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Cincinnati Spring 2006 Courses
Please note that courses are subject to change. For more information on this colloquium, please contact Sarah Reiff at (513) 221-1875 ext. 3234 or email sreiff@huc.edu.
Click here to download the Cincinnati Spring 2006 courses in Word format
For an archive of previous year's course listings click here
| AKK 502 (3342) |
INTRODUCTORY AKKADIAN
Dr. Obermark (3 cr.)
Continued from Fall Semester. Introductory course. Text. |
| AKK 512 (3341) |
SOCIETY AND ECONOMY IN THE OLD BABYLONIAN PERIOD
Dr. Greengus (3 cr.)
This course seeks to explore everyday life through reading selected documents, contracts and letters, dealing with matters such
as property, commerce, legal status, government administration, and interpersonal relations. Text. |
| ARA 502 (3343) |
TARGUM SHIR HA-SHIRIM
Dr. Jerusalmi (3 cr.)
Cross listed as BIBLE 594 (3384)
The entire Targum Shir ha-Shirim will be studied in class. Special attention will be given to the various methods of
interpretation used in order to justify the sacred character of the book as Holy History. Major themes of Sin and Repentance,
Exile and Return, the Messiah and Salvation, etc. will be discussed.
A working knowledge of Aramaic is sufficient for this course. Text. |
| ARB 502 (3344) |
INTRODUCTION TO ARABIC CONTINUES FROM FALL
Dr. Jerusalmi (3 cr.)
Continued from First Semester. Readings from the Qur'an and Hadith and from modern Muslim religious literature.
Time permitting, sample readings from the Kuzari and the Moreh will be considered. *Attendance is a course
requirement. Permission of Instructor Required. Text. |
| ARC 500 (3345) |
INTRODUCTION TO BIBLICAL ARCHAEOLOGY -
RECONSTRUCTING HISTORY WITH MATERIAL CULTURE AND BIBLICAL TEXTS
Dr. Fox (3 cr.)
Cross listed as HISTORY 595 (3346) and BIBLE 595 (3385)
A survey of the archaeology of the land of Israel from pre-history to the Persian period. The course will focus mainly on the
Bronze and Iron Ages with particular emphasis on Iron Age I and II, the pre-monarchic and monarchic periods. A key objective of
this course is to understand and evaluate the contributions of archaeology to the reconstruction of Israelite history and society
and to Biblical Studies in general. Historical texts from the Bible and non-biblical inscriptions will be analyzed to ascertain
where the written sources converge and diverge from the archaeological evidence.
Class meets in the Archaeology Center where students work with artifacts. Classes are taught with slide presentations. Reading
assignments include biblical texts, short inscriptions, and secondary readings. Students will give a short class presentation.
Class size limited to 12 students. |
| BIB 402 (3347) |
BIBLICAL POETRY
Dr. Fox (3 cr.)
This course is a sequel to Bible 401 that focuses on different genres of poetic writings in the Bible.
Students will read selections of poetry from the Torah, Prophets, and Writings paying attention to linguistic, literary,
ideological and historical elements in the Hebrew texts. Special emphasis will be placed on the liturgical poetry of the Psalms.
Comparative ancient Near Eastern literature will be examined to help elucidate the biblical material. We will employ a modern
critical approach to Bible study.
One tutorial session weekly. Attendance is required. |
| BIB 514 (3348) |
THE BOOK OF JOB
Dr. Kaufman (3 cr.)
Text. |
| BIB 519 (3349) |
THE LANGUAGE(S) OF BIBLICAL POETRY
Dr. Kaufman (3 cr.)
Cross listed as HEBREW 519 (3350)
In this course we will concentrate on the syntax and morpho-syntax of both early and
classical Biblical Hebrew poetry. Our goal is to gain an appreciation of the nuances of usage generally missed by
translators. |
| BIB 590 (3351) |
READINGS IN THE BOOK OF EZEKIEL
Dr. Greengus (3 cr.)
Living in the Babylonian deaspora, he is unique among the literary prophets. Ezekiel's highly charged and graphic prophecies
begin during the years before the final fall of Jerusalem in 586 BCE and continue tinot the exilic period., with visions of
restoration and planning for rebuilding of the Temple. His preaching is a unique witness to the intellectual and religious
ferment of those times, which accompanies the transformation of Biblical Judaism into its mature form. Text. Limit 12
Students |
| COM 401 (3352) |
AN INTRODUCTION TO THE MIKRA-OT GEDOLOT
Dr. Kalman (3 cr.)
Selected narrative and legal passages of the Torah along with the traditional
biblical commentators. (3) |
CSP 401 (3353)
CSP 501 (3354) |
THE NEW TESTAMENT AND THE JEWS
Dr. Cook (3 cr.)
The critical issues for Jewish-Christian relations today arising from the Gospels and Paul's
Epistles, and vital in theological interchange between rabbis and Christian clergy and in understanding the development and
diversification of Christianity over the centuries and in the present day; also in preparing outreach and adult education
courses, interfaith counseling sessions, religious school curricula, ministerial association/pulpit exchange, university/communal
speaking engagements.
General rubrics: The parting of the ways between Judaism and Christianity, and the socio-political realities underlying writings
by Mark, Matthew, Luke, John, and Paul. Special Sessions: (1) Is the New Testament "antisemitic"? (2) Jews and the
trial of Jesus. (3) Was the Last Supper a Passover Seder? (4) The origin of the Christmas (Virgin Birth)
stories. (5) The origin of the Easter (Empty Tomb) stories. Slides analyzing: (6) widely-performed Passion dramas
of the Jews' role in Jesus' trial; and (7) theological symbols common in Christian church and museum art; (8) Public
speaking: how best to answer sensitive questions on these subjects.
May be taken as 501 for graduate students. Attendance required. Prerequisite for those in Judeo-Christian studies. (This
course emphasizes New Testament and covers the fundamentals expanded upon by three other courses (for which there
are no prerequisites): Missionaries, Millennialists and Christian Zionists - Navigating the Dynamics of Jewish-Evangelical
Relations[Christian Scriptures 504]; The Jewish and Christian Quests for the Historical Jesus [History 505]; and
The Jewish Bible and Christian Missionaries [Christian Scriptures 502]) (3) |
| HEB 403 (3355) |
READING FOR MEANING
Dr. Dallaire (3 cr.)
Continued from Fall semester. An indepth study of the grammar, syntax, idiomatic expressions and other
linguistic features of the Hebrew of the Biblical and Rabbinic periods (prose and poetry). (2) |
| HEB 502 (3356) |
INTRODUCTION TO POSTBIBLICAL HEBREW
Dr. Kalman (3 cr.)
The purpose of Hebrew 502 is to introduce the student to postbiblical Hebrew, specifically the Hebrew of the Rabbinic period.
For students who will be taking courses from Rabbinic Studies electives, this course will provide the background needed. For
those students who will not be taking other courses in this area, it will give an introduction to the language and an overview of
the genres which developed during this era.
The main objective is to be able to read rabbinic texts as they are normally edited, i.e. without the pointing. Grammar and
idioms are important insofar as they facilitate the acquisition of this expertise. The course will begin with readings from
Sefer Ha'Aggadah, a collection of aggadic texts which have been edited and pointed in standard rabbinic Hebrew. Reading
these texts will provide a bridge to the unpointed texts. Text. |
| HEB 503 (3357) |
READINGS IN SCHOLARLY MODERN HEBREW
Dr. Lund (3 cr.)
The class will become acquainted with current Hebrew scholarly writings in different areas
of Judaica and Biblical Studies. Scholarly articles or parts of books in Modern Hebrew will be assigned for reading and
discussion in class. The goal is to achieve reasonable fluency in reading scholarly Modern Hebrew with the help of a dictionary.
Text. |
| HIS 402 (3358) |
SURVEY OF JEWISH HISTORY
Dr. Meyer (3 cr.)
History 402 is a continuation of History 401 and covers the medieval period and the modern period, with
the exception of the Western Hemisphere.
History 402 is a prerequisite for all further courses in Jewish History and is to be taken during one of the first two years'
residence in Cincinnati. Required of all second year rabbinic students. Requirements: Midterm, brief paper and final
examination. |
| HIS 501 (3359) |
THE HISTORY OF REFORM JUDAISM FROM ITS ORIGINS TO THE PRESENT
Dr. Meyer (3 cr.)
A chronological and topical study of Reform Judaism both in Europe
and America within the context of other Jewish religious denominations and with particular emphasis on its problems and prospects
in the world today. Non-text. Requirements: Midterm and Final examination.
Prerequisites: History 401 and 402 or permission of the instructor. Required of all 4th year students. |
| HIS 598 (3360) |
HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVES ON BLACK-JEWISH RELATIONS IN AMERICA
Dr. Zola (3 cr.)
This seminar will provide students with an opportunity to explore the complex and multi-faceted character of Black-Jewish
Relations in American history. We will approach the topic in a chronological fashion in order to gain historical perspective on
the evolving dynamics in Black-Jewish relations during the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries. Individual seminar sessions will be
devoted to subject matter such as Jews and African American slavery, Abolitionism, a comparative analysis of Jewish and Black
nationalism, the rise of racialism, Jews and Blacks in American entertainment, literature, and sports - and the role of American
Jewry in the Civil Rights movement during the 20th century.
From time-to-time, experts in African American history will be invited to participate in this seminar. Some of these scholars
will be participating be means of the distance learning resources available in The Jewish Foundation of Cincinnati International
Learning Center at The Marcus Center.
Students will be expected to participate actively in interpretive class discussions based primarily on the assigned weekly
readings and, typically, on primary documents that will be read in class and analyzed in detail.
Aside from weekly reading assignments, students will be asked to submit a term paper based on original research with primary
documents in The Jacob Rader Marcus Center of the American Jewish Archives. Attendance is compulsory. |
| HLT 518 (3361) |
READINGS IN HERESIOLOGICAL SOURCES: JUDEO-CHRISTIANITY
Dr. Kamesar (3 cr.)
This course will be devoted to a reading of the primary heresiological texts that contain descriptions of the principal
Judeo-Christian sects of antiquity: Ebionites, Nazoraeans, Elkesaites, Cerinthians, Symmachians. The focus on external
testimonia will constitute the point of departure for a consideration of broader historical issues. Greek text. Attendance
necessary. |
| LIT 501 (3362) |
THE MAHZOR
Dr. Sarason (3 cr.)
A study of the traditional liturgy for the Festivals and the High Holy Days: theology, historical development, ritual, structure,
prayer texts, and selected piyyutim (in the Ashkenazi rite, as well as some Sephardi piyyutim that appear in Reform mah. zorim).
We will examine as well Reform and contemporary mah. zorim and consider their relationship to the traditonal mah.zor.
Prerequisite: Liturgy 401 |
| MID 401 (3363) |
INTRODUCTION TO MIDRASHIC LITERATURE AND PRACTICE
Dr. Sarason (3 cr.)
"Midrash" refers both to the distinctive mode of scriptural interpretation practiced by the Rabbis of late antiquity and to the
extensive literature (in a variety of genres) that contains these interpretations. In this course we shall attempt to understand
and account for the distinctive nature of rabbinic interpretation in its historical, social, and religious-ideological contexts
by paying attention to the exegetical and discursive techniques of the midrashic process and to the world view and contemporary
concerns which the Rabbis bring to the reading of Scripture. We also shall explore some of the resources contained in this
literature for Jews today. Students will become familiar with the major genres and texts of midrashic literature,
bibliographical tools and major interpretive secondary literature. One course session each week will be devoted to lecture/
presentation of materials and concepts by the instructor, or to the reading and disscussion of primary texts together. The
second session will be devoted to reading and discussion of primary texts in smaller groups, divided according to level of Hebrew
fluency and supervised by the instructor.
Required of all second-year rabbinic students and graduate students working in the areas of History of Biblical Interpretation,
Jewish Studies in the Greco-Roman Period, and Rabbinics. |
| PDE 401 (3364) |
WORSHIP AND RITUAL
Cantor Shore (3 cr.)
(This is second half of a course offered only on a year-long basis for three credits.)
Continued from 1st semester. This course covers the essentials of practical rabbinics surrounding life cycle events. Text study
comprises an overview of halakhic and Reform sources. The focus of the class is to establish building blocks for creating
effective ritual. Through an array of hands on developmental programming including creative liturgies, music, innovative
programming, and site visits, this class will provide the basis towards an extensive rabbinic portfolio. (2)
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| PDE 402 (3386) |
TEACHING WITHIN A REFORM EDUCATIONAL SETTING
Staff (3 cr.)
(This is second half of a course offered only on a year-long basis for three credits.)
Continued from Fall Semester
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| PDE 403 (3367) |
HOMILETICS
Dr. Cook/Rabbis Ingber and Kopnick (3 cr.)
(This is second half of a course offered only on a year-long basis for three credits.)
Continued from first semester. The structure and content of the Jewish sermon, stressing the textual and non-textual sermon.
Two semester course. (3)
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| PDE 404 (3368) |
INTRODUCTION TO HUMAN RELATIONS
Rabbi Alpers (3 cr.)
(This is second half of a course offered only on a year-long basis for three credits.)
Continued from 1st Semester. Human Relations provides the theoretical bases for understanding individual and family behaviors.
Students will learn to deal appropriately with common life issues facing congregants, and will practice basic techniques for
responding to a variety of pastoral care needs. The course will also include discussion of Jewish teachings and attitudes
towards pastoral
care. (3)
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| PDE 405 (3369) |
CLINICAL PASTORAL EDUCATION
Rabbi Alpers (3 cr.)
(This is second half of a course offered only on a year-long basis for three credits.)
Human Relations\Clinical Pastoral Education or its equivalent. Permission required for admission to this courses.
Continued from 1st Semester. HUC-JIR offers all 4th year students the opportunity to complete a unit of CPE during the academic
year. It consists of two separate components: formal classroom instruction, conducted one evening per week and practical
experience, which involves the counseling of unaffiliated Jewish patients (approximately 8-10 hours per week) at Jewish Hospital
or Children=s Hospital under the supervision of the course instructor. Instructor's permission required for admission to this
course. Interns are expected to continue their training between academic semesters. (4)
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| PDE 407 (3370) |
SENIOR PRACTICUM
Rabbi Kanter (3 cr.)
(This is second half of a course offered only on a year-long basis for three credits.)
Continued from Fall Semester. Senior Practicum. Required of the candidate for ordination, this course will examine issues,
challenges, and problems that confront the contemporary rabbi. Together we shall examine and discuss key questions to which we
must direct our thinking and help our people find personal and communal responses. This course will not meet every week. Some
additional programs are required.
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| PDE 408 (3371) |
FIELD WORK SEMINAR
Staff (0 cr.)
This course bears no credit but is required of all rabbinical students.
Continued from First Semester. Field Work Seminar, (2)
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| PDE 409 (3372) |
MAYERSON FIELD WORK
Staff (0 cr.)
This course bears no credit but is required of all rabbinical students.
Mayerson Fieldwork continued from first semester. Each student serving a bi-weekly (or its equivalent) for credit must register
for this course both Fall and Spring semesters.
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| PDE 410 (3373) |
FOURTH-YEAR SERMON
Rabbi Ehrlich (3 cr.)
Fourth Year Sermon A required speech/homiletics workshop for fourth year students. Sermon structure, style and
delivery. (4)
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| PDE 420 (3365) |
ADVANCED TA'AMEI MIKRA AND EREV SHABBAT NUSACH
Cantor Shore (1.5 cr.)
Continued from 1st semester. The chug emphasizes mastery of Torah and Haphtarah proficiency. This includes aspects of grammar
and interpretation as well as performative Hebrew and chanting skills. Pedagogic techniques are part of this process. The
musical focus is a combination of basic nusach for Kabbalat and Erev Shabbat with introduction to Reform and cantorial settings.
(2)
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| PDE 421 (3366) |
THE ART OF THE GABBAI AND BASIC MUSICIANSHIP
Cantor Shore (1.5 cr.)
Continued from 1st semester. Here we will explore the practical skills to become a master gabbai/gabbait. This includes
proficiency with the Hebrew calendar, liturgical subtleties surrounding Torah, and the pedagogic skills needed to help others.
Nusach of Shabbat Shacharit will also be introduced. Basic musicianship will focus on healthy vocal production, developing tonal
memory, elements of pitch, and harmony. (3)
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| PHI 402 (3376) |
INTRODUCTION TO MODERN JEWISH THOUGHT
Dr. Rechnitzer (3 cr.)
Modernity as a western cultural phenomenon challenged, revolutionized, and reshaped the human world and spiritual horizons. This
revolution changed profoundly the religious sphere and theologies. In order to understand this phenomenon we will examine major
works of modern Jewish thinkers such as Mendelssohn, Krochmann, Cohen, Buber and Strauss. In all our readings we will address a
dual question: What is the definition of modernity in each of these texts, and what is the theological response its. |
| PHI 540 (3377) |
PATHOS, PROCESS AND DIVINE REACTIVITY: JEWISH CONCEPTIONS OF AN EVOLVING GOD
Dr. Kogan (3 cr.)
Classical forms of Jewish theism have traditionally affirmed that God is properly described by attributes of perfection, such as
omnipotence, omniscience and omnibenevolence among others, which also include God's being eternal, timeless, and ultimately
changeless, i.e. beyond the capacity of creatures to affect. Examples of religious language to the contrary have usually been
interpreted as little more than metaphors. Nevertheless, in modern Jewish thought an alternate view has sometimes been
expressed, albeit in diverse and not always in compatible ways, which suggests that God is indeed describable in terms of
change-actions, reactions, and even interior emotions, not merely metaphorically, but really, and that these descriptions are not
only more coherent with traditional religious language but also with the world as we have come to understand it in modernity.
This is also presented as a view that gives more than lip-service to claims of divine immanence, without succumbing to naive
literalism or fundamentalism. Variously called transnaturalism, the theology of divine pathos, belief in a God who grows,
panentheism, and process thought, all of the variants maintain that God genuinely interacts with creatures through time and
changes because of those interactions. In this course, we will examine the views of several thinkers who have contributed to
developing the outlines of this position, notably: Mordecai M. Kaplan, Abraham Joshua Heschel, Michael Wyschogrod, Henry
Slonimsky, David Blumenthal, Alvin J. Reines, and William Kaufman. We will explore their conceptions of which attributes really
describe God and why they think so, as well as their views, where appropriate, on God's knowledge, God's concern for human
beings, revelation, providence prayer, the problem of evil, and attendant questions of free will and determinism in both God and
human beings. Paper required. |
| PHI 543 (3378) |
MODERN READINGS OF ANCIENT PERPLEXITY: MAIMONIDES' GUIDE TO WHERE?
Dr. Rechnitzer (3 cr.)
For the last nine centuries Maimonides' Guide of the Perplexed plays a major role in the construction of Jewish religion and
culture. In this seminar we will focus on modern Jewish thinkers such as H. Cohen, J. Guttmann, L. Strauss, Leibowitz among
others, and their different readings of Maimonides' Guide. Our main objectives are (1) to reconstruct the worldview and
intellectual agenda of the interpreters themselves and (2) to provide an outline for the role of Maimonides in modern Jewish
thought. |
| PTH 401-A (3374) |
AN INTRODUCTION TO POST-TALMUDIC HALAKHIC LITERATURE
Dr. Cohen (3 cr.) |
| PTH 401-B (3375) |
Dr. Washofsky (3 cr.)
An Introduction to post-Talmudic Halakhic Literature. The class will study the nature of the halakhic process and the
methodology of the most prominent post-Talmudic poskim. Selections from Shulhan Arukh Orah Hayim and Yore De'ah will be read,
both for their practical significance and as a means of increasing the student's familiarity with this literature. Required of
all 3rd year students. (3) |
| RAB 530 (3387) |
INTRODUCTION TO JEWISH BUSINESS ETHICS
Dr. Cohen (3 cr.)
The course will expose students to recent writings on Jewish business ethics, and examine major themes. It will entail extensive
reading of primary and secondary sources. Pre-requisites: Talmud 401 & PTHL 401 or instructor's permission. |
| TAL 559 (3383) |
SHABBAT: RABBINIC AND CONTEMPORARY PERSPECTIVES
Dr. Washofsky (3 cr.)
An examination of the principal rubrics of Shabbat observance in Jewish law: zakhor (the "sanctification" of Shabbat
through ritual and liturgy); shamor (activities prohibited on Shabbat); kavod and oneg (activities designed
to "honor" and "delight" in the Sabbath). The course will also consider issues and problems of Shabbat observance in the context
of contemporary Reform Jewish life. |
| THE 401 (3379) |
BELIEF AND PRACTICE
Drs. Kogan/
Greengus/
Sarason (3 cr.)
An introduction to the idiom and conceptual frameworks of Jewish religious literature from the biblical period through the early
modern period, with emphasis on the interrelationship between religious belief and religious practice. Selected passages from
the Tanakh, rabbinic literature, medieval philosophy, kabbalah, and modern Jewish thought will form the basis for
discussion. (2) |
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