Religion
120A: Jewish Thought and Identity
Gest 101
Tuesday/Thursday 1:00-2:30pm
Ken Koltun-Fromm
Haverford College
Gest 201
Office hours: Tuesday/Thursday, 12-1pm
610-896-1026 (office)
kkoltunf@haverford.edu
Summary
An exploration into how Jewish identity is constructed, performed
and situated within a variety of literary and representational
texts. We will focus on the biblical figures Abraham, Isaac, and
Moses, and the ways in which these central Jewish characters are
imagined in later memory, and then focus our attention on the
notion of Jewish covenant.
Requirements
Class preparation is critical for the success of the course. You
should come to class ready to discuss the reading for that day, and
should take some time before class to reflect upon the nature and
issues in the texts. Class attendance and participation, then, are
central components and requirements for the course. The written
work will include four essays, each of four double-spaced (typed)
pages in length, with the first essay rewritten and turned in for a
grade. The final paper will be an expanded 7-10 page revision of
the last (fourth) essay. All of these factors - class preparation,
attendance, participation, and writing - count in determining your
final grade. All papers must be turned in by hand to Gest - no
electronic copies will be accepted except with prior
permission!
Papers:
First paper: Due September 20th (Friday), 5pm
Second paper rewrite: Due October 7th (Monday), 5pm
Third paper: Due November 4th (Monday), 5pm
Fourth paper: Due November 25th (Monday), 5pm
Final Paper: Rewrite fourth paper to include essays in Reviewing
the Covenant and other texts read in class. Due at the end of
Finals period.
Texts:
Reading Packet
Jan Assmann, Moses the Egyptian
Eugene Borowitz, Renewing the Covenant
Peter Ochs, ed. Reviewing the Covenant
Section I: Abraham and Isaac
Sept. 3 (T) - Introduction and translations of Genesis
Sept. 5 (Th) - Genesis 12-19 (packet)
Sept. 10 (T) - Genesis 20-25:11 (packet)
Sept. 12 (Th) - Zornberg, The Beginning of Desire, pp. 72-96
(packet)
Sept. 17 (T) - Auerbach, Odysseus' Scar, 3-23 (packet)
Sept. 19 (Th) - Spiegel, The Last Trial, 3-8, 17-27, 51-59, 143-152
(packet)
Sept. 20 (Friday) - First Essay Due, 5pm
Sept. 24 (T) - Levenson, Death and Resurrection of the Beloved Son,
111-142 (packet)
Sept. 26 (Th) - Levenson, Death and Resurrection of the Beloved
Son, 173-199 (packet)
Section II: Moses
Oct. 1 (T) - Exodus 1-13 (packet)
Oct. 3 (Th) - Exodus 14-20, 32 (packet)
Oct. 7 (Monday) - Second Essay Rewrite Due, 5pm
Oct. 8 (T) - Discussion of papers
Oct. 10 (Th) - Walzer, Exodus and Revolution, 3-17, 133-149
(packet)
FALL BREAK
Oct. 22 (T) - Assmann, Moses the Egyptian, 1-55
Oct. 24 (Th) - Assmann, Moses the Egyptian, 91-143
Oct. 29 (T) - Assmann, Moses the Egyptian, 144-167, 208-218
Oct. 31 (Th) - Buber, Moses, 13-19, 39-59 (packet)
Nov. 4 (Monday) - Third Essay Due, 5pm
Nov. 5 (T) - Discussion of papers
Section III: Covenant
Nov. 7 (Th) - Borowitz, Renewing the Covenant, 1-52
Nov. 12 (T) - Borowitz, Renewing the Covenant, 55-107
Nov. 14 (Th) - Borowitz, Renewing the Covenant, 108-152
Nov. 19 (T) - Borowitz, Renewing the Covenant, 155-206
Nov. 21 (Th) - Borowitz, Renewing the Covenant, 207-234,
284-299
Nov. 25 (Monday) - Fourth Essay Due, 5pm
Nov. 26 (T) - Discussion of papers
THANKSGIVING BREAK
Dec. 3 (T) - Reviewing the Covenant, 3-59
Dec. 5 (Th) - Reviewing the Covenant, 60-107
Dec. 10 (T) - Reviewing the Covenant, 111-144, 173-199
Dec. 12 (Th) - Reviewing the Covenant, 145-170
Final paper: Due Dec 21 (Saturday), 12pm