Magda Teter :: Professor of History

HIST247: JEWISH HISTORY: From "Biblical Israel" to Diaspora Jews

The course will explore the history of Jews from biblical times to the eve of modernity, the transformations from "biblical Israelites" to "Jews". It will address stereotypes and presuppositions of Jewish life and history, including -- what the historian Salo W. Baron dubbed -- the "lachrymose concept of Jewish history" - Jewish history as history of suffering. The course will illuminate experience of Jews whose lives, and deaths, demonstrate that they were active actors, rather than just passive victims, of historical events. The readings will consist mostly of historical sources on Jewish culture, politics, economic activities, social and legal status, and the Jews' relations with non-Jews - Christians and Muslims. It is a lecture course, but student participation is expected.

*This course is a gateway course to Jewish and Israel Studies Certificate, Middle Eastern Studies Certificate*

*It counts as the pre-industrial requirement for History majors, and is counted toward the Medieval Studies Major.*

Course Requirements Course Readings

SCHEDULE

1. Mon. 09/06 Introduction

2. Wed. 09/08 The Bible and the "Biblical Period"

D. Biale "Mediterranean Origins" in Cultures of the Jews

Bible: Genesis ch 1-28; Kings II ch. 8:7-ch. 10

Ronald Hendel, "Israel among the Nations: Biblical Culture in the Ancient Near East" in David Biale, Cultures of the Jews

Timeline

Additional optional readings on E-RESERVES: Philip Davies In Search of Ancient Israel; chapter 1-2, pp. 11-46;

3. Mon. 09/13 The Bible and Its Interpretations:

Genesis 28-End
Exodus 1-17, 20 22:16-31, 23:10-33;
Leviticus 11-13:58, 15-21, 23-24, 26;
Num. 3:40-51; 15:37-41;
Deut. 4-14:21;
Kings II 1-3
"A Reluctant Israeli Public Grapples With What Scholarship Reveals About the Old Testament's Version of History" By HAIM WATZMAN in Chronicle of Higher Education, January 21, 2000

4. Wed. 09/15 The Second Temple and Hellenism

Bible: Maccabees I: 1-6:17, 8-9 and Maccabbees II: 1-10:9, 12:38-45;
Erich Gruen, "Hellenistic Judaism," in Biale, Cultures of the Jews, esp. pp. 79-102, and 117-124 (124-132 notes).
On E-RESERVES: Shaye Cohen The Beginnings of Jewishness, 25-68
Optional additional readings: H.H. Ben-Sasson History of the Jewish People, 191-271

5. Mon. 09/20 Jewish Sectarianism during Second Temple

Gospels of Luke and Matthew
On E-RESERVES: Texts and Traditions, pp. 266-300 ).
Eric Meyers, "Jewish Culture in Graeco-Roman Palestine" in Biale, Cultures of the Jews, pp.135-162 (until subsection: "Emergence of Rabbinic Judaism")
Additional optional readings:
- Ben-Sasson History of the Jewish People, 271-276,
- Shaye Cohen on Jewish Sectarianism

6. Wed. 09/22 Sister Religions: Emergence of Christianity:

6. Wed. 09/22 Sister Religions: Emergence of Christianity

The Gospel of John; Acts 9;
Epistles to the Romans, I Corinthians, Galatians;
On E-RESERVES: W. Meeks "Breaking Away" and S. Brandon "History or Theology" (Meeks and Brandon are also reprinted in Essential Papers). Additional optional readings:
- Edward Peters Europe and the Middle Ages, 25-51;
- Ben-Sasson History of the Jewish People, 277-295.

7. Mon. 09/27 Sister Religions: Emergence of Rabbinic Judaism

Texts and Traditions, 117-120, 517-531; 535-537.
Eric Meyers, "Jewish Culture in Graeco-Roman Palestine" -- finish the article.
Isaiah Gafni, "Babylonian Rabbinic Culture" in Biale, Cultures of the Jews
Additional optional readings:
- Shaye Cohen, Emergence of Rabbinic Judaism;
- Ben-Sasson History of the Jewish People, 315-342, 373-382;

FIRST PAPER ASSIGNED

8. Wed. 09/29 Roman Legacy: Roman Church and Empire.

Jacob Marcus Jew in the Medieval World: Section I ?State and the Jew? chapters 1-2; Section II ?Church and the Jew?, chapters 19-20;
Medieval Sourcebook: Justinian: Novella 146: On Jews.
Oded Irshai, "Confronting A Christian Empire" in Biale, Cultures of the Jews
Additional reading: Peters Europe and the Middle Ages, 54-73.

9.Mon. 10/04 EndNote/Library Resources Session, The class will take place in PAC 100 (off the lab in the connector between the PAC building and the Olin Library)

10. Wed. 10/06 Church and the Jews I: The Church Fathers.

Jacob Marcus The Jew in the Medieval World ch. 21
Justin the Martyr, Eusebius, and Augustine of Hippo, selections (on Moodle)
John Chrysostom, Sermons nos. 1-4 at Medieval Sourcebook: Saint John Chrysostom: Homilies Against the Jews.

FIRST PAPER DRAFT DUE on WEDNESDAY 10/06 by 5 PM

WEEK 6 [START READING FOR WED]:

11. Mon. 10/11 From Biblical Israel to Diaspora Jews: Jewish Settlements

Visigothic Code, Book 12 "Concerning the Prevention of the Official Oppression and the Eradication of Heretical Sects
Additional optional reading: Ben-Sasson History of the Jewish People, 343-373, 385-402.
Peter Europe and the Middle Ages, pp. 75-92, 105-117, 135-158.

Jews under Islam:

12. Wed. 10/13 Emergence of Islam and the Jews' Legal Status

Mark Cohen Under Crescent and Cross chapters: Introduction, ch. 1, 2, 4;
the Qur'an Suras: 1-5, 17, 24, 26, 56, 63, 68, 75, 112, 114;
Ben-Sasson History of the Jewish People, 403-406.
Additional reading: Peters, Europe and the Middle Ages, 93-104

Mon. 10/18 NO CLASS FALL BREAK

13. Wed. 10/20 Messianic, Sectarian" Movements, and the Consolidation of Rabbinic Judaism

Jacob Marcus Jew in the Medieval World ch.47;
The Karaite Anthology: Anan Ben David "Book of Precepts", Daniel Al-Qumisi, and Jacob Al-Qirqsani, pp. 11-20, 30-68 (on moodle)
Judaism in Practice pp. 229-265;
Ben-Sasson History of the Jewish People, 448-452;
On E-RESERVES: S.W. Baron ?Messianic and Sectarian Movements?.
FINAL DRAFT DUE FRIDAY, 10/22, 3pm

14. Mon. 10/25 Jewish Culture and Intellectual Traditions

Stillman: Part Two, ch. 2 pp. 171-189, 208-211-229; 233-246;
Jacob Marcus Jew in the Medieval World chapters 57,58,59, 62, 63-I, 75;
Judaism in practice pp. 186-190;
Jewish Poetry.
Additional Readings: Ben-Sasson History of the Jewish People, 421-432; 439-458.

TAKE HOME MIDTERM EXAM AVAILABLE Wed. 10/27, DUE FRIDAY 10/29 by 3 PM

Jews under Christian Rule

15. Wed. 10/27 Legal Status: Protection and Vulnerability.

Mark Cohen Under Crescent and Cross ch.3;
Jacob Marcus The Jew in the Medieval World ch. 7,8;
Robert Chazan Church, State and Jew, part II, chapter 5 "Local Charters," chapter 6 "General charters";
Optional: Peters, Europe and the Middle Ages, 196-211, 271-301.

16. Mon. 11/01 Church and the Jews II: Papal Attitudes.

Chazan Church, State and Jew, ch. 7 "Pope Alexander II" and "Pope Gregory IX",
Marcus The Jew in the Medieval World ch. 22, 27, 30; Boniface VIII Unam Sanctam
On E-RESERVES: Bernard Bumenkranz "The Roman Church and the Jews;" Solomon Grayzel "The Papal Bull Sicut Judeis" (both reprinted in Essential Papers);
Peters Europe and the Middle Ages, 213-225, 250-269.

17. Wed. 11/03 The Crusades and the Aftermath

Eidelberg, The Jews and the Crusaders, 21-72, 99-115, 117-133;
On E-RESERVES: Y. Yerushalmi Zakhor ch.2.
Optional: Peters, Europe and the Middle Ages, 225-229.
BY NOW YOU SHOULD HAVE DISCUSSED YOUR TEXT OF CHOICE WITH ME

18. Mon. 11/08 Jews and Christians: Mutual Knowledge and Attitudes:

Marcus The Jew in the Medieval World, ch. 25, 26, 28, 31;
Ben-Sasson History of the Jewish People, 477-487;
On E-RESERVES: Jacob Katz "Social and Religious Segregation";Ivan Marcus "A Jewish-Christian Symbiosis: The Culture of Early Ashkenaz"; Yeshu and Joshua b. Perachiah ; Baraitha Sanhedrin 43a ; Toledoth Yeshu; (+Handout, Midrash) )

19. Wed. 11/10 Church and the Jews III: Friars, the Popes and the Jews ? New Anti-Judaism.

Jeremy Cohen "Scholarship and Intolerance in Medieval Academy" American Historical Review 91 (1986):592-613; reprinted in Essential Papers on Judaism and Christianity in Conflict ch.11,
Chazan Church, State and Jew, ch. 16 "Attack on the Talmud," ch.18 "Forced Sermon;" ch.19 "Forced disputation";
Marcus The Jew in the Medieval World ch. 28-29;
Mark Cohen Under Crescent and Cross ch.9; Chazan Church, State and Jew,
On E-RESERVES: D. Berger "Jewish Christian Debate in the Middle Ages: Introduction" (also reprinted in Essential Papers),
Additional Readings: Peters Europe and the Middle Ages, 231-248

THURSDAY, 11/11 DRAFTS OF FINAL PAPERS PAPERS DUE BY 4 PM

20. Mon. 11/15 Jews in Medieval Economy

Cohen Under Crescent and Cross ch. 5-8;
Ben-Sasson History of the Jewish People, 462-476;
On E-RESERVES: Jacob Katz "Economic Intercourse and Religious Factor".

21. Wed. 11/17 Age of Expulsions: France and England.

Marcus Jew in the Medieval World ch.5;
Chazan Church, State and Jew, ch. 22: all documents except the last one.

22. Mon. 11/22 Medieval Jewish Community and Culture: Communal Organization and Rabbinic Culture.

Ben-Sasson History of the Jewish People, 432-438; 458-461;
Marcus The Jew in the Medieval World ch. , 49, 50, 60, 61, 63-II,74,77;
Judaism in Practice, pp. 191-202 ;
Medieval Sourcebook: A Rabbinic Responsum: The Shabbat Goy: Angevin England ; Medieval Sourcebook: Rashi: Jewish Community in Troyes, c.1100
Intellectual and Mystical Heritage, On E-RESERVES: G. Scholem Major Trends in Jewish Mysticism ch. 3;)
Medieval (Christian) Manuscripts at the Bodleian Library; + HANDOUT in class.

Wed. 11/24 NO CLASS THANKSGIVING RECESS

23. Mon. 11/29 Medieval Jewish Community and Culture III: Jewish Family and Rituals

Ivan Marcus The Rituals of Childhood; Judaism in Practice, pp. 99-114; 131-142);
Medieval Sourcebook: Reciting the Grace after Meals: The Status of Jewish Women, from Berakhot, chapter 7;
Optional: Peters Europe and the Middle Ages, 119-134.

24. Wed. 12/01 Between Ashkenaz and Sepharad: the Maimonidean Controversy

Marcus Jew in the Medieval World , ch. 39

FINAL PAPERS DUE.

25. Mon. 12/06 Rise and Decline of Iberian Jewry

Ben-Sasson History of the Jewish People, 487-489;
J. Marcus Jew in the Medieval World ch.7, 11, 12.
See also: Medieval Sourcebook: Jewish Community of Barcelona: The Book of Document Forms; Medieval Sourcebook: Barcelona Jewish Court Documents, 1293: A Daughter's Inheritance; Medieval Sourcebook: Barcelona Jewish Court Documents: A Jewish Widow and her Daughter, 1261-1262;
Barcelona Haggadah

26. Wed. 12/08 From Biblical Israelites to Diaspora Jews: A Reassessment

TAKE HOME FINAL EXAM POSTED on MOODLE on the FIRST DAY OF THE EXAM PERIOD. DUE ON MOODLE ON THE DAY OF THE REGISTRAR'S SCHEDULED EXAM.