The course will explore the focal work of Jewish ethics, The Duties of the
Heart; the magnum opus of Jewish mysticism, The Zohar; the influential treatise
of Islamic Sufism, The Alchemy of Happiness; and the central composition of
Islamic mysticism, The Journey to the Lord of Power. The analysis will examine
similarities and differences between the ethical and mystical teachings of
Judaism and Islam. Among the topics to be included in the survey are the Unity
of God, Worship and Devotion, Religious Music and Ecstatic Dancing, Abstinence
and Trust in God, Love and Fear of God, Mystical Experience, Ethical Paths and
Religious Happiness.
RLST 357 /JDST557:Ethics and Religion in the
Jewish-Christian Tradition
Dr. Shimon Shokek
Monday &
Wednesday, 2:00-3:15 pm
This course examines classical texts that have
shaped the foundations of ethics in the Jewish-Christian tradition.The course will discuss major ethical
predicaments, such as the idea of the mean, human responsibility, human
suffering, happiness and wisdom, free will, repentance and forgiveness,
saintliness and humility, purity and holiness.The survey will include three parts: [1] ethics from classical sources of
Greek philosophy that inspired the Jewish-Christian tradition, [2[ethics from
classical sources of Judaism, and [3] ethics from classical sources of
Christianity.
RLST 206:History, Scriptures, Doctrines,
Practices and Interactions of the Three Monotheistic Religions: Judaism,
Christianity, and Islam
Dr. Shimon Shokek
Monday &
Wednesday, 3:30 - 4:45 pm
This course introduces major themes in the
history, scriptures, doctrines, and practices of the three monotheistic
religions: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. The course will explore the
theological and philosophical meanings of monotheism, religious authority,
worship and ritual, ethics, philosophy, and mysticism in the framework of these
three monotheistic religions. Special emphasis will be put on similarities and
differences that have shaped the identity of each of these three religions.
Rabbinic History and
Literature
RLST
310/510:The Jew Confronts the Modern World: Jewish
Law and Ethics
Dr. Barry Freundel
Thursday,
7:00 - 9:40 pm
This course applies the long tradition of Jewish
legal and ethical philosophical thinking to cutting edge issues. Students will
explore the basic structure and methodology of Jewish law and discuss how it
responds to the challenges of contemporary technology, society, family
structures, and interpersonal relationships. The course will address modern
topics such as choosing the gender of your child, the “Just War”, environmental
ethics, and sexual ethics. We will draw upon classic Jewish texts (in English
translation) as well as the work of contemporary Jewish thinkers from different
denominations.
RLST
210: Introduction to Judaism
Dr. Barry Freundel
Tuesday
and Thursday, 2:00 - 3:15 pm
Students will leave this course with a thorough
understanding of a unique and tenacious people. We begin by exploring Jewish
culture, ethnicity, nationality, religion, and values; move on to studying the
intellectual life of the Jew; and conclude with an exploration of the religion’s
rituals and symbols. Throughout the semester, we will focus on the dynamics of
Judaism as a religious "tradition," in which innovation and change emerges
through asserting continuity with the past.
TSEM.102.030: Towson Seminar -
The Object is the
Object
Dr. Barry Freundel
Thursday,
12:30 – 1:45 pm
This course will explore the importance of rituals and symbolic objects in general and for
Judaism specifically. Students will examine Jewish ritual objects such as the
shofar, mezuzah, tefillin, Seder
plate, and many others. Starting with the Biblical origins of these objects, and
moving through history to the present day, this class will trace the development
of these ritual objects and how they are currently understood and manufactured. Students will leave
this course with an understanding of the role that symbolic objects play in creating
continuity and in elevating the mundane to the sacred.
Hebrew Language and
Literature
HEB 103/JDST 544:Biblical Hebrew I[grad and undergrad)
Heath Dewrell
Tuesday
and Thursday, 3:30-4:45 (3 credits)
This course is an introduction to Hebrew with emphasis on
the grammar, vocabulary, syntax and style of Classical
Hebrew. This course teaches the fundamentals of Hebrew
language as well as prepares students to read and translate
classical Hebrew texts. This course serves as the foundation
for the students’ continued studies of the classical Hebrew
of the Hebrew Bible and rabbinic texts as well as the Hebrew
of the contemporary idiom. (Meets Core Area 5 requirement)
HEB 203/ JDST 545:Biblical Hebrew III (grad and
undergrad)
Dr. Susanna Garfein
Tuesday
and Thursday, 2:00-3:15 pm (3 credits)
This course is for students who have completed 6
credits of Classical Hebrew. Students will continue their study of classical
Hebrew texts with concentration on more complicated structures of Hebrew
grammar, morphology, syntax, and vocabulary.
Prerequisite: Permission of Instructor. (Meets
Core Area 5 Requirement)
JDST
641: Classical Hebrew Language and
Literature: 2 Samuel
Dr. Susanna Garfein
Tuesdays,
4:00-6:40
This course surveys the literature of 2 Samuel.Emphasis is placed on accurate
translation; more advanced grammar, intensive study of Biblical vocabulary and
the reading of the prose portions of the Hebrew Bible.In addition to accurate
translation of the Hebrew Bible, this course will introduce various methods of
critical interpretation needed for the academic study of the Hebrew Bible. This
course is designed for students who have completed twelve credits of Biblical
Hebrew or possess equivalent knowledge. (Hebrew Language and Literature Core)
HEB 101:
Modern Hebrew I (3 credits) (Hebrew
Requirement)
Dr. Eyal Bor
Tuesday
and Thursday, 12:30 -1:45 pm
This course is an introduction to the fundamental
structure of Modern Hebrew grammar. The foundation for future comprehension will
be established through basic language skills such as reading, writing,
conversation and reading comprehension. Students will learn basic communication
skills as well as the necessary vocabulary for reading of Modern Hebrew texts.
HEB 202/ JDST 542:
Modern Hebrew III (3 credits) (Hebrew
Requirement)
Dr. Eyal Bor
Tuesday
and Thursday, 2:00-3:15 pm
This course is designed for students who have
completed 6 credits of Modern Hebrew. Students will learn to recognize and use
new and more complicated structures of Hebrew grammar and morphology as well as
acquire vocabulary for more advanced reading of Modern Hebrew texts and
conversation. Prerequisite: Permission of Instructor
JEWISH COMMUNAL SERVICE
ILPD 606/ JCS 612: STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT OF JEWISH ORGANIZATIONS: MATERIAL
RESOURCES
Dr. Hana Bor
Fridays 9:30 am - 12:00 pm
ILPD 739: LEADERSHIP THEORY AND PRACTICE
Dr. Hana Bor
Thursdays 5:00 - 7:30
This course will focus on the theoretical and application of leadership
concepts, principles, practices, and competencies. Theory and practice are
integrated to apply these conceptual models of leadership in the education
context; and examine the concept of the school as a learning organization and
its implications for the practice of educational leadership.
EDUC 648: TEACHING CLASSICAL JEWISH TEXT: A DEVELOPMENTAL
APPROACH
Dr. Rebecca Shargel
Wednesdays, 4:20 PM to 7:00 PM - Hawkins Hall 206
How do children make sense of ancient stories? Drawing from
psychological and literary theory, students will come to new understandings of
how children understand textual material. Students will learn innovative
strategies to reach the emotional and spiritual needs of children and
adolescents through textual study.
EDUC 606: FROM VISION TO PRACTICE IN THE JEWISH SCHOOL
Dr. Rebecca Shargel
Wednesday 7:00-9:40 pm
In this course you will study the role of vision in Jewish schools and look at
competing Jewish educational visions. You will also compare philosophical,
school-wide visions to personal, teacher-centered visions, drawing from both
Jewish and general educational literature. To apply this knowledge, you will
critically examine local Jewish schools to see the translation of the vision and
mission into practice.
EDUC 605: RESEARCH & TECHNOLOGY IN EDUCATION (GENERAL TOWSON EDUCATION COURSE)
Dr. Rebecca Shargel
Wednesday 4:20-6:50 pm
INDEPENDENT STUDIES, INTERNSHIPS, THESIS AND DISSERTATION WRITING
JCS 618: SUPERVISED JEWISH COMMUNAL SERVICE INTERNSHIP
Dr. Hana Bor
Students enrolled in the MAJCS program are required to complete a
supervised field internship. This internship is carefully designed to develop
leadership skills necessary to become a Jewish Communal professional. The
internship will enable students to develop the skills necessary for professional
growth and adhere to the individual goals. Students must complete a minimum of
two full days per week in Jewish institution or organization (ex: The
Associated, or other Jewish Federations, JCC etc.).
ILPD 797: SUPERVISED ADMINISTRATION INTERNSHIP
Dr. Hana Bor
Students enrolled in the MAJE administrative track are required to complete a
supervised administrative internship. The internship is designed to develop
educational vision, leadership skills and practices based on students’
individualized interests. The internship will enable students to develop the
skills necessary for professional growth in Jewish educational administration.
EDUC 797: SUPERVISED TEACHING INTERNSHIP
Dr. Hana Bor
Students enrolled in the MAJE teaching track are required to complete a
supervised teaching internship. The internship will be individualized, enabling
each student to develop the skills necessary for professional growth in a
variety of Jewish institutions. Dr. Hana Bor will coordinate student
internships.
JDST 897: MASTER’S THESIS (6 CREDITS)
Thesis research in Jewish Studies. An original investigation, using research
methods and design, of a research problem. Students who have completed all other
course requirements for the master’s degree must register for JDST 897 for six
units or take JDST 898 for three units for two consecutive semesters following
completion of their didactic coursework. Prerequisite: Permission of graduate
program director.
Section 001—Dr. Gittlen
Section 002 – Dr. Garfein
Section 003—Dr. Thaler
Section 004 – Dr. Shokek
Section 005—Dr. Freundel
JDST 898: MASTER’S THESIS (3 CREDITS)
Thesis research in Jewish Studies. Prerequisite: Permission of graduate program
director.
Section 001—Dr. Gittlen
Section 002 – Dr. Garfein
Section 003—Dr. Thaler
Section 004 – Dr. Shokek
Section 005—Dr. Freundel
JDST 899: MASTER’S THESIS CONTINUUM (1 CREDIT)
Continuation of thesis work. Prerequisite: 6 units of These 897 or 898.
Section 001—Dr. Gittlen
Section 002 – Dr. Garfein
Section 003—Dr. Thale
Section 004 – Dr. Shokek
Section 005—Dr. Freundel
JDST 999: DOCTORAL CONTINUUM (1 CREDIT)
Section 001—Dr. Gittlen
Section 002 – Dr. Garfein
Section 003—Dr. Thaler
Section 004 – Dr. Shokek
Section 005—Dr. Freundel
MONTHLY SEMINARS AND INTERNSHIPS
EDUC 794/ JCS 614 PRACTICUM (1/2 OF 1 CREDIT)
Fridays 12:00 - 2:00 [once a month] - Hawkins Hall
JDST 719: MA JEWISH STUDIES SEMINAR -- *YEAR-LONG/1-CREDIT
Dr. Valerie Thaler
Three Selected Wednesdays, 5:00 - 6:45 pm (LA 4240)
This course enables students working on their Master’s in Jewish Studies the
opportunity to meet, hear presentations of MA thesis research, and discuss
related issues and problems with their peers. (Required of all MAJS Students)
JDST 890: DOCTORAL SEMINAR *YEAR-LONG/1-CREDIT
Dr. Shimon Shokek
Three Selected Tuesdays, 5:00-6:30 (LA 3216)
This course enables students working on their PhD in Jewish Studies the
opportunity to meet, hear
presentations of PhD dissertation research, and discuss related issues and
problems with their peers
