(original web document: http://www.vanderbilt.edu/AnS/religious_studies/Haas_web/RS112_syl.htm)


Religious Studies 112:

INTRODUCTION TO JUDAISM


An introductory course taught at Vanderbnilt University (5,800 undergraduates and 4,200 graduate and professional students), with an enrollment of 25-30.


 

MWF 2:10-3:00, Calhoun 320

 

Prof . Peter J. Haas
Office: 301-G Garland Hall
Phone: 2-6339
e-mail: peter.j.haas@vanderbilt.edu
Office Hours: W 12-2

 

Required Textbooks:

 

Course Requirements and grading:

ASSIGNMENT

% OF GRADE

DUE DATE
Exam on Bible

10

January 26
Review of Potok

15

February 13
Synagogue Visit

15

February 27
My Jewish Hometown

15

March 20
Review of Wiesel

15

April 6
Special Project

15

April 17
Review of Harris

15

April 29

NOTE: Regular attendance and participation in class is expected.

Jan 7-9

 

I. Introducing Judaism

 

Jan 12-16: The Roots of Judaism: the "TANAKH"

II. Classical Judaism as a Religion

 

Jan 19-23: A Kingdom of Priests and a Holy People

 

Jan 26-30: The Classics of the Rabbis Continued

 Exploring the Talmud

 Exploring a Code of Jewish Law

 

Feb 2-6: How to be Holy

Some more background on Hasidism

More on Jewish Law and Life

 

Feb 9-13: Jewish Theology: Coming to Terms with God

 I want to read more on Jewish belief

What is the Jewish View of Death? 

Some more on Jewish concepts of death

 

Feb: 16-20 Synagogues, Temples and Shuls

Ancient Synagogues

Medieval Synagogues

 

III. Judaism as an Ethnicity

 

Feb 23-27: The Birth of an American Judaism

A Tour of American Jewish History

Other Web-links for American Jewish History

 

SPRING BREAK

 

March 9-13: "Jewish Denominationalism"

What is (fill in the blank)Judaism? 

 

March 16-20: Celebrating Ethnicity: If it Feels Jewish...

Jewish Federations

 

IV. Judaism as an Nationality

March 23-27: A History of a Nation in Exile

 Everything You Want to Know About Sepharadim

 

Mar 30-Apr 3: Out of the Ghetto: Can a Jew be a German?

Some Links on Antisemitism 

The U.S. Holocaust Museum

Other Holocaust links

Holocaust Denial

 

April 6-10: Zionism -- A "Secular" Theology?

Eveything you ever wanted to know about Zionism 

Information on Israel

Information on the PNA

Visit the Golan Heights

 

April 13-20: Being Jewish at the Turn of the Millennium

What's in the Jewish News Today

 

APRIL 29: REVIEW OF HARRIS DUE