Dr. Tzvee Zahavy, Professor
Course Syllabus
Religious Studies 3000: Topics in Religious Studies
This course covers the main developments in Judaism from 70 to 640 C.E. in Israel and Babylonia in the context of late antique culture. It surveys the period's history and social setting and draws on recent scholarly analysis of rabbinic Judaism and its literature. The course examines in detail studies of the issues of rabbinic biography and the development of the ritual of Jewish prayer in the era as responses to the changing social and political circumstances of the era.
Jacob Neusner, From Testament to Torah: An Introduction to Judaism in its Formative Age, Prentice Hall, pb =FTT
Jacob Neusner, There We Sat Down, KTAV Publishers =TWSD
Jacob Neusner, Judaism and Christianity in the Age of Constantine, University of Chicago Press=JCAC
Erwin Goodenough, Jewish Symbols in the Graeco-Roman Period, Princeton, pb=GOOD
Geza Vermes, The Dead Sea Scrolls in English, Penguin, pb=SCROLLS
Supplementary books (reserve):
Tzvee Zahavy, The Traditions of Eleazar Ben Azariah, Scholars Press =TEBA
_____, The Mishnaic Law of Blessings and Prayers, Scholars Press =MLBP
_____, The Talmud of the Land of Israel: Tractate Berakhot, University of Chicago =TLI
_____, Studies in Jewish Prayer, University Press of America =SJP
Additional Readings (reserve/photocopy):
Peter Brown, The World of Late Antiquity, excerpts =PBW
_____, "The Rise and Function of the Holy Man in Late Antiquity." =PBHM
M. Avi-Yonah, A History of the Jews in Palestine, excerpts =AY
Tzvee Zahavy, "Recent Methodological Advances in ... Talmudic Scholarship." =RMA
Video Tape: T. Zahavy, "Ancient Synagogues Explored." =VIDEO
Course requirements: mid-term take-home examination; final take-home examination; participation in class.
I. The Second Temple Period, FTT 1-14
II. First Century Judaism, FTT 15-40
III. Judaism of Mishnah, FTT 41-65
IV. The major trends of late antiquity in the near East. TWSD, ch. 1; AY; PBW
V. The development of rabbinic Judaism: power, myth and function. TWSD, chs. 2-4
VI. Analytical study of Babylonian Judaism and the Talmud. MLBP, chs. 1, 2; PBHM
VII. Critical biographies of Judaic religious leaders. TEBA, chs. 1, 3;
VIII. The development of liturgical rituals and the role of the synagogue. SJP, chs. 1-3; VIDEO
IX. Conflict between scribal and priestly interests in the aftermath of the destruction of the Temple. SJP, chs. 4-5
X. Judaism in the fourth century. FTT 66-132, TLI, tba
XI. Study of Symbolism in Judaism. FTT 133-170; GOOD