DR351O: JEWISH INTERPRETATIONS OF THE HEBREW BIBLE (2014-2015)

This course aims to familiarize the students with Jewish interpretation of the Hebrew Bible. It will introduce the students to the central texts of ancient and modern Judaism (the Dead Sea Scrolls, the Targums, the Mishnah, the Talmud, Midrash) and investigate how these texts interpret the Hebrew Bible. Within this context, it will also look at the ways in which the New Testament, a text written by Jewish authors in the 1st century CE, relates to the Hebrew Bible. It will also familiarize the students with key Mediaeval Jewish exegetes (e.g. Rashi, Ibn Ezra) and explore how these men understood the biblical texts. Finally, it will look at specific texts and areas of interpretations from a modern Jewish perspective (e.g. post-holocaust interpretations). Main Learning Outcomes Through the study of select and representative texts, the students will become familiar with a wide range of Jewish interpretations of the Hebrew Bible. The students will learn about the origin and historical development of these texts which are central to Judaism. The students will also become familiar with the historical factors that contributed to the creation of these texts; study the various ways in which they relate to the biblical text; and read representative excerpts from each type of text. Content This course will familiarize the students with a large variety of ancient and modern Jewish interpretations of the Hebrew Bible. The first half of the course will deal with the earliest attempts at understanding and interpreting the biblical texts, found in the Dead Sea Scrolls, the Aramaic Targums, the Mishnah, the Talmud, and Midrash. At this point, it will also explore how the New Testament, a text written by Jewish authors in the 1st century CE, interpreted the material in the Hebrew Bible. In the second half of the course, the focus will shift to Jewish exegesis from Muslim Spain and Christian France in the 10th-12th century CE. The students will become familiar with key Jewish exegetes such as Rashi and Ibn Ezra. The last quarter of the course will be devoted to modern Jewish exegesis. We shall look at specific texts and areas of interpretations, with focus on post-holocaust and modern Israeli biblical interpretations.

Information on contact teaching time is available from the course guide.

View DR351O Timetable

More Information about Week Numbers

1st Attempt Examination (60%) and continuous assessment (40%) consisting of a paper of 2000 words (30%) and an oral presentation (10%). Resit: A student will not be eligible to take the resit unless they have fulfilled all the requirements for internal assessment (essay and class presentation).

The students will recieve formative assessment/feedback from the course instructor after their oral presentation. The students will receive formative assessment/feedback within the context of the class-room discussions

The students will be given the chance to discuss their essays with the course coordinator prior to the date of submission. Students will receive detailed written feedback on their essay no later than 2 weeks after date of submission. Students will receive detailed written feedback on their final exam.

None.