Rebecca Ivry Department of Jewish Studies Apply Now Artificial Intelligence Biotechnology Computer Science Cybersecurity Data Analytics and Visualization Digital Marketing and Media Mathematics Occupational Therapy Physician Assistant Physics Speech-Language Pathology Welcome Nowhere in North America can women enjoy greater range and depth of Torah study than at Yeshiva University's Rebecca Ivry Department of Jewish Studies, which offers the country's largest and most diverse undergraduate Jewish studies program for women. Our program is designed to expose students to the beauty of Torah study and the richness of Jewish tradition. We offer valuable training in rigorous thought, exposure to research methods and opportunities for independent work. Students learn across a curriculum that includes courses in Bible, Hebrew language, Jewish history, Jewish philosophy and Judaic law. Regardless of focus, all students engage with the textual analysis of Jewish works in the Hebrew and Aramaic originals, through hakhanah, chavruta and shiurim. The structure of the learning and committed faculty result in genuine relationships that personalize, deepen and distinguish each student's education. The Jewish studies faculty are not only accomplished scholars and moral exemplars; they provide guidance on how to live an ethical life. Mission Statement The mission of the Rebecca Ivry Department of Jewish Studies at Stern College for Women is to provide our students with college-level Jewish learning, skills and knowledge in the sub-fields of Bible, Hebrew Language, Jewish History, Jewish Philosophy and Judaic Studies. A broader aim is to provide students with exposure to the ethics and values that emerge from these disciplines. Program Student Learning Goals: Students will be able to understand primary Hebrew texts. Students will be able to analyze significant issues in the fields of Jewish Studies. Students will be able to understand the different historical contexts of the various fields of Jewish studies. Students will be able to synthesize information about the ethical teachings and values that emerge from the study of Jewish texts and traditions. Jewish Studies on Campus The Jewish Studies department consists of courses in five different disciplines: Bible, Judaic Studies (Halacha and Torah Shebe’al Peh), Jewish History, Jewish Philosophy and Hebrew language. These disciplines are offered in five different levels: elementary, lower intermediate, intermediate, upper intermediate and advanced, with the goal for students to begin in their levels and continue to advance throughout their undergraduate years of learning. Students should emerge with a fundamental understanding of the questions that lie at the core of each discipline. Please contact us if you have any questions about Jewish Studies or the Rebecca Ivry Department of Jewish Studies at Stern College. We look forward to hearing from you. Jewish Studies Requirements For All Beren Campus Students The Jewish Studies requirement on the Beren Campus has two elements- the number of courses and the distribution of those courses. To fulfill the number of Jewish Studies courses, students must take a minimum of 2 courses in Jewish Studies each semester and 22 Jewish Studies courses in total. Courses taken in Israel at a Seminary may count towards the total, however, students will still need to take 2 Jewish Studies courses each semester during their full-time attendance at the Beren Campus. To fulfill the distribution requirement for Jewish Studies, students must take the following: Bible- 2 Courses Judaic Studies- 2 Courses Jewish Philosophy- 1 Course Jewish History- 1 Course Hebrew Language- based on the results of the student's Hebrew Language Placement Exam HEBR 1010- 3 Courses HEBR 1020- 2 Courses HEBR 1030, 1211 or 1221- 1 Course Shana Bet Two Semester: Such student must take a minimum of 8 JS courses on Beren campus to meet the 2 JS class/semester minimum for all full-time students. Of those 8 courses, 3 JUDS on the advanced level; two of which double dip toward distribution and major 3 BIBL on the advanced level; two of which double dip toward distribution and major 1 JHIS counts toward distribution but not major 1 JPHI counts toward distribution but not major Distribution requirements must be completed on the Beren Campus. Only Jewish Studies courses designated as “Fundamentals” in the course attributes in Banner can fulfill the specific distribution requirements. All Jewish Studies courses of 2 or more credits count toward the total number of 22 required courses. For Jewish Studies Majors 9 classes of ADVANCED level Jewish Studies courses beyond those used to meet the Jewish Studies requirements of 22 Jewish Studies courses, AND the Distribution requirement of 2 courses of BIBL; 2 courses of JUDS; 1 course of JHIS; 1 course of JPHI; and HEBR language according to placement. Major courses may be taken only in 1 or 2 areas of concentration (BIBL, JUDS, JHIS, JPHI and HEBR). At least 3 courses (9 credits) must be completed in the chosen area(s) of concentration. [With prior permission of the department chair, a student may take one course outside of the one or two areas, if it relates to the other courses in her major.] Students whose focus is BIBL must include at least: one course in medieval or modern exegetical methods (BIBL 1081- 1097) one course in a specific book of Tanakh. Students whose focus is JUDS must include at least: one text-based course one course on the development of Jewish Law Students whose focus is JHIS must include at least: one course from the medieval period one course from the modern period Students whose focus is JPHI must include at least: one course from the medieval period one course from the modern period For Jewish Studies Minors 5 courses of ADVANCED level Jewish Studies courses beyond those used to meet the Jewish Studies requirement of 22 Jewish Studies courses AND the Distribution requirement as above. Minor courses may be taken only in 1 or 2 areas of Jewish Studies (BIBL, JUDS, JHIS, JPHI & HEBR). Faculty Meet the Faculty Shoshana Schechter Associate Dean of Torah Studies Director for the Mechina Program Senior Lecturer in Bible Deena Rabinovich Chair, Rebecca Ivry Department of Jewish Studies Director, Legacy Heritage Fund Jewish Educator's Project Senior Lecturer in Bible Kenneth Auman Adjunct Instructor in Jewish Studies Saul Berman Professor of Jewish Studies Rachel Besser Instructor of Bible Danielle Bloom Adjunct Instructor of Bible Aaron Cohen Senior Lecturer in Jewish Studies Mordechai Cohen Professor of Bible Associate Dean, Bernard Revel School of Jewish Studies Steven Fine Professor of Jewish History Zev Goldberg Adjunct instructor of Jewish Studies Hilla Goldwicht Senior Lecturer in Hebrew Language Meir Goldwicht Joel and Maria Finkle Visiting Israeli Rosh Yeshiva Visiting Professor of Jewish History Naomi Grunhaus Associate Professor of Bible Jeffrey Gurock Libby M. Klaperman Professor of Jewish History Lawrence Hajioff Senior Lecturer in Jewish Studies Richard Hidary Professor of Jewish Studies Talya Honig-Leib Instructor in Hebrew Language Ephraim Kanarfogel E. Billi Ivry University Professor of Jewish History, Literature and Law Joshua Karlip Herbert S. and Naomi Denenberg Chair of Jewish Studies at Yeshiva College Associate Professor of Jewish History Emma Katz Adjunct Instructor in Bible Jill Katz Clinical Associate Professor of Archaeology Chair, Department of Sociology Hadassah Kosak Associate Professor of History Kalman Laufer Adjunct Instructor in Jewish Studies Dov Lerner Resident Scholar for the Straus Center for Torah and Western Thought Adjunct Instructor in Jewish Philosophy Michelle Levine Associate Professor of Bible Zafrira Lidovsky Cohen Rabbi Arthur Kahn Professor of Hebrew Literature Coordinator of Hebrew Language and Literature Ari Mermelstein Associate Professor of Bible and Second Temple Literature Chair, Department of Bible, Hebrew, And Near Eastern Studies Ronnie Perelis Chief Rabbi Dr. Isaac Abraham and Jelena (Rachel) Alcalay Chair In Sephardic Studies Associate Professor of Jewish History Nechama Price Senior Lecturer in Jewish Studies and Bible Director of GPATS Zev Reichman Adjunct Instructor in Jewish Philosophy Smadar Rosensweig Clinical Associate Professor of Bible Moriah Rosensweig-Weiss Adjunct Instructor of Bible Mordechai Schiffman Adjunct Instructor in Jewish Philosophy Ilan Schimmel Adjunct Instructor in Jewish Philosophy Allen Schwartz Raymond J. Greenwald Chair in Jewish Studies at Yeshiva College Instructor of Jewish Studies David Shatz Ronald P. Stanton University Professor of Philosophy, Ethics, and Religious Thought Chair, SCW Department of Philosophy Mahnaz Shmalo Adjunct Instructor in Bible and Jewish Studies Meir Soloveitchik Assistant Professor of Judaic Studies and Jewish History Director of The Zahava And Moshael J. Straus Center For Torah And Western Thought Sara Twersky Bernard Revel Graduate School of Jewish Studies Assistant Director of Programming Adjunct Instructor in Bible Daniel Wolff Senior Lecturer in Jewish Studies Bible About Biblical Studies The study of Bible, Tanakh, is the study of the Divine Word of God that provides a foundation for our identity as Bnai Yisrael and our relationship with God. The stories and laws in Tanakh answer the following questions: Who are we as individual people? Who are we as a nation? What does it mean that we are a chosen nation? What is our mission as Am Yisrael? What are the laws that we are required to do? What are the Covenants that we are a part of? what are the responsibilities and the privileges that come with being members of the Chosen People. We are supposed to model ourselves in the Image of God; what does that mean and how do we fulfil that mission? Why are these stories relevant to me as an individual? As a woman? What can we learn from the success and failures of the Biblical characters that is relevant to our lives today? The classes have a dual purpose. They focus on answering the big questions that should bring us closer to God. In addition, they focus on analysis of the text using a multitude of methods that include classical exegesis and literary techniques. The goal is for the student to be able to answer why these texts connect to me as an individual and as a Jewish woman and to enable the student to become an independent learner. Please contact us if you have any questions about biblical studies or the Rebecca Ivry Department of Jewish Studies at Stern College. We look forward to hearing from you. Deena Rabinovich - Chair drabinov@yu.edu Courses Bible courses (BIBL) are offered at the beginning, elementary, intermediate and advanced levels. Please see the Schedule of Classes for the current semester’s offerings. 1015; 1016 Introduction to the Bible 3 credits Authorship and canonization; Masoretic text; translations of the Bible; survey of medieval exegesis; modern Biblical studies; bibliographical and methodological guidance. For advanced students. 1081; 1082 Introduction to Exegesis 3 credits Principles of biblical interpretation; survey of classical exegetes. 1083; 1084; 1085; 1086 Topics in Biblical Exegesis 3 credits Selected biblical texts, primarily from the Pentateuch, examined in light of classical and modern Jewish commentaries. 1087; 1088; 1089; 1090 Biblical Exegetes I; II; III; IV 3 credits Survey of the major exegetes, classical and modern, analyzing historical background, style, and methodology. First semester: Northern French school; second semester: Spanish school; third semester: Provence and Italy; fourth semester: modern commentators. 1096; 1097, 1098 Nahmanides on Pentateuch 3 credits Analysis of the commentary of Moses Nahmanides (Ramban), his method and terminology, and similarities to—and differences from—other exegetes. 1115-1120 Pentateuch: Weekly Portion 3 credits The weekly portion of the Pentateuch studied with standard commentaries. 1159; 1160 Women in the Bible 3 credits 1171, 1172 Personal Development in the Bible I, II 3 credits 1201; 1202 The Book of Genesis 3 credits Basic introduction to the Pentateuch. Translation and exposition of the text in accordance with standard commentaries, with introduction to Rashi. For elementary students. 1203; 1204 The Book of Genesis 3 credits Same content as 1201; 1202 with selections from Rashi. For lower intermediate students. 1205; 1206 The Book of Genesis 3 credits Same content as 1201; 1202 with selected passages from Rashi and other commentators. For intermediate students. 1207; 1208 The Book of Genesis 3 credits Same as 1205; 1206; for upper intermediate students. 1209; 1210 The Book of Genesis 3 credits Intensive study using classical and modern commentaries. For advanced students. 1211; 1212; 1213; 1214 Topics in Genesis 3 credits 1303; 1304 The Book of Exodus 3 credits Translation and exposition of the text in accordance with standard commentaries; selected passages from Rashi and other commentators. For lower intermediate students. 1305; 1306 The Book of Exodus 3 credits Same as 1303; 1304; for intermediate students. 1307; 1308 The Book of Exodus 3 credits Same as 1303; 1304; for upper intermediate students. 1309; 1310 The Book of Exodus 3 credits Intensive study using classical and modern commentaries. For advanced students. 1311; 1312; 1313; 1314 Topics in Exodus 3 credits 1405; 1406 The Book of Leviticus 3 credits For intermediate students. 1407; 1408 The Book of Leviticus 3 credits Same as 1405; 1406; for upper intermediate students. 1409; 1410 The Book of Leviticus 3 credits Intensive study using classical and modern commentaries. For advanced students. 1411; 1412 Topics in Leviticus 3 credits 1503, 1504 Book of Numbers 3 credits Translation and exposition of the text in accordance with standard commentaries; selected passages from Rashi and other commentators. For lower intermediate students. 1505; 1506 The Book of Numbers 3 credits Translation and exposition of the text in accordance with standard commentaries; selected passages from Rashi and other commentators. For intermediate students. 1507; 1508 The Book of Numbers 3 credits Same as 1505; 1506; for upper intermediate students. 1509; 1510 The Book of Numbers 3 credits Intensive study using classical and modern commentaries. For advanced students. 1511; 1512 Topics in Numbers 3 credits 1605; 1606 The Book of Deuteronomy 3 credits Translation and exposition of the text in accordance with standard commentaries; selected passages from Rashi and other commentators. For intermediate students. 1607; 1608 The Book of Deuteronomy 3 credits Translation and exposition of the text in accordance with standard commentaries; selected passages from Rashi and other commentators. For upper intermediate students. 1609; 1610 The Book of Deuteronomy 3 credits Intensive study using classical and modern commentaries. For advanced students. 1611; 1612 Topics in Deuteronomy 3 credits 2049; 2050 The Haftarot 3 credits Those portions of the Prophets used as synagogue lessons. For advanced students. 2107; 2108 Early Prophets 3 credits The Books of Joshua, Judges, Samuel, and Kings. Textual study with classical and modern commentaries. 2109; 2110 Early Prophets 3 credits Selections from the Early Prophets, with classical commentaries. First semester: conquest of Canaan and early Judges; second semester: later Judges and the establishment of the Monarchy. For advanced students. 2114 through 2365 Early Prophets 3 credits Specific portions of the text, with classical and modern commentaries. 2115, 2116 Joshua 3 credits For intermediate students. 2117; 2118 Joshua 3 credits For upper intermediate students. 2119; 2120 Joshua 3 credits For advanced students. 2121 Judges 3 credits For intermediate students. 2122; 2123 Judges 3 credits For upper intermediate students. 2125; 2126 Judges 3 credits For advanced students. 2148; 2149 Samuel 3 credits For intermediate students. 2152; 2153 Samuel I 3 credits For upper intermediate students. 2154; 2155 Samuel II 3 credits For upper intermediate students. 2156; 2157 Samuel I 3 credits For advanced students. 2158; 2159 Samuel II 3 credits For advanced students 2160 Topics in Samuel 3 credits 2355; 2356 Kings 3 credits For intermediate students. 2357; 2358 Kings I 3 credits For upper intermediate students. 2359; 2360 Kings I 3 credits For advanced students. 2363 Topics in Kings 3 credits 2500 through 2879 The Later Prophets 3 credits Texts studied with classical and modern commentaries; literary analysis; emphasis on historical background and religious and social problems considered by the Prophets. 2501; 2502 Later Prophets—Survey 3 credits 2503; 2504 Isaiah 3 credits 2505; 2506 Topics in Isaiah 3 credits 2555; 2556 Jeremiah 3 credits 2605; 2606 Ezekiel 3 credits 2653 Minor Prophets 3 credits 2658 Seven Minor Prophets 3 credits 2805; 2806 Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi 3 credits 3205; 3206 Psalms 3 credits For lower intermediate students. 3207; 3208 Psalms 3 credits For upper intermediate students. 3209; 3210 Psalms 3 credits For advanced students. 3257; 3258 Proverbs 3 credits 3307; 3308 Job 3 credits 3403, 3404 Five Megillot 3 credits For intermediate students. 3407; 3408 Five Megillot 3 credits For upper intermediate students. 3409; 3410 Five Megillot 3 credits For advanced students. 3415; 3416 Song of Songs 3 credits 3450 Ruth 3 credits 3510 Lamentations 3 credits 3659; 3660 Ecclesiastes 3 credits 3707; 3710 Esther 3 credits Intermediate-Advanced levels. 3711; 3712 Selected Megillot 3 credits 3807 Daniel 3 credits 3857 Ezra-Nehemiah 3 credits 3909 Chronicles 3 credits 4002; 4003 Biblical Narrative 3 credits Narrative forms in prose and historical books; readings in biblical narratives, especially of the Pentateuch, with accompanying medieval and modern commentaries. 4901, 4902 Independent Study See Academic Information and Policies section. 4930-4939 Selected Topics in Bible Resources Please note: Links to external sites are offered as a convenience to visitors, as a starting point for exploration. Such sites are neither endorsed nor regulated by Yeshiva University, which accepts no responsibility for their content. Research Mendel Gottesman Library of Hebraica/Judaica YU’s own, and one of the world’s great research collections in Bible, Jewish philosophy, Rabbinics, Jewish history, and the Hebrew language. Bible, Rabbinic Texts, and Rambam From Mechon Mamre InscriptiFact An image database of inscriptions and artifacts, from USC. The Responsa Project The world’s largest electronic collection of Jewish texts in Hebrew. Manuscripts of Mishnah, Tosefta, and Bavli Comprehensive Aramaic Lexicon From Hebrew Union College. ABZU Bibliography A guide to information related to the study of the Ancient Near East, maintained by a worldwide consortium of institutions. The Dead Sea Scrolls and Other Hebrew MSS Project From the Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago, articles and other resources. Mesopotamia At the British Museum. Judaica Collection Internet resources gathered by the Yale University Library. MALMAD: Israel Union List Database of articles in Jewish studies. The Michael Davidson Early Hebrew Printing Homepage A guide to Hebrew manuscripts, incunabula, and antiquities maintained by a Canadian book collector. Internships Internships.com YU has a premium subscription. Please contact the Career Development Center for details. Graduate Study Graduate Program In Advanced Talmudic Studies For Women (GPATS) YU's two-year master's program in Biblical and Talmudic interpretation Bernard Revel Graduate School of Jewish Studies YU’s own, and one of the world’s best. Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary YU’s own, and the Yeshiva from which our university grew. Careers Options for Jewish Studies Majors Career paths for Jewish Studies majors, from Indiana University. Jewish Studies Majors Career opportunities, from Rutgers University. News and Organizations Times Topics: Bible From The New York Times. Association for Jewish Studies Seeks to promote and improve Jewish Studies at institutions of higher learning. Judaic Studies About Judaic Studies The root of the word Halakhah is halakh, to go, which shows that the underlying purpose of halakhah is to bring us somewhere. As such, all mitzvoth have a purpose, whether we understand the purpose or not. The Rambam in Moreh Nevukhim 3, 27 identifies the following underlying goals of the Torah. We learn the Torah in order to make us… to make us better people. to be able to identify what is true and to avoid falsehood to shape noble personality qualities and to avoid ignoble qualities degrading personality qualities to achieve justice and to avoid injustice Oral Law and Halakha provide the framework for how we conduct our lives and for how we connect to our mesorah. We learn the from the sources how to understand the development of halakha and the halakhic process and what it means for us as members of Am Yisrael and as women. Please contact us if you have any questions about Judaic Studies or the Rebecca Ivry Department of Jewish Studies at Stern College. We look forward to hearing from you. Deena Rabinovich - Chair drabinov@yu.edu Courses Judaic Studies courses (JUDS) are offered on the elementary, intermediate and advanced levels. Students are placed on the proper level by examination. Please see the Schedule of Classes for the current semester’s offerings. JUDS 1000 Introduction to Judaism 3 credits One-semester survey of the material covered in Introduction to Judaism. JUDS 1001, 1002 Introduction to Judaism 3 credits Basic Jewish concepts; analysis of the fundamental principles of Jewish legal history and thought. JUDS 1023; 1024 Jewish Legal Values and Concepts 3 credits JUDS 1200 through 1250 Jewish Liturgy 3 credits History, philosophy, and laws of Jewish prayer. JUDS 1201; 1202 3 credits History, order, and structure of the prayer book. For intermediate students. JUDS 1203; 1204 3 credits Same as 1201; 1202. For advanced students. JUDS 1210 3 credits The weekday service. JUDS 1350 Introduction to the Kabbalah 3 credits Jewish mysticism; history and development of the Kabbalah; readings from the Zohar and related works on such topics as the Sefirot, Torah, the world, evil, and eschatology. JUDS 1371; 1372 Hasidism 3 credits History and major concepts, with readings from and analysis of classical texts such as the Baal Shem Tov, R. Jacob Joseph of Polonnoye, the Maggid, the Tanya, R. Nahman of Bratzlav, and R. Levi Yitzhak of Berdichev. JUDS 1381; 1382; 1383; 1384 Mussar 3 credits The primacy of ethical conduct and the process of shaping the ethical personality in Judaism, as viewed through the prism of the various personalities and schools of the Mussar movement; primary and secondary sources are used. For advanced students in Jewish studies. JUDS 1400–1499 Jewish Laws and Customs Jewish laws, customs, and concepts; their history and development. JUDS 1401, 1402 3 credits Introduction to sources, texts, terms, and basic concepts of Jewish law. JUDS 1410–1420 Women and Jewish Law 2–3 credits JUDS 1424 3 credits Visiting the sick and mourning. JUDS 1431 3 credits Kashrut—for elementary-level students. JUDS 1433 3 credits Kashrut—for intermediate-level students. JUDS 1435; 1436 3 credits Kashrut—for advanced students. JUDS 1439 3 credits Home and family—for elementary-level students. JUDS 1440 3 credits Home and family—for intermediate-level students. JUDS 1443 2–3 credits Home and family I (Hilkhot Niddah I); Jewish family purity sources—for upper intermediate-advanced students. JUDS 1444 2–3 credits Home and Family II (Hilkhot Niddah II); Jewish family purity sources—for upper intermediate-advanced students. JUDS 1449,1450 3 credits Marriage: issues and laws relating to dating and marriage; divorce—for advanced students. JUDS 1451 The Sabbath—for elementary-level students. JUDS 1453, 1454 The Sabbath—for intermediate-level students. JUDS 1455; 1456; 1457; 1458; 1459; 1460 The Sabbath—for advanced students. JUDS 1461, 1462 The Festivals—for elementary-level students. 1463, 1464 The Festivals—for intermediate-level students. JUDS 1465; 1466; 1467; 1468 The Festivals—for advanced students. JUDS 1470S through 1479S Sephardic Laws and Customs Laws and customs of major Sephardic communities as compared to those of Ashkenazic communities. JUDS 1471S 2-3 credits Origins and history of Sephardic minhagim. JUDS 1472S; 1473S 2-3 credits The Sephardic life cycle. JUDS 1474S; 1475S 2-3 credits Sephardic Sabbath and Festival minhagim. JUDS 1483; 1484 3 credits The Jewish life cycle: laws and customs of major ritual observances and ceremonies in Jewish life. JUDS 1485; 1486; 1487; 1488 3 credits Daily life in the home and synagogue: the laws and customs of Tefillin, Kriat Hatorah Betsibbur, Berakhot Rishonot, Berakhot Aharonot. JUDS 1489; 1490; 1491; 1492 3 credits Interpersonal relationships (such as ethics, charity, slander, revenge, usury). JUDS 1493; 1494 3 credits Ideological issues—for intermediate-level students. JUDS 1495; 1496 3 credits Ideological issues—for advanced students. JUDS 1497; 1498 3 credits The Land. JUDS 1499 3 credits The structure of the Seudah. JUDS 1501; 1502; 1503; 1504 Topics in Jewish Ethics 3 credits For advanced students. JUDS 1507; 1508 Topics in Jewish Law 3 credits JUDS 1510 Development of Jewish Law 3 credits One-semester survey of the material covered in 1511, 1512. JUDS 1511; 1512 Development of Jewish Law 3 credits The halakhic process and the formulation of halakhic literature: from biblical literature through the Mishnah and Talmud; codification and Responsa; survey of post-Talmudic literature. JUDS 1521; 1522 Introduction to Gaonic Literature 3 credits First semester: background of the Gaon and his authority; institutions and movements in the Gaonic period; second semester: extensive reading in Gaonic literature, including She’iltot de R. Ahai, siddurim, Gaonic Responsa. For advanced students in Jewish studies. JUDS 1531; 1532; 1533; 1534 Readings in Maimonides 3 credits Selections from the legal codes and commentaries of Maimonides; analysis of the legal methodology and philosophy of law emerging from his works. For advanced students in Jewish studies. JUDS 1561; 1562 Mishnah Berurah 3 credits Selections from the Shulhan Arukh, with Mishnah Berurah commentary. JUDS 1571 through 1576 The Individual in Society 3 credits Contemporary social and political problems such as ecology, poverty, welfare, and self-incrimination; emphasis on Jewish legal sources directly applicable to these issues. JUDS 1577 through 1610 Modern Jewish Problems Analysis of halakhic problems that are currently of special interest; modern Responsa literature and its historical background. For advanced students in Jewish studies. JUDS 1577; 1578; 1579; 1580 3 credits Survey covering several areas. JUDS 1581 Medical Ethics 3 credits Survey. JUDS 1582; 1583 Medical Ethics 3 credits Beginning of life issues; end-of-life issues. JUDS 1584 3 credits Legal problems in the State of Israel. JUDS 1585 3 credits Problems related to marriage and personal status. JUDS 1586 3 credits Impact of technology on laws of the Sabbath and Festivals. JUDS 1587 3 credits The Holocaust—life of the Jews under the Nazis: such problems as the value of human life and human dignity. JUDS 1591 Topics in Jewish Civil Law 3 credits The following topics, among others, as treated in Jewish law: Eichmann defense (i.e., obedience to orders as a basis for exoneration from criminal responsibility); double jeopardy and entrapment in the attempt to control criminals; the obligation to prevent injury to other persons, and its limits. JUDS 1601 Intellect and Emotion 2-3 credits JUDS 1602 Ethics of Truth 2–3 credits The status of Jerusalem in Christianity, Islam and Judaism; the status of non-observant Jews in Jewish law and tradition; the ethics of truth-telling in Jewish law and tradition. JUDS 1603 Women and Jewish Ritual 2–3 credits Bat Mitzvah, Kaddish, Birkhat haGomel, mechitzah. JUDS 1603 1604 Amalek and Messianism 2–3 credits Halakhah and morality in Modern times; Chrisitanity, Islam and Judaism: history, religion and contemporary significance; contemporary theological significance of the State of Israel; Messianism in Jewish tradition. JUDS 1820 through 1829 Mishnah Text with classical and modern commentaries. JUDS 1821 Women in the Mishnah 2-3 credits JUDS 1839; 1840 Introduction to Talmud 3 credits Introduction to Talmudic text and commentaries. For intermediate and advanced students in Jewish studies. JUDS 1841; 1842 Introduction to Talmud I; II 3 credits JUDS 1843; 1844 Intermediate Talmud 3 credits Selected Talmudic texts with medieval and modern commentaries; emphasis on methodology. For advanced students in Jewish studies. JUDS 1845; 1846; 1847; 1848 Advanced Talmud 3–5 credits Selected Talmudic texts with medieval and modern commentaries; emphasis on methodology; beit midrash method of small-group study supplements lectures. For advanced students in Jewish studies. JUDS 1851; 1852; 1853; 1854 Selected Rabbinic Literature 2–3 credits Selections from fundamental rabbinic texts of the medieval and early modern periods. JUDS 1861; 1862; 1863; 1864 Modern Rabbinic Personalities 3 credits Leading rabbinic figures during the 19th and 20th centuries. JUDS 1871; 1872; 1873; 1874 Selections from Midrash 3 credits Readings from aggadic literature. For advanced students in Jewish studies. JUDS 4901, 4902 Independent Study See Academic Information and Policies section. JUDS 4931; 4932; 4933; 4934 Selected Topics 3 credits Resources Please note: Links to external sites are offered as a convenience to visitors, as a starting point for exploration. Such sites are neither endorsed nor regulated by Yeshiva University, which accepts no responsibility for their content. Research Mendel Gottesman Library of Hebraica/Judaica YU’s own, and one of the world’s great research collections in Bible, Jewish philosophy, Rabbinics, Jewish history, and the Hebrew language. Bible, Rabbinic Texts, and Rambam From Mechon Mamre InscriptiFact An image database of inscriptions and artifacts, from USC. The Responsa Project The world’s largest electronic collection of Jewish texts in Hebrew. Manuscripts of Mishnah, Tosefta, and Bavli Comprehensive Aramaic Lexicon From Hebrew Union College. ABZU Bibliography A guide to information related to the study of the Ancient Near East, maintained by a worldwide consortium of institutions. The Dead Sea Scrolls and Other Hebrew MSS Project From the Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago, articles and other resources. Mesopotamia At the British Museum. Judaica Collection Internet resources gathered by the Yale University Library. MALMAD: Israel Union List Database of articles in Jewish studies. The Michael Davidson Early Hebrew Printing Homepage A guide to Hebrew manuscripts, incunabula, and antiquities maintained by a Canadian book collector. Internships Internships.com YU has a premium subscription. Please contact the Career Development Center for details. Graduate Study Graduate Program In Advanced Talmudic Studies For Women (GPATS) YU's two-year master's program in Biblical and Talmudic interpretation Bernard Revel Graduate School of Jewish Studies YU’s own, and one of the world’s best. Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary YU’s own, and the Yeshiva from which our university grew. News and Organizations Times Topics: Bible From The New York Times. Association for Jewish Studies Seeks to promote and improve Jewish Studies at institutions of higher learning. Jewish History About Jewish History Studying Jewish history provides students with an awareness of the different events that have befallen the Jewish people within the Land of Israel and in the countries of their sojourns in the Diaspora. Jewish history courses focus not only on events but also on intellectual history, major figures in the history of transmission of the Torah, and the development of halakhah and of customs. At times, the intellectual history is deeply connected to its historical context, such as customs that developed as a reaction to the Crusades, or the effect the advent of printing had on the study of Torah. Studying Jewish history therefore not only provides added background and meaning to customs and texts our students are familiar with but also provides the context they might be missing. Students also benefit from the context the study of Jewish history provides for other areas of Jewish studies, such as parshanut, with an added appreciation of when important commentators lived and what they might have been influenced by or reacting to in their time and in their writing. With an emphasis on primary sources, Jewish History at Yeshiva University's Stern College for Women exposes students to the multifaceted character of the Jewish experience from ancient to modern times. Courses include Classical Jewish History, Medieval Jewish Movements, Holocaust, History of Palestine, and Jewish Intellectual History. Please contact us if you have any questions about Jewish History studies or the Rebecca Ivry Department of Jewish Studies at Stern College. We look forward to hearing from you. Deena Rabinovich - Chair drabinov@yu.edu Courses Qualified upperclassmen may receive permission to take courses in Jewish history at Bernard Revel Graduate School of Jewish Studies. Please see the Schedule of Classes for the current semester’s offerings. Jewish History (JHIS) 1001; 1002 Survey of Jewish History 3 credits Political, social, economic, and cultural currents in the history of the Jews from the Second Commonwealth through modern times. First semester: Second Commonwealth, late Roman period, and Jewry in the orbit of Islam; second semester: the Jews in medieval Christendom; the development of modern Jewish history. 1101 Ancient Jewish History 3 credits History of the Jews to the end of the First Commonwealth, 586 BCE. 1105; 1106 History of the Ancient Near East 3 credits First semester: third millennium BCE to 1300 BCE; second semester: 1300 BCE to 586 BCE. 1201; 1202 Classical Jewish History 3 credits History of the Jews from the Second Commonwealth through the Talmudic period (586 BCE to 500 CE). 1231 The Apocrypha 3 credits Survey of the Apocrypha, with intensive analysis of one or more of those books; historical and literary aspects. 1233 Early Jewish Movements 3 credits Systematic survey of the Sadducees, Essenes, Dead Sea Sect, Sicarii, Zealots, and other movements during the period of the Second Commonwealth; their relationship to biblical, Apocryphal, and rabbinic Judaism as well as other movements, notably Christianity. 1235 The Dead Sea Scrolls 3 credits Archaeological, historical, and literary aspects of the scrolls; their place in the development of the Hebrew language and Jewish thought. 1301; 1302 Medieval Jewish History 3 credits The Jewish people from the Gaonic period (500 CE) to the Expulsion from Spain (1500). 1321 Jews in Medieval Christendom 3 credits Jewish settlement in Italy and Franco-Germany; Rashi and the Tosafists; law and society; the Crusades and the origins of medieval anti-Semitism; Christian Spain— disputations, conversions, and Expulsion; the Jews in the Renaissance. 1323 Origins of European Jewry 3 credits Origins of Ashkenazic and Sephardic Jewry. 1325 Responsa Literature as a Source of Jewish History 3 credits Social and economic life of the Jews in Germany, from the 11th to the 14th centuries, as reflected in Responsa. 1327; 1328 The Tosafists 3 credits The literary and juridical creativity of Ashkenazic scholarship in the 12th and 13th centuries. 1329 History of Halakhah 3 credits Historical development of post Talmudic legal decision making. 1330 History of Minhagim 3 credits. Historical development of post-Talmudic customs and practices. 1332 History of Medieval Biblical Exegesis 3 credits Leading trends and figures in Biblical interpretations during the 12th and 13th centuries. 1335 The Jews of Medieval Spain 3 credits The Jews in Christian and Moslem Spain; the Golden Age; the Expulsion. 1344 Jewish Christian Polemics 3 credits The debates between Christians and Jews in the Middle Ages based on differences in philosophy and biblical exegesis; their role in shaping and reflecting social and legal relationships. 1371; 1372 Jews in the Medieval Moslem World 3 credits Judaism and Islam; the protected minority; Gaonate and Exilarchate; Karaism and false Messianism; Saadiah Gaon and medieval Jewish philosophy; the flowering of Jewish culture in Moslem Spain; the migration to Provence. 1401; 1402 Modern Jewish History I; II 3 credits Rise and flowering of the Eastern European Jewish communities; Hasidism; the Enlightenment; the Emancipation and development of Western European Jewry; American Jewry; new religious currents; modern anti-Semitism and the Holocaust; Zionism and the founding of the State of Israel. First semester: 1600–1900; second semester: 1900–1948. 1403 Destruction of Polish Jewry 3 credits Seminar analyzing the destruction of Polish Jewry during World War II. 1415; 1416 History of Zionism 3 credits Rise and development of modern Jewish nationalism against the backdrop of contemporary Western civilization and the scope of Jewish history; writings of major Zionist ideologues; role of Zionism within the major Diaspora communities; impact of the rise of the Jewish state movement on the world political and diplomatic scene. 1451 The Jews in Eastern Europe I 3 credits History of the Jewish people in Eastern Europe from the Early Settlement to the Third Partition of Poland (1795). 1452 The Jews in Eastern Europe II 3 credits History of the Jewish people in Eastern Europe since 1795. 1471; 1472 Jews in the Modern Arab World 3 credits Communal, economic, and cultural history of the Jews in Moslem lands in modern times. Prerequisite: JHIS 1002. 1485 The Holocaust 3 credits (same as HIST 2141.) Fate of European Jewry between 1933 and 1945. Topics include the rise of the Jewish question in 19th ¬century Europe; World War I and its consequences; causes of the Weimar Republic’s collapse; Nazi seizure of power; Nazi Jewish policies; ghettoization in Nazi Europe; conception and implementation of the Nazi Final Solution; life in the ghettos; the Judenrat; and Jewish resistance. Under the Eli and Diana Zborowski Professorial Chair in Interdisciplinary Holocaust Studies. 1486 Holocaust and Rescue 3 credits The nature of Nazi anti-Semitism; the evolution of the Holocaust to the mass murder of Europe’s Jews; Jewish responses and the various rescue attempts, including non-Jews who risked their lives to save Jews. 1501; 1505 History of Palestine 3 credits (same as HIST 2303) History of modern Jewish settlement in Palestine under the Ottoman rule and the British Mandate, until the establishment of the state in 1948. Topics include: encounters and relations of the yishuv with Palestinian Arabs and the ruling powers; the social, economic and ideological factors that shaped the institutions and the national aspirations of the yishuv and of the Palestinian community. 1511; 1512 Modern Israel 3 credits (same as HIST 2304) Survey of Israeli society, culture and politics from 1948 to the present. Topics: Israel and the Palestinian national movement; global political factors that shaped the Israeli-Palestinian conflict; the social, cultural, and political divisions of Israeli society, and the challenges facing Israel in the twenty-first century. 1575; 1576; American Jewish History 3 credits The Jewish community in the United States: its development from earliest times; immigration and settlement; social, economic, and communal development; contribution to American civilization; the modern and contemporary scene. American Jews and the Holocaust, State of Israel, civil rights movement, Russian Jewry, inner-city tensions. 1577 Jewish Religion in America 2-3 credits 1803 Historiography 3 credits Seminar on the great Jewish historians; their philosophy, method, and works from ancient times to the present. 1811 Messianic Movements in Judaism 3 credits History of various Messianic movements among the Jewish people from the 1st to the 19th centuries. 1829; 1830; 1831; 1832; 1833;1834 Jewish Intellectual History 3 credits Sequence of courses focusing on major themes in the intellectual history of the Jews from the Second Commonwealth to the present; readings almost exclusively from primary sources. JHIS 1829; 1830 covers the classical period; 1831; 1832, medieval period; 1833, early modern period; 1834, modern period. 4901, 4902 Independent Study See Academic Information and Policies section. 4930-4939 Topics 2-3 credits Selected topics in Jewish history. Resources Please note: Links to external sites are offered as a convenience to visitors, as a starting point for exploration. Such sites are neither endorsed nor regulated by Yeshiva University, which accepts no responsibility for their content. Research Jewish Texts Here Bible, Rabbinic, Rambam Global Jewish Database (Responsa Project) From Bar-Ilan University, with easy on-campus access. Inscriptifact An image database of inscriptions and artifacts from USC. Early Modern Workshops Jewish history resources, information about workshops, and more. Comprehensive Aramaic Lexicon From Hebrew Union College, Cincinnati. Manuscripts of Mishnah, Toesfta, and Bavli Malmad / Israel Union List Database of articles in Jewish studies. The Jewish History Resource Center A project of Hebrew University’s Dinur Center for Research in Jewish History, offering links in 25 categories covering all facets of Jewish history. Internet Jewish History Sourcebook Selected sources relating to various aspects of Jewish history, from Fordham University. Remember.org A Shoah database containing eyewitness accounts, images, artwork, and lesson plans. American Jewish Historical Society Traces the American Jewish community’s contribution to American life from the sixteenth century to the present. Includes online exhibits, archives, and catalogues. Internships Internships.com YU has a premium subscription. Please contact the Career Development Center for details. Jewish Historical Society of Greater Washington Positions involving research about Washington D.C.’s local Jewish community. Graduate Study Bernard Revel Graduate School of Jewish Studies Yeshiva University’s own world-class graduate school. The Skirball Department of Hebrew and Judaic Studies New York University’s graduate program in Jewish Studies. Careers Options for Jewish Studies Majors Career paths for Jewish Studies majors, from Indiana University. Jewish Studies Majors Career opportunities, from Rutgers University. Jewish Studies Careers (PDF) From the University of Toronto Career Centre. News and Organizations Jerusalem Post The latest news from Israel. Israel News From the New York Times. American Jewish Historical Society Bear witness to the remarkable contributions of the American Jewish community to life in the Americas Jewish Philosophy About Jewish Philosophy Jewish philosophy focuses on the big questions in a Jew’s life vis a vis one’s relationship with Hashem (Nature of Torah, Mitzvot, Revelation, Reward & Punishment, Prayer, Redemption, World to Come) and one’s understanding of Hashem’s world and how Hashem relates to His creation (Topics like: Creation, Nature vs. Miracles, Prophecy, Divine providence, suffering & evil) The questions addressed are foundational – Why is there a created world? What are we meant to do? What is the purpose of Mitzvot? Does Hashem know of me and intercede in my life? Does He hear me when I Pray? Some of these questions are addressed in Tanach and then Chazal, but their systematic study begins in the period of the Geonim, especially with R. Saadiah Gaon (9-10th Century) and continues in subsequent generations. Like the modern Jew, who must grapple with the relationship between a Torah worldview and the values of the surrounding culture, Jewish philosophers like R. Saadiah, Maimonides, and R. Yehuda ha-Levi engaged with the ideas of their time and sought to reconcile the two and when necessary differentiate the Torah view from the general philosophy and science of their day. This study persists in every generation (Rabbeinu Bahya ibn Pequda, Kabbalah [its own system], Ramchal, as well as modern Jewish thought of R. Hirsch, R. Kook, R. Soloveitchik) As Jews who believe in Torah U’madda solidifying our worldview remains our quest, as the times change and new concerns and questions are raised. We engage with and draw from the science and thought of the surrounding culture to enhance our understanding of Torah but must also be clear where Torah values and those of the culture part ways. Jewish Philosophy at Yeshiva University's Stern College for Women increases students' knowledge of and sensitivity to the central issues of Jewish philosophical thought through the ages. Free will, theodicy, messianic expectation, ethical theories and other issues receive careful analysis. Through the study of primary source material, students receive training in philosophical terminology and the tools of philosophical analysis. Courses include Jewish Ethics, Theory of Evil, Philosophy of Yehuda Halevi, Philosophy of Maimonides and Philosophy of Rav Soloveitchik. Please contact us if you have any questions about Jewish Philosophy or the Rebecca Ivry Department of Jewish Studies at Stern College. We look forward to hearing from you. Deena Rabinovich - Chair drabinov@yu.edu Courses Qualified upperclass students may receive permission to take courses in Jewish Philosophy at Bernard Revel Graduate School of Jewish Studies. Please see the Schedule of Classes for the current semester’s offerings. Jewish Philosophy (JPHI) JPHI 1131; 1132 Introduction to Jewish Philosophy 3 credits Philosophical foundations of Judaism; readings from classical and contemporary writers; major religious and national issues and philosophical concepts. First semester: basic beliefs; second semester: contemporary issues. For beginning-, elementary-, and intermediate-level Jewish studies students. JPHI 1135, 1136 Survey of Jewish Philosophy 3 credits Survey of Jewish thought on selected present-day religious, moral, and ethical issues; discussion and analysis based on traditional and contemporary writings. JPHI 1203; 1204 Jewish Ethics 3 credits The moral philosophy of Judaism; individual and social problems in light of Jewish ethical norms and values; readings from selected texts, both medieval and modern. JPHI 1214 Theories of Evil 3 credits The problem and definition of evil as understood in Talmudic literature and medieval and modern Jewish philosophy. JPHI 1224 Theories of Prophecy 3 credits Survey of medieval Jewish sources on the nature and scope of prophecy. JPHI 1309 Jewish Eschatology 3 credits Analysis of textual sources—ancient, medieval, and modern—dealing with eschatology in Judaism. JPHI 1441; 1442 History of Jewish Philosophy 3 credits Problems and concerns of the major Jewish thinkers; role of philosophy within Judaism. First semester: through the medieval period; second semester: modern thought. JPHI 1611, 1612 Medieval Jewish Philosophy 3 credits Selected topics and readings from Albo, Bahya, Crescas, Yehudah HaLevi, Maimonides, Saadiah, and relevant background study (Neo-Platonism, Kalam, Aristotelianism). JPHI 1626 Philosophy of Saadiah Gaon 3 credits Analysis of the Hebrew text of the Emunot veDe'ot, emphasizing Saadiah's treatment of philosophical problems; comprehensive study of Saadiah's philosophy from the historical perspective. JPHI 1647; 1648 Philosophy of Yehudah HaLevi 3 credits Analysis of the Hebrew text of the Kuzari, emphasizing HaLevi’s views on the Jewish religion, Jewish history, the people of Israel, and preeminence of the Land of Israel; HaLevi’s philosophy and its relevance to contemporary Jewish life and thought. For intermediate and advanced students in Jewish studies. JPHI 1650 Philosophy of Maimonides 3 credits Selections from the philosophical works of Maimonides: Sefer HaMada of Mishneh Torah, the Eight Chapters, the Guide for the Perplexed. JPHI 1651; 1652; 1653; 1654 Philosophy of Maimonides 3 credits More detailed studies of the material covered in JPHI 1650. JPHI 1801, 1802 Jewish Thinkers of the 18th Century 3 credits JPHI 1803; 1804 Jewish Thinkers of the 19th Century 3 credits Leading exponents of Jewish thought in the 19th century, with emphasis on the works of Moses Mendelssohn, N. H. Wessely, S. D. Luzzatto, and S. R. Hirsch. JPHI 1813; 1814 Modern Jewish Thought 3 credits Introduction to the philosophical works of the great Jewish thinkers of the past two centuries. Selected readings. JPHI 1815; 1816 East European Jewish Thought 3 credits Selections of representative religious thought from the writings of the Tanya, the Gaon of Vilna, R. Hayyim of Volozhin, R. Israel Salanter and the Mussar Movement, the Hazon Ish, Rav Kook. JPHI 1817; 1818 Philosophy of Zionism 3 credits Major idea, approaches and texts during the 19th and 20th centuries. JPHI 1843; 1844 Contemporary Jewish Philosophy 3 credits History and development of major currents in contemporary Jewish thought, including Orthodoxy, Reform, Conservatism, Reconstructionism, and neo-Hasidism. JPHI 1845; 1846 Philosophy of Rav Soloveitchik 2–3 credits Readings in Rabbi J. B. Soloveitchik’s writ¬ings. The lecture supplies background material and contrast in general and Jewish philosophical reflection. JPHI 1853, 1854 Modern Jewish Problems 3 credits Basic legal concepts, attitudes, and opinions relative to contemporary society that emerge from the Talmud, Commentaries, and Responsa literature. JPHI 1903 Belief and Religious Commitment 3 credits Role of philosophy and the liberal arts (particularly literature) within a religious intellec-tual worldview; medieval views of Jewish philosophers (Albo, Bahya, Saadiah); modern criticisms of medieval positions; reworkings of the relation between faith and reason in modern thought (Barth, Kierkegaard, Newman); Jewish critiques and defenses of secular studies in the modern world (Hirsch, Lamm, Lichtenstein, B. B. Liebowitz, Soloveitchik, Wasserman); literature and religious belief (Jewish and non-Jewish texts). JPHI 1905 Philosophy of Prayer 3 credits Analysis of the philosophy of prayer and of the Jewish prayer book. JPHI 1907, 1908 Philosophy of Biblical Laws 3 credits Examination of classical and modern sources for their conception of selected mitzvot relative to the Halakhah, their biblical origins, and their root meanings in Jewish philosophy. For intermediate and advanced students in Jewish studies. JPHI 1917; 1918 Topics in Jewish Philosophy 3 credits Selected topics including faith and doubt, dogma, free will, Providence, the Holocaust, State of Israel. Guided research in addition to classroom meetings. JPHI 1921; 1922 Judaism and Culture 3 credits Analysis of the concept of Torah im Derekh Eretz and comparison to other views on the relation of Torah and general culture. Sponsored by Jacques Schwalbe. JPHI 1923 Dogma in Jewish Thought 3 credits Medieval and modern Jewish philosophical views of the concept of dogma. JPHI 1924 Dogma: The 13 Principles 3 credits The articles of faith of Maimonides and other leading medieval Jewish thinkers. JPHI 4901, 4902 Independent Study See Academic Information and Policies section. JPHI 4931; 4932 Selected Topics 3 credits Analytical study of special topics, issues, and movements in Jewish philosophy. Resources Please note: Links to external sites are offered as a convenience to visitors, as a starting point for exploration. Such sites are neither endorsed nor regulated by Yeshiva University, which accepts no responsibility for their content. Research Mendel Gottesman Library of Hebraica/Judaica YU’s own, and one of the world’s great research collections in Jewish philosophy, Bible, Rabbinics, Jewish history, and the Hebrew language. Yale University Library: Judaica Collection Research portal includes Internet resources, Judaica journals online, reference tools, and more. RAMBI: Index of Articles on Jewish Studies Updated daily, the index is based on the collections of the Jewish National and University Library, Jerusalem, and includes materials in Hebrew, Latin, and Cyrillic script. Academic Jewish Studies Internet Directory Gathers links to databases, library catalogues, research institutes, and more. Jewish Philosophy An overview by L.E. Goodman, from the Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Includes links to many thinkers, movements, and topics. Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy Links to Jewish topics from an online resource “maintained and kept up to date by an expert or group of experts in the field.” Entries typically include ample bibliographies. Internships Internships.com YU has a premium subscription. Please contact the Career Development Center for details. Graduate Study Bernard Revel Graduate School of Jewish Studies YU’s own, and one of the world’s best. Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary YU’s own, and the yeshiva from which our university grew. Careers Options for Jewish Studies Majors Career paths for Jewish Studies majors, from Indiana University. Jewish Studies Majors Career opportunities, from Rutgers University. Jewish Studies Careers (PDF) From the University of Toronto Career Centre. News and Organizations Times Topics: Jews and Judaism From the New York Times. The American Philosophical Organization The leading professional organization for philosophers in the United States. Philosophy: Professional Associations A guide from the Yale University Library. Society for Textual Reasoning Based at Boston University, this discussion network “represents the first stage of a BITNET journal of Postmodern Judaism… referring both to the plurality of contemporary Jewish religious expressions… and to the plurality of postmodern methods of Jewish philosophy and philosophical theology.” Society for Continental Philosophy in a Jewish Context Based at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario. Hebrew Language About Hebrew Studies Zafrira Lidovsky-Cohen - Chair lidovsky@yu.edu Hebrew language courses at Yeshiva University's Stern College for Women provide students with the basic tools to study primary source material in all disciplines of Jewish studies. Reading comprehension, oral conversation and composition skills, leading to the study of modern Hebrew literature, provide insights into Jewish culture impossible to achieve through translations. Please contact us if you have any questions about Hebrew language studies or the Rebecca Ivry Department of Jewish Studies at Stern College. We look forward to hearing from you. Courses Students will be assigned to the appropriate Hebrew level based on a Hebrew Placement Exam. Please see the Schedule of Classes for the current semester’s offerings. Hebrew (HEBR) The Program Hebrew language will be offered in 5 levels. Hebrew Level 1 HEBR 1010 Hebrew Level 2 HEBR 1020 Hebrew Level 3 HEBR 1030 Hebrew Level 4 HEBR 1211 Hebrew Level 5 HEBR 1221/ BIBL 2156 Samuel 1(in Hebrew) All students are required to take Hebrew during their course of study and the requirement ranges from 1 to 3 semesters, depending on the level of Hebrew competence with which you enter. Levels 1-3 are a three-course sequence. · Students placed into level 1 are required to take 3 courses (HEBR 1010, HEBR 1020, HEBR 1030) in sequence. · Students placed into Level 2 are required to take 2 courses (HEBR 1020, HEBR 1030) in sequence. · Students placed into level 3 are required to take 1 course (HEBR 1030). Level 1-3 (HEBR 1010, HEBR 1020, HEBR 1030) will be administered asynchronously and must be taken during the first year on campus. Level 4 (HEBR 1211) will meet on campus and can be taken any time. Level 5 (HEBR 1221/ BIB 2156) will meet on campus. HEBR 1221 can be taken any time. BIBL 2156, taught in Hebrew, will be offered in Fall 2023 and is an option to “count as a Hebrew” for those who place into HEBR 1221 or above. Resources Please note: Links to external sites are offered as a convenience to visitors, as a starting point for exploration. Such sites are neither endorsed nor regulated by Yeshiva University, which accepts no responsibility for their content. Research English-Hebrew Dictionary From Milon. The Hebrew Bible A portal (maintained by a Christian scholar of the Bible) including dozens of links to text and audio files, Hebrew grammars, linguistic tools, and more. Hebrew Literature An overview from the Columbia Encyclopedia. Advanced Modern Hebrew A collection of resources from Yale University. Includes television commercials and magazine articles. The Valmadonna Trust Library A slideshow from the Sotheby’s exhibit and offering. Jewish Education About the Jewish Education Department For information, contact Dr. Deena Rabinovich drabinov@yu.edu Stern College for Women offers a major in Jewish education that prepares undergraduates for teaching Judaic studies in day schools in North America. Mission Statement Program Student Learning Goals: Graduates of the Jewish education major Will learn how to create a climate of kedusha that reflects the importance of the study Will learn to be a professional educator, one who reflects on her teaching practice and seeks to grow. Develop a professional demeanor Will gain specific content knowledge in Bible, Jewish History, Prayer, Halakha and Oral Law. Beyond the basic requirements for Judaic studies required of all Stern students, Jewish Education Majors take an additional fifteen credits to add to their subject area knowledge. They will be able to apply their subject area knowledge in creating engaging lessons that address the diverse needs of their students Will learn to plan and implement whole class and small group instruction using theories of curriculum as they specifically apply to Judaic studies. Learns how to plan lessons and activities appropriate for the discipline with clear objectives and goals. Learns to incorporate technology in a way that enhances the learning. Learn how to create appropriate assessment Will learn how to individualize the learning for each student, while working within the community of the classroom Will apply their content knowledge and pedagogical knowledge to actual classroom experiences through fieldwork observations and student teaching. Seminars help students reflect on the experience and deepen their understanding. Recognizing the need for talented teachers, the Legacy Heritage Fund partnered with Stern College to create LHSP, a three-year program which offers a major in Jewish studies with a concentration in Jewish education. It includes one-on-one mentoring, professional development, intensive Hebrew language instruction and substantial fieldwork experience. A distinctive element of LSHP is the Katz Scholarship. Provided through the generosity of Mordecai D. and Monique C. Katz, the scholarship, valued at $20,000, is half-grant and half-loan. If the Legacy educator commits to teaching two years of Judaic studies in a North American school after completing the program, the loan will be forgiven. LEGACY EDUCATORS: A SNAPSHOT Where they are teaching: Legacy educators teach all grade levels across the United States, from Yeshiva High School for Girls in New York City to Ida Crown Academy of Chicago. What they are teaching: All the core Jewish subjects (Tanakh, Torah ShBa’al Peh, Jewish History, Halakha, Hebrew language, Tefilah) using flexible classroom structures, project-based learning, and innovative student assessments. How they are paying it forward: Legacy educators mentor undergraduates during fieldwork and student teaching, helping them with classroom management, curricular design and lesson delivery. What they are doing for their community: They are overseeing NCSY chapters and summer programs, directing youth departments for shuls, and coordinating OU-JLIC on college campuses. Courses JEDU 2312 through 2320 Methods and Materials in Teaching Specific Subjects 2-3 credits EDU 5200 or 5210 Teaching Bible (Azrieli School of Jewish Education) 3 credits EDU 5302 Teaching Literacy I (Azrieli School of Jewish Education) JEDU 2319 Teaching Jewish Studies 3 credits This class is taken in the spring of the junior year and includes 2 hours fieldwork and 2 ½ hours of seminar/week. JEDU 3215 Seminar and Fieldwork 1 credit This class is taken during the spring of the sophomore year and includes fieldwork on five Fridays and one hour of seminar/week. JEDU 3216 Seminar and Fieldwork 1 credit This class is taken during the fall of the junior year and includes 30 hours of fieldwork and 1 ¼ hours of seminar/week. JEDU 3218 Seminar and Fieldwork 1 credit This class is taken during the fall of the senior year and includes 30 hours of fieldwork and 1 ¼ hours of seminar/week. JEDU 3225 Jewish Education Student Teaching 6 credits Full-time student teaching under the supervision of a master teacher and a faculty supervisor. Students plan and implement whole class instruction, and create a portfolio that will document their growth as a teacher. Co-requisite: JEDU 3226 JEDU 3226 Senior Seminar in Jewish Education 3 credits For Jewish Education student teachers. Analysis of the student-teaching experience. Topics include promoting student motivation, classroom management strategies, student diversity, working with parents and school personnel, trends in educational reform, and sources for professional development, including Internet resources. Students create a professional portfolio documenting their development as teachers over the course of the program. Co-requisite: JEDU 3225 PSYC 1010 Introductory Psychology 3 credits One semester survey of topics in experimental methodology, biological basis of behavior, sensation, perception, learning, cognition, development, personality, assessment, and abnormal and social psychology. EDU 1210 Educational Psychology 3 credits (Same as PSYC 3400.) Introduction to theories and applications of principles of learning, motivation, and measurement to education. Topics include: Learning-centered and teacher-directed approaches to instruction, theories of intelligence, exceptionality, and accommodating instruction to meet individual learners’ needs, creativity, assessment,, and the uses of technology to facilitate learning are investigated. Prerequisite: PSYC 1010 EDU 2201 Classroom Instruction and Management 3 credits An introduction to models and methods of classroom instruction and management for diverse educational settings. Topics include setting up your first classroom, designing lessons and assessments, enhancing critical thinking skills, theories of motivation, and effective communication with parents and administration. Required for Education minors and Jewish education majors. EDUC elective for majors. EDU 2807 Literature of Pedagogy 3 credits An exploration of classic and contemporary educational texts grounded in the experiences of teachers and teaching. Introduces students to core tenets of educational policy, practice and philosophy. Required for Jewish Education Majors. Elective for Early Childhood & Elementary. Requirements The Jewish Education concentration is a track within the Jewish Studies major. Interested students must meet with the Program Director and be accepted into the track. 39 credits above the Jewish Studies requirement: 15 credits of Jewish Studies with at least 9 credits in BIBL and the remaining 6 credits in either JHIS or JPHI or JUDS; EDUC 2301, 2807; JEDU 2319; 3215, 3216,3218, 3225, 3226: Teaching Bible (3 credits-AGS). The following courses, which may apply toward the General Education Requirements, are also required: EDUC 2201, 2807 and an Education elective; plus PSYC 1010 and 3400 (same as EDUC 1210). Some of the above courses may be taken in the Azrieli Graduate School (AGS). Proficiency in Hebrew is required. Details of the Jewish Education track are available from the Program Director. A joint bachelor’s-master’s program in Jewish Education is offered together with Azrieli Graduate School of Jewish Education and Administration. Interested students should consult the Office of the Registrar. Courses in Jewish Education are not part of a program designed for the preparation of teachers in the public schools and are, therefore, not applicable to certification by the New York State Education Department. Resources Research Al HaTorah Sources and lessons. Herzog Academic College Da’at Judaic Studies of Michlelet Herzog- Gush Etzion Sefaria: A Living Library of Jewish Texts Online Mendel Gottesman Library of Hebraica/Judaica YU’s own, and one of the world’s great research collections in Bible, Jewish philosophy, Rabbinics, Jewish history, and the Hebrew language. Bible, Rabbinic Texts, and Rambam From Mechon Mamre. Internet Jewish History Sourcebook Selected sources relating to various aspects of Jewish history, from Fordham University. Remember.org A Shoah database containing eyewitness accounts, images, artwork, and lesson plans. Dorot Jewish Division of the New York Public Library Another world-class collection located here in New York. Yale University Library: Judaica Collection Research portal includes Internet resources, Judaica journals online, reference tools, and more. RAMBI: Index of Articles on Jewish Studies Updated daily, the index is based on the collections of the Jewish National and University Library, Jerusalem, and includes materials in Hebrew, Latin, and Cyrillic script. Academic Jewish Studies Internet Directory Gathers links to databases, library catalogues, research institutes, and more. Graduate Study Azrieli Graduate School of Jewish Education and Administration Bernard Revel Graduate School of Jewish Studies The Mordecai D. and Monique C. Katz Scholarship for Jewish Educators The Mordecai D. and Monique C. Katz Scholarships for Jewish Educators provide substantial tuition support for students preparing for careers in Jewish education. Coursework includes methodology courses and student teaching. During the senior year, students take course in the Azrieli Graduate School of Jewish Education and Administration of Yeshiva University and may be enrolled in an accelerated program toward earning an MS degree. All scholarship recipients complete a major in Jewish studies, and will receive tuition support in the amount of $20,000 per year in the form of grants and forgivable loans, renewable for three years on campus in New York. Loans will be forgiven on a prorated basis, post-graduation, over the first two years in the field. Katz Scholars will be chosen on a competitive basis. The selection committee will consider high school and post-high school Israel records, letters of recommendation and evidence of interest in and talent for a career in Jewish education. After completing the regular application for admission to Stern College, applicants should complete the supplemental forms found under “Mordecai D. and Monique C. Katz Scholarship for Jewish Educators Application.” Jewish Studies Academic Advising Contact Information Miriam Levy-Haim, Jewish Studies Advisor 245 Lexington Avenue, Room 405 Phone: (212) 340-7718 Fax: (212) 340-7876 Email: miriam.levy-haim@yu.edu To make an appointment go to: www.yu2.mywconline.com Apply Now
