WR 698: SPECIAL TOPICS IN WORLD RELIGIONS

INTRODUCTION TO JUDAISM

Candler School of Theology Fall, 2003

M 6:30 - 9:30 BH 212

Instructor:

Professor David R. Blumenthal (7-7545; 404-634-3833; <reldrb@emory.edu>)

Content:

The purpose of this course is to provide students for the Christian ministry and education with a historical, theological, and practical introduction to Judaism and the Jewish community. Accordingly, the course is divided into four parts: the secular forms of Jewish identity, the religious forms of Jewish identity, the holocaust as the formative trauma of contemporary Jewish life, and A. J. Heschel as a representative Jewish theologian.

Texts:

Bible (any translation).

H. Wouk, This Is My God

E. Wiesel, Night

L. Dawidowicz, The War Against the Jews

A. J. Heschel, God in Search of Man

A Theological Understanding of the Relationship between Christians and Jews, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) - will be distributed

Recommended texts; also placed on reserve:

S. Dubnow, Nationalism and History

A. Hertzberg, The Zionist Idea

E. Evans, The Provincials

A. J. Heschel, Who Is Man?

Management:

No prerequisites.

The teaching method is discussion; students will have to prepare all readings.

There will also be a field trip.

Final exam: Take home, choice of questions, short essay.

Introduction

Secular Jewish Identity

Diaspora Nationalism -- Sept. 8

Dubnow, 76-99

 

Zionism -- Sept. 15

Hertzberg, 182-8, 204-26, 316-27, 409-15

 

The Atlanta Jewish Federation (guest lecture) -- Sept. 22

Woocher articles on reserve

Religious Jewish Identity

Traditional and Liberal Forms of Judaism -- Sept. 29

Wouk

(Oct. 6 -- Yom Kippur -- no class) 

Field Trip to a Synagogue -- Oct. 13

Evans

The Holocaust as Formative of Contemporary Jewish Identity

The Horror -- Oct. 20

film: "Night and Fog"

Dawidowicz

 

Popular Jewish Responses &endash; Oct. 27

Wiesel

"In the Shadow of the Holocaust," "Afterthoughts"

 

Christian Responsibility (guest lecturer) -- Nov. 3

to be assigned

Christian-Jewish Relations

The Presbyterian Documents (A Theological Understanding...)

"Weapons of the Spirit" (film) -- Nov. 10

Jewish Theology

Religious Experience and Language -- Nov. 17

Heschel, Part One

 

Revelation and the Biblical Text -- Nov. 24

Heschel, Part Two

 

Deed and Religious Praxis &endash; Dec. 1

Heschel, Part Three

Final Exam Due --

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