Graduate
Courses in Judaic Studies at Towson University
Spring
2010
Jdst 608 – I Kings:Reflections Of A Golden Age
Dr. Barry M. Gittlen
Monday, 7:00-9:40 pm
This course provides students with an understanding of
I Kings, the intricately composed Biblical book that narrates the
tortuous political, social and theological life of the ancient
Israelite state.From
the death of King David to that of King Ahab, upheaval followed
upheaval through the construction of Solomon’s
Temple, the division of the kingdom, the warring
rival monarchies, the advent of Elijah and the conflicts with Aram and Assyria.Bringing a variety of perspectives to bear on the textual and
archaeological evidence for this 100 year era in the life of Israel, we examine the meanings and implications
of the text and artifacts and develop a deeper understanding of the
social, political and religious history of Israel in the Golden Age of Solomon
and its aftermath.
Jdst 545: Biblical Hebrew II
Dr. Susanna Garfein
Tuesday and Thursday, 3:30-4:45
This course is the continuation of JDST 544, the
introduction to the fundamentals of Hebrew language. This course
serves as the foundation for continued studies of the classical
Hebrew contained in the Hebrew Bible and rabbinic texts as well as
the Hebrew of the contemporary idiom. During the course of the semester selections from the
Hebrew Bible, varying in time period and genre will be read. After
the completion of JDST 545, the student will be prepared to read
simple Classical texts with the aid of a lexicon.
JDST 666:
Introduction to Jewish Thought
Dr. Shimon Shokek
Tuesday,
7:00-9:40 p.m.
This course examines the religious ideas and the historical
developments of Jewish thought over the last two thousand years. The
course will focus on selected works of prominent Jewish
philosophers, mystics, and ethical writers who shaped Jewish thought
and created focal ideological changes in Jewish theology. The survey
will introduce religious predicaments that are central to Jewish
life, such as: exile and redemption, religious practices and
beliefs, mysticism and intellectuality, Jewish law, Jewish mythology
and symbolism, moral responsibility and divine authority. An
exploration of the basic terminology that is used in the literary
research of the history of ideas will be included in the survey.
JDST 641:
Classical Hebrew Language and Literature: 2 Samuel
Dr. Susanna Garfein
Wednesday, 4:20-7:00 pm
This advanced Hebrew course aims
to increase a student’s proficiency in classical Hebrew by reading
the book 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.This course will introduce various methods of critical
interpretation, including textual criticism, needed for the academic
study of the Hebrew Bible. Students will interact with various
aspects of interpretation for the book of 2 Samuel (e.g.,
philological, literary, historical, philosophical and theological
questions). This course is designed for students who have completed
twelve credits of Biblical Hebrew or possess equivalent knowledge.
JDST 510: Diaspora Jewish Communities
Dr. Valerie
Thaler
Wednesday,
7:00-9:40 pm
A survey of the Jewish world following World War II, with attention
to Jewish communities in Israel, North America, Western, Central and
Eastern Europe, South America, South Africa and Australia. Topics
include Jewish life and identity in each region; the diverse
challenges to maintaining Jewish distinctiveness; Diaspora Jewish
communities’ changing relationship to
Israel
and Zionism, and the shifting role of Israeli Jewry and American
Jewry on the world stage in the late-20th and early-21st
centuries.
JDST 784: The History of Jewish Biblical Exegesis
Dr. Barry Freundel
Thursday 4:30-7:00 pm
This course will explore the history of different approaches to
understanding the
Biblical text used by Jewish scholars from the 8th
Century to contemporary times. We will associate these approaches
with the scholars who used them and place them within their historical context. In
sum, we will explore the different ways in which the Bible has been read and
interpreted throughout the last twelve centuries of
Jewish intellectual History.
JDST 680: Introduction to Rabbinic Literature and
History
Dr. Barry Freundel
Thursday 7:00 – 9:40 p.m.
The Rabbinic period (c. 516 BCE-c.634 CE.), is the
foundational era for all contemporary expressions of Judaism. In
this course we will explore the history, literature and major
personalities of that period from the return of the Jews from the
Babylonian exile until the Arab conquest of
Palestine. For anyone interested in
understanding contemporary Judaism in its various expressions this
is an important and essential pre-requisite to that understanding;
while for those interested in ancient Jewish history or Rabbinic law
and literature this study is absolutely essential.
JDST 719: MAJS Seminar
Dr. Susanna Garfein
Three Selected Dates,
5:00-7:00 pm
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.
JDST 890: PhD Seminar
Dr. Barry M. Gittlen
Three Selected Wednesdays,
6:30-8:30pm
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.
Graduate Offerings in Jewish Education
EDUC 764: Qualitative Research in Jewish Education
Dr. Rebecca Shargel
Monday, 4:20-6:55
This course introduces
qualitative research methods with a focus on prior studies carried
out in both secular and Jewish schools. You will explore a topic of
personal interest in Jewish education through learning a field-based
approach.
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 schools and look at competing Jewish
educational visions. The course includes critical examinations of
local Jewish schools to see the translation of school mission to
practice.
EDUC 655:
Teaching The History, Politics And Culture Of Israel (3 Credits)
Dr. Hana Bor
Thursdays 5:00p.m –7:30p.m. at Hawkins Hall, Room 122
Students in this course will learn core
information about Israel’s history, politics and culture including
structure of government, the role of religion, socioeconomic and
ethnic problems and Israel-Diaspora relations. The course will
include analysis of the issues as well as exploration of effective
teaching methodologies to communicate these subjects to their
students. Modalities that enhance students understanding will include news
clips, film, poetry, and music. Each student will prepare and
present curricular units applicable to the teaching of Israel. There
are no prerequisite required for this course.
Students enrolled in the MAJE administrative track are required to
complete a minimum of 250 hours 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.
Students enrolled in the MAJE administrative track are required to
complete a minimum of 250 hours
supervised teaching internship. The internship gives students the
opportunity to apply their knowledge and skills to real-world
environment. The internship will be individualized, enabling each
student to develop the skills necessary for professional growth in a
variety of Jewish institutions.
EDUC 794: Practicum Seminar for Jewish Education
and
JCS 614: Practicum Seminar for Jewish Communal Service
Continue from Fall- Four Times during the Semester
JCS 618: Jewish Communal Service Internship - continues from Fall semester
Undergraduate Offerings in Judaic Studies
Spring 2010
RLST 370.004: Jewish Mysticism and Kabbalah
Dr. Shimon Shokek
Monday and Wednesday, 2:00-3:15 pm
This course introduces selected themes in Jewish mysticism and
Kabbalah that have shaped the spiritual life of the Jewish people.
The course will explore the emergence of early Jewish mysticism, the
Kabbalah of Provence and Gerona, the classical
Zohar, and the Kabbalah of Safed. Among the subjects to be discussed
are Ein Sof the Infinite God, Sefirot and Divine Emanation, the
Secret of the Creation of the World, Mystical Experience and
Communion with God, and the Esoteric Language of the Bible.
Rlst 206: Judaism, Christianity and Islam.
Dr. Shimon Shokek
Monday and 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.
Rlst 370-002 :The Jew
Confronts the Contemporary World: Jewish Law and Ethics
Dr. Barry Freundel
Tuesday and Thursday 12:30-1:45 p.m.
This course examines cutting edge issues of
ethical and legal concern as understood by traditional Jewish legal
and ethical sources and by contemporary Jewish thinkers from the
different denominations. The basic structure and methodology of Jewish
law will be introduced in the first few lectures, and
understanding of the system will be refined as the different issues
to be discussed are presented.
This course gives students
insight into the nature of archaeological evidence and the
difficulties involved in interpreting and applying this evidence to
cultural problems in ancient Israel and its
neighboring states.The
ability to critically evaluate and employ archaeological evidence
begins with learning
the theory, method and principles of archaeology as practiced in Israel.
Based on this learning, the
rest of the course will focus on current fundamental issues in the
archeology of Israel.These issues affect the interpretation and construction of
the history of Biblical Israel and thus special attention will be
paid to correlations between text and artifact as well as to the
role of archaeology in the study of ancient Israel and her neighbors in the
Biblical period.
Hebr 104: Biblical Hebrew II
Dr. Susanna Garfein
Tuesday and Thursday, 3:30 -4:45
This course teaches the fundamentals of Hebrew
language and serves as the foundation for continued studies of the
classical Hebrew contained in the Hebrew Bible and rabbinic texts as
well as the Hebrew of the contemporary idiom. During the course of the semester
selections from the Hebrew Bible -- varying in time period and genre
-- will be read. After the completion of HEBR 104, the student will
be prepared to read simple Classical texts with the aid of a
lexicon.
Hebr 102: Modern Hebrew II
Dr. Eyal Bor
Tuesday and Thursday, 2- 3:15
The course will teach modern Hebrew language through
conversation and grammar. There will be a multi-media
component, developed at Stanford University that covers many
practical topics such as how to rent an apartment, how to order food
from a restaurant menu, and how to plan a party all using correct
Hebrew language. In addition, students will explore Israel:
the state, its sites, and history. We will be utilizing a text
that is perfect for those who love both Israel and Hebrew. There
will be current event sessions using “Bereshit”, an easy
newspaper for beginners. Classes will be conducted in an
interactive manner to enhance the use of Hebrew.
Hebr 202: Modern Hebrew IV
Dr. Eyal Bor
Tuesday and Thursday, 12:30-1:45
The course will be taught entirely in modern Hebrew
language. There will be a thorough emphasis on grammar and
will develop an extensive Hebrew vocabulary including modern and
current, trendy, timely words, phrases, and slogans. There
will be a multi-media component for students to use that was
developed at Stanford University which will assist them if they
choose to visit or reside in Israel. Many practical and useful
topics such as how to shop in a supermarket, how to solve computer
problems, and how to plan a wedding will be covered. Students will
explore and research the uniqueness or important sites in Israel
such as Safed, Tel Aviv, Haifa, and Jerusalem. Students will
utilize Israeli daily newspapers like HaAretz and Maariv
to discover and discuss main trends and developments in any given
week. Instructor will introduce Hebrew language movies from
Israel that will be followed by group discussions in Hebrew.
