L74 HBRW 105D Beginning Modern Hebrew I

This course is for the student with no knowledge of Hebrew. Students with a background in Hebrew are required to take the placement exam. This course provides the foundation for modern conversational Hebrew, and skills for writing and speaking are introduced.

Credit 5 units. A&S IQ: LCD, LS BU: HUM EN: H

L74 HBRW 106D Beginning Modern Hebrew II

This course provides the foundation for modern conversational Hebrew, and skills for writing and speaking are introduced. Prerequisite: Grade of B- or better in L74 105D or placement by examination.

Credit 5 units. A&S IQ: LCD, LS BU: HUM EN: H

L74 HBRW 108 Modern Hebrew for Arabic Speakers

Credit 3 units. A&S IQ: LCD, LS BU: HUM EN: H

L74 HBRW 179 First-Year Seminar: Midrash: The Imaginative Interpretation of Biblical Texts

The aim of this course is to introduce students to Midrash, the highly fascinating literature of rabbinic biblical interpretation. Among the topics studied are: How did the classical rabbis read the Bible? What is the relationship between the plain meaning of the biblical text and the polyphone interpretations of Midrash? How can numerous, at times even contradictory, interpretations of the same verse coexist? What is the function of imaginative narratives, parables and folklore in Midrash? Initially the Midrashic logic may seem elusive from the viewpoint of a modern Western reader; in turn its creative thinking proves to be smart, playful, at times even slippery, and yet substantial. Addressing the literary, historical and cultural context in which rabbinic Midrash developed, we get to know a variety of Midrashic collections and styles covering a time span from late antiquity to the Middle Ages. All primary sources are read in translation. Throughout the semester we devote time to discussing practical questions such as how to use the library's catalogue and (electronic) reference sources, as well as techniques for structuring and writing students' essays.
Same as L75 JIMES 179

Credit 3 units. A&S: FYS A&S IQ: HUM BU: ETH EN: H

L74 HBRW 208F Introduction to Jewish Civilization: History and Identity

The anthropologist Clifford Geertz once famously invoked Max Weber in writing that "man is an animal suspended in webs of significance he himself has spun. I take culture to be those webs." The main goal of this course — designed as an introduction to Jewish history, culture and society — is to investigate the "webs of significance" produced by Jewish societies and individuals, in a select number of historical periods, both as responses to historical circumstances and as expressions of Jewish identity. Over the course of the semester we focus on the following historical settings: seventh-century BCE Judah and the Babylonian exile; pre-Islamic Palestine and Babylonia (the period of the Mishnah and the Talmud); Europe in the period of the Crusades; Islamic and Christian Spain; Europe in the 18th and 19th centuries; North America in the 20th century; and the modern State of Israel. For each period, we investigate the social and political conditions of Jewish life; identify the major texts that Jews possessed, studied and produced; determine the non-Jewish influences on their attitudes and aspirations; and explore the efforts that Jews made to define what it meant to be part of a Jewish collective.
Same as L75 JIMES 208F

Credit 3 units. A&S IQ: HUM Arch: HUM Art: HUM BU: ETH, IS EN: H

L74 HBRW 210C Introduction to Islamic Civilization

A historical survey of Islamic civilization in global perspective. Chronological coverage of social, political, economic and cultural history will be balanced with focused attention to special topics, which will include: aspects of Islam as religion; science, medicine and technology in Islamic societies; art and architecture; philosophy and theology; interaction between Islamdom and Christendom; Islamic history in the Middle East, South Asia, Southeast Asia, and Central Asia as well as Africa; European colonialism; globalization of Islam and contemporary Islam.
Same as L75 JIMES 210C

Credit 3 units. A&S IQ: HUM, LCD Arch: HUM Art: HUM BU: ETH, IS EN: H

L74 HBRW 213D Intermediate Modern Hebrew I

This course involves reading and discussion on the intermediate level of selected topics pertaining to contemporary Israel. Review and further study of Hebrew grammar and the development of conversational skills are emphasized. Prerequisite: Grade of B- or better in L74 106D or placement by examination.

Credit 5 units. A&S IQ: LCD, LS BU: HUM EN: H

L74 HBRW 214D Intermediate Modern Hebrew II

This course involves intermediate modern Hebrew reading and the discussion of modern Hebrew fiction. It will focus on the development of language skills in special drill sessions. Conducted in Hebrew. Prerequisite: Grade of B- or better in L74 213D or placement by examination.

Credit 5 units. A&S IQ: LCD, LS BU: HUM EN: H

L74 HBRW 300 Introduction to the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament

The Hebrew Bible is the foundational text of Judaism and Christianity. It is a complex compilation of materials, reflecting great diversity in ideology, literary expression, social and political circumstances, and theology. In this course, we shall read a significant amount of the Bible in English translation. We shall study the various approaches that have been taken by scholars in trying to understand the Bible in its historical context. We shall also study how the Bible was traditionally interpreted by Jews and Christians during the last two thousand years.
Same as L23 Re St 300

Credit 3 units. A&S IQ: HUM, LCD Arch: HUM Art: HUM BU: ETH, HUM EN: H

L74 HBRW 301C Kings, Priests, Prophets and Rabbis: The Jews in the Ancient World

We trace Israelite and Jewish history from its beginnings in the biblical period (circa 1200 BCE) through the rise of rabbinic Judaism and Christianity until the birth of Islam (circa 620 CE). We explore how Israel emerged as a distinct people and why the rise of the imperial powers transformed the political, social and religious institutions of ancient Israel. We illuminate why the religion of the Bible developed into rabbinic Judaism and Christianity and how rabbinic literature and institutions were created.
Same as L75 JIMES 301C

Credit 3 units. A&S IQ: HUM, LCD Art: HUM BU: BA, HUM

L74 HBRW 3082 From the Temple to the Talmud: The Emergence of Rabbinic Judaism

This course offers a survey of the historical, literary, social, and conceptual development of Rabbinic Judaism from its emergence in late antiquity to the early Middle Ages. The goal of the course is to study Rabbinic Judaism as a dynamic phenomenon — as a constantly developing religious system. Among the topics explored are: How did Judaism evolve from a sacrificial cult to a text-based religion? How did the "Rabbis" emerge as a movement after the destruction of the Second Temple and how could they replace the old priestly elite? How did Rabbinic Judaism develop in its two centers of origin, Palestine (the Land of Israel) and Babylonia (Iraq), to become the dominant form of Judaism under the rule of Islam? How did Jewish ritual and liturgy develop under Rabbinic influence? How were the Rabbis organized and was there diversity within the group? What was the Rabbis' view of women; how did they perceive non-Rabbinic Jews and non-Jews? As Rabbinic Literature is used as the main source to answer these questions, the course provides an introduction to the Mishnah, the Palestinian and Babylonian Talmuds, and the Midrash-collections — a literature that defines the character of Judaism down to our own times. All texts are read in translation.
Same as L23 Re St 3082

Credit 3 units. A&S IQ: HUM, LCD Art: HUM BU: HUM EN: H

L74 HBRW 320D Third-Level Modern Hebrew I

This course is designed to improve proficiency in the oral and written use of modern Hebrew through the reading and discussion of short stories, Israeli newspaper articles, and other selected materials. Students will also have an opportunity to discuss, in Hebrew, current events and public issues related to contemporary Israeli society. Prerequisite: Grade of B- or better in L74 214D or placement by examination. Note: L75 520 is intended for graduate students only.

Credit 3 units. A&S IQ: LCD, LS BU: HUM EN: H

L74 HBRW 3211 Conversational Hebrew

Designed to focus on and strengthen oral proficiency, we will explore a variety of different topics together based on our common interests - not limited to current affairs, space travel and exploration, advances in medical technology, climate change, pandemic preparedness, economic inequality, and the future of work. With each topic, we will learn relevant vocabulary and structures and apply them in small group discussions, individual presentations, simulated interviews, and classroom debates. Students will also listen to different to Israeli news reports and documentaries in order to learn how to present at a formal level. The course is designed to simulate a variety of real-life situations, which require the balance of both rehearsal as well as improvisation. By learning Hebrew in different contexts, students will be exposed to a wide range of vocabulary and will be prepared to use the language in a variety of situations. The language of instruction is Hebrew only. PREREQ: Grade of B- or better in L74 214D Intermediate Modern Hebrew II or placement by examination. Please note: L75 5211 is intended for graduate students only.

Credit 3 units. A&S IQ: LCD, LS BU: HUM

L74 HBRW 322D Third-Level Modern Hebrew II

Designed to develop communicative skills, this course provides opportunities for students to practice the art of speaking and writing correctly, clearly, and effectively. The course includes reading and discussion of selected short stories from modern Hebrew literature as well as articles from current Hebrew newspapers. Class discussions deal with literary topics as well as contemporary social and political issues related to life and institutions in Israel. Prerequisite: Grade of B- or better in L74 320D or placement by examination. Note: L75 522D is intended for graduate students only.

Credit 3 units. A&S IQ: LCD, LS BU: HUM EN: H

L74 HBRW 335C Becoming "Modern": Emancipation, Antisemitism and Nationalism in Modern Jewish History

This course offers a survey of the Jewish experience in the modern world by asking, at the outset, what it means to be or to become modern. To answer this question, we look at two broad trends that took shape toward the end of the 18th century -- the Enlightenment and the formation of the modern state -- and we track changes and developments in Jewish life down to the close of the 20th century, with analyses of the (very different) American and Israeli settings. The cultural, social, and political lives of Jews have undergone major transformations and dislocations over this time, from innovation to revolution, exclusion to integration, and calamity to triumphs. The themes that we will be exploring in depth include the campaigns for and against Jewish "emancipation"; acculturation and religious reform; traditionalism and modernism in Eastern Europe; the rise of political and racial antisemitism; mass migration and the formation of American Jewry; varieties of Jewish national politics; Jewish-Gentile relations between the World Wars; the destruction of European Jewry; the emergence of a Jewish nation-state; and Jewish culture and identity since 1945.
Same as L22 History 335C

Credit 3 units. A&S IQ: HUM, LCD, SC, SD Art: HUM BU: HUM, IS EN: H UColl: HEU, HSM

L74 HBRW 340 Israeli Women Writers

Study of selected novels and shorter fiction by women. Attention to the texts as women's writing and as products of Israeli literature. No knowledge of Hebrew necessary; all readings in English translation.

Credit 3 units. A&S IQ: HUM, LCD, SC, SD, WI Art: HUM BU: HUM EN: H

L74 HBRW 349 Yidishkayt: Yiddish Literature in English Translation

This course traces the emergence, development, flourish and near-decline of Yiddish literature, beginning with some of the earliest writings to appear in Yiddish in the late Middle Ages and early modern period, continuing with 19th-century attempts to establish a modern Yiddish literature and the 20th-century emergence of both a classical canon and a literary avant-garde, and ending with post-Holocaust attempts to retain a Yiddish literary culture in the near absence of Yiddish-speaking communities. Focusing on the role of Yiddish as the "national" language of Ashkenaz, the course examines the ways in which Yiddish literature has responded to the social conditions of European Jewish life, exploring among others the relationship between Yiddish and the non-Jewish cultures in which it existed, the tensions between secular trends versus religious tradition, life in the shtetl and in the metropolis, immigration from the old world to the new, and Yiddish literary responses to the Holocaust.
Same as L75 JIMES 349

Credit 3 units. A&S IQ: HUM, LCD Art: HUM BU: IS EN: H

L74 HBRW 350 Israeli Culture and Society

An examination of critical issues in contemporary Israeli culture and society, such as ethnicity, speech, humor, religious identity, and the Arab population, using readings in English translation from a variety of disciplines: folklore, literary criticism, political science, sociology, psychology, anthropology. Prerequisite: sophomore standing, or permission of instructor.
Same as L75 JIMES 350

Credit 3 units. A&S IQ: HUM, LCD, SD Arch: HUM Art: HUM BU: HUM, IS EN: H

L74 HBRW 359 Travelers, Tricksters, and Storytellers: Jewish Travel Narratives and Autobiographies

Jewish literature includes highly fascinating travel accounts and autobiographies that are still awaiting their discovery by a broader readership. In this course, we will explore a broad range of texts originating from the Middle Ages to the 19th century. They were written by both Ashkenazi and Sephardi Jews hailing from countries as diverse as Spain, Italy, Germany, and the Ottoman Empire. Among the authors were pilgrims, rabbis, merchants, and one savvy businesswoman. We will read their works as responses to historical circumstances and as expressions of Jewish identity, in its changing relationship to the Christian or Muslim environment in which the writers lived or traveled. Specifically, we will ask questions such as the following: How do travel accounts and autobiographies enable their authors and readers to reflect on issues of identity and difference? How do the writers produce representations of an "other," against which and through which they define a particular sense of self? This course is open to students of varying interests, including Jewish, Islamic, or Religious Studies, medieval and early modern history,  and European or Near Eastern literatures. All texts will be read in English translation. Please note: L75 559 is intended for graduate students only.
Same as L75 JIMES 359

Credit 3 units. A&S IQ: HUM, LCD Arch: HUM Art: HUM BU: IS EN: H

L74 HBRW 384 Introduction to Biblical Hebrew

This course will enable students to read the Bible in the original Hebrew. It includes a review of Hebrew grammar and the history of the Hebrew language. The course is intended for students with a foundation in modern Hebrew. Prerequisite: Grade of B- or better in L74 214D or permission of instructor. Note: L75 584 is intended for graduate students only.

Credit 3 units. A&S IQ: LCD, LS BU: HUM EN: H

L74 HBRW 385D Topics in Biblical Hebrew Texts

The topic covered in this course varies. Recent course topics include Jeremiah, the Book of Isaiah, and Biblical Poetry. Prerequisite: Grade of B- or better in L74 384 or permission of instructor. Note: L75 585D is intended for graduate students only.

Credit 3 units. A&S IQ: HUM BU: HUM EN: H

L74 HBRW 387 Topics in Jewish Studies

Consult Course Listings for current topics. Please note: L75 587 is intended for graduate students only.
Same as L75 JIMES 387

Credit 3 units. A&S IQ: LCD BU: IS EN: H

L74 HBRW 390 Topics in Migration and Identity: Genocide and Migration: Flight and Displacement under Nazi Regime

The course examines migration movements that are related to the Nazi genocide in Europe. Grounded in a study of the Nazi project to reshape the European geopolitical map, students explore how the mass movement of people is impacted by geopolitics, political violence, and economical considerations. Class materials address the relationship between identity formation and social exclusion, thus opening up a critical investigation of concepts of citizenship, human rights, and their institutional frameworks (states, international organizations, etc.) more generally. Students work with a variety of sources, including primary sources, scholarly analyses, podcasts, literary works and film to study migrations related to the prehistory, policies and aftermath of the Nazi regime. The class provides insights into issues of expulsion, refuge, forced migration, settlement projects, ethnic cleansing and others, but also demonstrates the global impact and long-term repercussions of political and genocidal violence. Looking at the Nazi regime through the lens of migration shows that the Nazi genocide is embedded in a history of racism, colonialization and mass violence.
Same as L97 GS 390

Credit 3 units. A&S IQ: HUM BU: IS EN: H

L74 HBRW 4001 Capstone Seminar

The capstone course for Jewish, Islamic, and Middle Eastern Studies majors, Arabic majors, and Hebrew majors. The course content is subject to change.
Same as L75 JIMES 4001

Credit 3 units. A&S IQ: HUM EN: H

L74 HBRW 4011 Fourth-Level Modern Hebrew I

Writing intensive course for the advanced student of Hebrew. We will explore the development of the personal voice in Israeli cinema. Films will be supplemented with articles, reviews, interviews, and fiction as class texts. Graduated writing assignments to help you find your voice in Hebrew. Conducted in Hebrew. PREREQ: Grade of B- or better in L74 322D Third-Level Modern Hebrew II or placement by examination.

Credit 3 units. A&S IQ: HUM, LCD, LS, WI EN: H

L74 HBRW 401W Fourth-Level Modern Hebrew I: Seminar in Israeli Culture (Writing Intensive)

This is a writing-intensive course for the advanced student of Hebrew. We will explore the development of the personal voice in Israeli cinema. Films will be supplemented with articles, reviews, interviews, and fiction as class texts. Graduated writing assignments will help students to find their voices in Hebrew. Conducted in Hebrew. Prerequisite: Grade of B- or better in L74 322D or placement by examination.

Credit 3 units. A&S IQ: HUM, LCD, LS, WI EN: H

L74 HBRW 402 Fourth-Level Modern Hebrew II

Students with advanced proficiency maintain and develop reading, speaking, and writing skills. Classes are conducted in Hebrew. Readings focus on key works of Hebrew poetry and fiction from earlier in this century and from contemporary Israel are included; additional readings and discussions address essays and editorials from the current Israeli press, and we will also view films and current news broadcasts produced in Israel. Prerequisite: Grade of B- or better in L74 401W or placement by examination.

Credit 3 units. A&S IQ: LCD, LS BU: HUM EN: H

L74 HBRW 405 Diaspora in Jewish and Islamic Experience

Tensions between center and periphery; migration and rest; power and powerlessness; and exile, home, and return are easily found in the historical record of both Jews and Muslims. For Muslims, it can be said that it was the very success of Islam as a world culture and the establishment of Muslim societies in in all corners of the globe that lay at the root of this unease. However, the disruptions of the post-colonial era, the emergence of minority Muslim communities in Europe and North America, and the recent tragic flow of refugees following the Arab Spring have created a heightened sense of displacement and yearning for many. Of course, the very term "diaspora" -- from the ancient Greek, meaning "dispersion" or "scattering" -- has most often been used to describe the Jewish condition in the world. The themes of exile and return and of catastrophe and redemption are already woven into the Hebrew Bible, and they continued to be central motifs in Rabbinic Judaism in late antiquity and the Middle Ages. This occurred despite the fact that more Jews lived outside the borders of Judea than within the country many years before the destruction of Jewish sovereignty at the hands of the Romans. In the 20th century, European imperialism, nationalisms of various types, revolution, and war -- including the Israeli-Palestinian conflict -- have done much to underscore the continuing dilemmas of diaspora and home in both Jewish and Islamic identity. The goal of this course is to offer a comparative historical perspective on the themes of migration and displacement, center and periphery, home and residence, and exile and return and to give students the opportunity to examine in depth some aspect of the experience of diaspora. Note: This course fulfills the capstone requirement for Jewish, Islamic, and Middle Eastern Studies. The course also counts as an Advanced Seminar for history. (Students wishing to receive history Advanced Seminar credit should also enroll in L22 491R section 19 for 1 unit.) The course is open to advanced undergraduate and graduate students.
Same as L75 JIMES 405

Credit 3 units. A&S IQ: HUM Arch: HUM Art: HUM EN: H

L74 HBRW 4060 Conflict or Convivencia? Muslims, Jews, and Christians in Medieval Spain

This seminar will explore various facets of the coexistence (convivencia) of Muslims, Jews, and Christians in medieval Spain. Its horizon stretches from the Muslim conquest of Iberia (al-Andalus) up to the turn of the 16th century when Spanish Jews and Muslims were equally faced with the choice between exile and conversion to Christianity. Until about 1100, Muslims dominated most of the Iberian Peninsula; from then onward, Christians ruled much and eventually all of what would become modern Spain and Portugal. Through a process known as reconquista (reconquest), Catholic kingdoms acquired large Muslim enclaves. As borders moved, Jewish communities found themselves under varying Muslim or Christian dominion. Interactions between the three religious communities occurred throughout, some characterized by shared creativity and mutual respect, others by rivalry and strife. The course focuses on these cultural encounters, placing them in various historical contexts. It will explore the ambiguities of religious conversion, and the interplay of persecution and toleration. Last not least, the course will address the question of how the memory of medieval Spain's diversity reverberates-and is utilized-in modern popular and academic discourse. All sources will be read in English translation; however, students are encouraged to make use of their linguistic and cultural expertise acquired in previous classes. This course serves as the capstone seminar for Jewish, Islamic & Near Eastern Studies majors, Arabic majors, and Hebrew majors. Graduate students, minors, and other interested undergrads are likewise welcome.
Same as L75 JIMES 4060

Credit 3 units. A&S IQ: HUM, LCD Arch: HUM Art: HUM BU: ETH, IS EN: H

L74 HBRW 420 Topics in Modern Hebrew Literature

Various themes in Hebrew belles lettres, e.g., the intertwining of politics and literature, the survival of rabbinic metaphors.

Credit 3 units. A&S IQ: LCD Art: HUM

L74 HBRW 421 Study of Selected Texts in Modern Hebrew Literature

Major works in Hebrew belles lettres by writers such as Bialik and Agnon studied in detail and depth.

Credit 3 units. A&S IQ: HUM, LCD Art: HUM EN: H

L74 HBRW 440 Topics in Rabbinic Texts

The course aims to introduce students to independent reading of selected rabbinic texts in the original language. We focus on a number of topics representing the range of rabbinic discussion, including legal, narrative and ethical issues. At the same time, we study the necessary linguistic tools for understanding rabbinic texts. Prerequisites: HBRW 385 or HBRW 401 or instructor's permission.

Credit 3 units. A&S IQ: HUM, LCD EN: H

L74 HBRW 444 The Mystical Tradition in Judaism

What is Jewish "mysticism"? What is its relationship to the category of "religion"? Is Jewish mysticism just one form of a general phenomenon common to a variety of religious traditions or is it a specific interpretation of biblical, rabbinic, and other Jewish traditions? Taking the above questions as a starting point, this course aims at a systematic and historically contextualized analysis of a broad range of Jewish texts that are commonly classified as "mystical." (All primary texts are read in translation.) At the same time, we explore such overarching themes as: the interplay of esoteric exegesis of the Bible and visionary experiences; the place of traditional Jewish law (halakhah) within mystical thought and practice; the role of gender, sexuality, and the body in Jewish mystical speculation and prayer; the relationship between mysticism and messianism; Ashkenazic and Sephardic traditions and their mutual impact on Jewish mysticism; the "absence of women" from Jewish mystical movements; esoteric traditions of an elite vs. mysticism as a communal endeavor; and the tension between innovation and (the claim to) tradition in the history of Jewish mysticism.
Same as L23 Re St 444

Credit 3 units. A&S IQ: HUM, LCD Arch: HUM Art: HUM BU: ETH, IS EN: H

L74 HBRW 488 Independent Work for Senior Honors

This course to be taken in the fall semester. Prerequisite: senior standing, eligibility for honors, and permission of the department.

Credit 3 units.

L74 HBRW 489 Independent Work for Senior Honors

This course to be taken in the spring semester. Prerequisite: senior standing, eligibility for honors, and permission of the department.

Credit 3 units.

L74 HBRW 4973 Guided Readings in Hebrew

Prerequisites: senior standing, and permission of the instructor and the department chair.

Credit variable, maximum 5 units.

L74 HBRW 4982 Guided Readings in Akkadian

Prerequisites: permission of the instructor and the department chair.

Credit variable, maximum 6 units.

L74 HBRW 4984 Guided Readings in Aramaic

Prerequisites: permission of the instructor and the department chair.

Credit variable, maximum 6 units.

L74 HBRW 4985 Guided Readings in Biblical Hebrew

Prerequisites: permission of the instructor and the department chair.

Credit variable, maximum 6 units.