THE HEBREW UNIVERSITY OF JERUSALEM
äàåðéáøñéèä äòáøéú áéøåùìéí
ROTHBERG INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL
Division of Undergraduate Studies
Autumn 2009-2010
Critical Readings in the Classic Literature of the Talmud:
The Talmud as a Path to Tikkun
(48154)
Dr. Pesach Schindler
Email: schindler@uscj.org
This course, designed for upper level undergraduate students, will serve as an entry to the historic, philosophical and legal world of early classic Rabbinic tradition. This prodigious endeavor which began as oral discourse to probe sacred Biblical texts, expanded into a massive edited literature of Mishna and Talmud. It spanned the period of five-six centuries, and with critical editing even beyond, simultaneously in the learned academies of Eretz Yisrael and Babylonia.
The emphasis is on understanding these texts as they addressed the turbulent issues emerging from the destruction of the Second Temple and the attempts to reconstruct viable Jewish life in Eretz Yisrael under foreign rule and the Diaspora.
Wherever possible, the impact of this period upon subsequent Jewish tradition and thought will be examined.
This text study course will be limited to twenty students.
Evaluation of the undergraduate student (3 credits) will be based on the following*:
1. Class Participation – Text discussion and analysis 25%
2. Mid-Term Assignment 35%
3. Final: Research Paper and Student Teaching of New Text 40%
.
Instruction hours for consultation: Mondays 13:00- 14:00 Room 536 Boyar Building
Autumn 2009-10
Calendar and Syllabus
Mondays – Wednesdays 16:30-18:00
TB Gitin 32a.
2. Mon. Oct. 21 Intro. To Tikkun Olam II: TB Gitin 45a-45b
3. Mon. Oct. 26 The Existential Human Needs for Tikkun: Gen. Rabba 11;7; 13;14.
4. Wed. Oct. 28 Restoring Sanctity of Time I: The Shabbath: Mishna Shabbath 7:2.
5. Mon. Nov. 2 Restoring Sanctity of Time II: The Shabbath: TJ. Taanith 1:1, TB
Shabbat 113 a/b.
6. Wed. Nov. 4 Restoring Sanctity of Space I: The Land of Israel: TB Ketuboth 110 b.
7. Mon. Nov. 9 Restoring Sanctity of Space II: The Land of Israel: TB Ket 111a.
8. Wed. Nov. 11 Repentance as Restoration of the Soul I: TB Yuma 85b – 86a.
9. Mon. Nov. 16 Repentance as Restoration of the Soul II: TB Yuma 86b.
10. Wed. Nov. 18 The “Yetzer HaRa”: TB Kidushin 30b; Succah 52b.
11. Mon. Nov. 23 Midterm assignment/exam (During class time)
12. Wed. Nov. 25 Restoring Wisdom of the Tongue I: TB Archin 15b.
13. Mon. Nov.30 Restoring and transforming “Lashon HaRa” II: TB Archin 15b.
14. Wed. Dec. 2 Prayer as Tikkun of Relationship with the Divine: TB Berachot 30b; 32b.
15. Mon. Dec. 7 Honoring Parents – Tikkun of Family Foundations: TB Kid. 30b-31a
16. Wed. Dec.9 Flattery: Compromising Ones’ Integrity: TB Ket.105a Hanukah in
the Talmud from the second chapter of masechet Shabbat
.
17. Mon. Dec. 14 Criticism and Self-Criticism: TB Yebamoth 62 b; BM 31a.
18. Wed. Dec. 16 Citizen Activated Reforms. TB Baba Batra 7b.
Charity Checks and Balances: Accountability. TB BB 8b-9a.
19. Mon. Dec. 21 Treatment of the Convert: TB Yebamot 47a/b; BM 59 b.
20. Wed. Dec. 23 Restoration of Tradition – Moses to R’ Akiba Menachot
29b.
21. Mon. Dec. 28 Student Research Presentation I.
22. Wed. Dec.30 Concluding session. Student Research Presentation II.
Summary Evaluation.
Hard copy of Final Research Projects Due the Week of Jan.3-7, 2010.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
A. Required Readings
B. Supplementary Readings
C. Basic Reference Works
D. Primary Sources in Translation
E. Optional Background Readings
Note: The "introductory" listing below is not intended to be definitive. The texts were selected because of their ready availability in the libraries and stores. Students wishing to delve into more advanced and specialized areas in the field, or those able to work with Hebrew text are advised to consult with the instructor.
A. REQUIRED READING: SOURCE READINGS - THE TALMUD AS A PATH TO TIKKUN - P. SCHINDLER (ED)
*A personal copy for each student is recommended. They are available for purchase from the Printing Center in the Forum.
RECOMMENDED BACKGROUND TEXT FOR STUDENTS
(Rothberg Lib. Code attached)
Steinsaltz, A. The Essential Talmud. London: Weidenfeld and Nicolson, 1976
(tr. from Hebrew by Chaya Galai) 296.811/S823
Cohen, Gershon D. "The Talmudic Age." In: Schwartz, Leo W, Great Ages and Ideas of the Jewish People. New York: The Modern Library, 1956. pp. 143-212 933.02/S411
Goldin, J. "The Talmudic Period." In: Finkelstein, L, The Jews: Their History, N.Y.: Schocken, 1971 pp. 119-224 933.02/F499
Safrai, Shmuel. "The Era of the Mishna and the Talmud.” In: H.H. Ben-Sasson (ed.)
A History of the Jewish People. London: 1977. pp. 305-382 933.02/B474
B. SUPPLEMENTARY READINGS
Baron, Salo W. A Social and Religious History of the Jews. Philadelphia: Jewish Publication Society, 1966.Vol. 2. 933.02/B265
Cohen, A. Everyman's Talmud. London: Dent and Sons, 1968. 296.811/C678
Chernick, M. (ed.) Essential Papers on the Talmud. New York: NYU Press, 1994. 296.8(08)/C521
Finkelstein, L. Akiba: Scholar, Saint and Martvr. New York, 1936. 296.817/F499
“ . The Pharisees. Philadelphia: Jewish Pub, 1940. 296.622/F499
Ginzburg, L. On Jewish Law and Lore, New York: Atheneum, 1970. 296.814/G493
Glatzer, N. M. Hillel the Elder: The Emergence of Classical Judaism. N.Y.: Schocken, 1970. 296.817/G549
Halivni, W.D. Midrash, Mishna and Gemara. Cambridge, 1986 (Recommended for students with background) 296.819/H173
Halivni, W.D. Peshat and Derash: Plain and Applied Meaning in Rabbinic Exegesis.
N.Y., 1991 (Recommended for Judaic Studies Majors) 296.813/H173
Herford, R.T. The Pharisees. Boston: Beacon Press, 1962. 296.622/H544
Schechter, S. Aspects of Rabbinic Theology: Major Concepts of the Talmud. N.Y.: Schocken, 1961. (Recommended for Religion Majors) 296.81/S314
C. BASIC REFERENCE WORKS AND ARTICLES
Elon, M. Principles of Jewish Law, Jerusalem: Keter, 1975. Y340/E48
EJ Articles from Encyclopedia Judaica (Author in brackets):
Full-text available via Gale Virtual Reference Library.
"Mishna" vol. 12, pp. 94-109 (Urbach, E.E.) required reading
"Talmud Babylonian" vol. 15, pp.755-768 (Berkowitz, E.) required reading
"Baraita. Beraitot" vol. 4, pp. 189-193 (Devries, B.)
"Tosefta" vol. 15, pp. 1283-1285 (Herr, M.D.)
"Mishpat Ivri" vol. 12, pp. 109-151 (Elon, M.)
Moore, G.F. Judaism in the First Centuries of the Christian Era. Cambridge: Harvard
University Press, 1967. 3 vols. (also Schocken) 296.109/M822
Urbach, E.E. The Sages: Their Concept and Beliefs. Jerusalem: Magnes Press, 1975. 2 vols. 296.12/U72
D.PRIMARY TEXTS WITH ENGLISH TRANSLATION AND NOTES
Avot (English) 1967: Chapters of the Fathers (Tr. and comm. Hirsch, R.) 296.422/H669
Mekilta de-Rabbi Ishmael (English translation by Jacob Z. Lauterbach)
Philadelphia: Jewish Publication Society, 1976. 3 vols. 296.841/L389
The Mishna (Tr. by Danby) Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1967. 296.822/D172
Mishnayot (Tr. by Blackman, P.) New York: Judaica Press, 1963. 7 vols. 296.822/B629
Midrash Rabba (Tr. by Freedman, H.) London: Soncino Press, 1961. 296.882/F853
The Midrash on Psalms (Tr. by Braude, W.G.) New Haven: Yale University Press, 1959. 2 vols. 296.883.2/B825
Pirke de Rabbi Eliezer (Tr. by Friedlander, G.) New York: Hermon Press, 1970. 296.884.2=2/F911
Pesikta de-Rab Kahana (Tr. by Braude & Kapstein). 296.884.1/B825
Pesikta Rabbati (Tr. by Braude, W. G.) New Haven: Yale University Press, 1968. 2 vols. 296.884.1/B825
The Babylonian Talmud (Tr. by Epstein, 1.) London: Soncino Press, 1935. 18 vols. 296.868/S698
El Am Talmud Folios. Berakhot. Baba Matzia, Qiddushin (Ed. By Ehrman, A.) 296.861/E33
The Talmud of the Land of Israel (Tr. by Neusner, J.) Chicago: Univ. of Chicago Press, 1982. 296.852=2/N496
Tanna Debe Eliyahu (Braude, W.G. & Kapstein, I.J. eds.) Phila: Jewish Pub. Society, 1981. 296.424/B825
The Artscroll Schottenstein Talmud 296.868/A792
E.OPTIONAL BACKGROUND READING
Bader, Gershon. The Encyclopedia of Talmudic Sages. New Jersey: J. Aronson, 1988. 296.817/B134
Baeck, L. The Pharisees (and other essays). N.Y.: Schocken, 1966. 296.622/B139
Cohen, Boaz. Jewish and Roman Law: A Comparative Study. N.Y.: J.T. S., 1966. 2 vols. (of special interest to pre-law students) Y340.2/C678
Ginzberg, L. Legends of the Bible. Philadelphia: J.P. S., 1956 296.889/G493
“ Legends of the Jews. Philadelphia: J.P.S., 1947. 7 vols. 296.889/G493
Guttman, J. "The Religious Ideas of Talmudic Judaism" in: Philosophies of Judaism.
N.Y.: Anchor Books, 1966. Chap. 3, pp.33-49. 296.109/G985
Kadushin, M. The Rabbinic Mind. N.Y.: J.T.S., 1957. 296.108/K11
Kraemer, D. The Mind of the Talmud. N.Y.: 1990. 296.819/K89
Lieberman, S. Hellenism in Jewish Palestine. N.Y.: J.T.S., 1962. (for students with background) 933.2/L716
Montefiore, C.C. A Rabbinic Anthology. N.Y.: Meridian, 1963. 296.087/M774
Neusner, J. Invitation to the Talmud. N.Y.: Harper, 1984. (good introduction) 296.812/N496
Rivkin, E. "The Pharisaic Revolution" In: The Shaping of Jewish History. N.Y.:
Charles Scribner, 1971. 933.02/R625
Schiffman, L.H. From Text to Tradition: A History of Second Temple and Rabbinic Judaism. New Jersey: 1991. 933.12/S333 .
RECENT RECOMMENDED ACQUISITIONS:
Herford, R. Travers Talmud and Apocrypha. N.Y.: 1971 296.819/H544
Jacobs, Louis. “Teyku”: The Unsolved Problem in the B. Talmud. London: 1981 296.813/J17
Levinas, Emmanuel. Nine Talmudic Readings. (tr. By A. Aronowicz) Bloomington: 1994 296.814/L665