JCTC6901 - Jewish Civ Study: Methodology and Tools

Semester 1, 2012  |  Credit Points: 6

Coordinator: Suzanne Rutland
Phone: +61 2 9351 6662
Email: suzanne.rutland@sydney.edu.au

Description

This core unit explores the key elements of Jewish civilization, looking at the unique features of the Jewish experience. These include the concept of Jewish identity, the Jewish experience within Israel and the ways in which Jewish life in the Diaspora is molded by events in the majority host community. The reasons for the richness of Jewish literature, including the evolution of many different languages such as Classical and Modern Hebrew, Aramaic, Yiddish, and Ladino will also be investigated. Students will not be expected to know these languages, but will develop an understanding of the role they have played within Jewish civilization. Questions will also be raised regarding both Biblical and post-Biblical texts in terms of authorship, date of sources and the 'original' intentions of the writers, all of which present specific methodological problems.

Assessments

1x4000-5000wd essay (100%)

Classes

2x1-hr seminars/week

Additional Information

Compulsory core unit in the MA (Hebrew, Biblical and Jewish Studies) program

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