Magda Teter
Allbritton 203
mteter@wesleyan.edu
Office Hours: Tuesday 10:30-12:30, or by appointment, please email
HIST247: JEWISH HISTORY: From "Biblical Israel" to Diaspora Jews
The course will explore the history of Jews from biblical times to the eve of modernity, the
transformations from "biblical Israelites" to "Jews". It will address stereotypes and
presuppositions of Jewish life and history, including -- what the historian Salo W. Baron
dubbed -- the "lachrymose concept of Jewish history" - Jewish history as history of
suffering. The course will illuminate experience of Jews whose lives, and deaths,
demonstrate that they were active actors, rather than just passive victims, of historical
events. The readings will consist mostly of historical sources on Jewish culture, politics,
economic activities, social and legal status, and the Jews' relations with non-Jews Christians and Muslims. It is a lecture course, but student participation is expected.
*This course is a gateway course to Jewish and Israel Studies Certificate, Middle Eastern
Studies Certificate*
*It counts as the pre-industrial requirement for History majors, and is counted toward the
Medieval Studies Major.*
SCHEDULE
1. Mon. 09/02 Introduction
2. Wed. 09/04 The Bible and the "Biblical Period"
 Bible: Genesis ch 1-25; Kings II ch. 8:7-ch. 10
 D. Biale "Mediterranean Origins" in Cultures of the Jews
 Ronald Hendel, "Israel among the Nations: Biblical Culture in the Ancient Near East"
in David Biale, Cultures of the Jews
chapter 1-2, pp. 11-46;
-RESERVES: Philip Davies In Search of Ancient Israel;
3. Mon. 09/09 The Bible and Its Interpretations:
 Genesis 25-35, 36 (skim), 37-End
 Exodus 1-17, 20, 22:16-31, 23:10-33; 24:1-8.
 Leviticus 11-13:58, 15-21, 23-24, 26; (skim)
 Num. 3:40-51; 15:37-41;
 Deut. 4-14:21;
 Kings II 1-3
 "A Reluctant Israeli Public Grapples With What Scholarship Reveals About the Old
Testament's Version of History" By HAIM WATZMAN in Chronicle of Higher
Education, January 21, 2000
1
4. Wed. 09/11 The Second Temple and Hellenism


Bible: Maccabees I: 1-6:17, 8-9 and Maccabbees II: 1-10:9, 12:38-45;
Erich Gruen, "Hellenistic Judaism," in Biale, Cultures of the Jews, esp. pp. 79-102, and
117-124 (124-132 notes).
-RESERVES: Shaye Cohen The Beginnings of Jewishness, 25-68
-Sasson History of the Jewish People, 191-271
5. Mon. 09/16 Jewish Sectarianism during Second Temple




Gospels of Luke and Matthew
On E-RESERVES: Texts and Traditions, pp. 266-300 ).
Eric Meyers, "Jewish Culture in Graeco-Roman Palestine" in Biale, Cultures of the
Jews, pp.135-162 (until subsection: "Emergence of Rabbinic Judaism")
Additional optional readings:
o Ben-Sasson History of the Jewish People, 271-276,
o Shaye Cohen on Jewish Sectarianism
6. Wed. 09/18 Sister Religions: Emergence of Christianity:
 The Gospel of John (1-5, 7-8, 10:22-41, 11:45-14:14, 16-18:11, 19:16-20:31; Acts 9;
 Epistles to the Romans, I Corinthians, Galatians;
 On E-RESERVES: W. Meeks "Breaking Away" and S. Brandon "History or Theology"
(Meeks and Brandon are also reprinted in Essential Papers). Additional optional
readings:
o Edward Peters Europe and the Middle Ages, 25-51;
o Ben-Sasson History of the Jewish People, 277-295.
7. Mon. 09/23 Sister Religions: Emergence of Rabbinic Judaism
 Texts and Traditions, 117-120, 517-531; 535-537.
 Eric Meyers, "Jewish Culture in Graeco-Roman Palestine" -- finish the article.
 Isaiah Gafni, "Babylonian Rabbinic Culture" in Biale, Cultures of the Jews
 Additional optional readings:
o Shaye Cohen, Emergence of Rabbinic Judaism;
o Ben-Sasson History of the Jewish People, 315-342, 373-382;
FIRST PAPER ASSIGNED
8. Wed. 09/25 Roman Legacy: Roman Church and Empire.
 Jacob Marcus Jew in the Medieval World: Section I "State and the Jew" chapters 1-2;
Section II "Church and the Jew" chapters 19-20;
 Medieval Sourcebook: Justinian: Novella 146: On Jews.
 Oded Irshai, "Confronting A Christian Empire" in Biale, Cultures of the Jews
 Additional reading: Peters Europe and the Middle Ages, 54-73.
2
9. Mon. 09/30 Church and the Jews I: The Church Fathers.
 Jacob Marcus The Jew in the Medieval World ch. 21
 Justin the Martyr, Eusebius, and Augustine of Hippo, selections (on Moodle)
 John Chrysostom, Sermons nos. 1-4 at Medieval Sourcebook: Saint John Chrysostom:
Homilies Against the Jews. , especially Homily 1 (all parts), homily 2 (part 1), homily
3 (parts 1-4), homily 4 (parts 1-3).
10. Wed. 10/02: EndNote/Library Resources Session, The class will take place in PAC
100 (off the lab in the connector between the PAC building and the Olin Library)
FIRST PAPER DRAFT DUE on FRIDAY 10/04 by 4:30 PM
WEEK 6 [START READING FOR WED]:
11. Mon. 10/07 From Biblical Israel to Diaspora Jews: Jewish Settlements
 Visigothic Code, Book 12 "Concerning the Prevention of the Official Oppression and
the Eradication of Heretical Sects
 Additional optional reading: Ben-Sasson History of the Jewish People, 343-373, 385402.
 Peter Europe and the Middle Ages, pp. 75-92, 105-117, 135-158.
Jews under Islam:
12. Wed. 10/09 Emergence of Islam and the Jews' Legal Status
 Mark Cohen Under Crescent and Cross chapters: Introduction, ch. 1, 2, 4;
 the Qur'an Suras: 1-5, 17, 24, 26, 56, 63, 68, 75, 112, 114;
 Ben-Sasson History of the Jewish People, 403-406.
 Additional reading: Peters, Europe and the Middle Ages, 93-104
13. Mon. 10/14 Messianic, Sectarian" Movements, and the Consolidation of Rabbinic
Judaism
 Jacob Marcus Jew in the Medieval World ch.47;
 The Karaite Anthology: Anan Ben David "Book of Precepts", Daniel Al-Qumisi, and
Jacob Al-Qirqsani, pp. 11-20, 30-68 (on moodle)
 Judaism in Practice pp. 229-265;
 Ben-Sasson History of the Jewish People, 448-452;
 On E-RESERVES: S.W. Baron ?Messianic and Sectarian Movements?.
14. Wed. 10/16 Jewish Culture and Intellectual Traditions
 Stillman: Part Two, ch. 2 pp. 171-189, 208-211-229; 233-246;
 Jacob Marcus Jew in the Medieval World chapters 57,58,59, 62, 63-I, 75;
 Judaism in practice pp. 186-190;
 Jewish Poetry.
 Additional Readings: Ben-Sasson History of the Jewish People, 421-432; 439-458.
3
FINAL DRAFT DUE FRIDAY, 10/18, 4:30 pm
14. Mon. 10/21 NO CLASS -FALL BREAK
TAKE HOME MIDTERM EXAM AVAILABLE Wed. 10/22, DUE MONDAY 10/29 by 8 AM
Jews under Christian Rule
15. Wed. 10/23 Legal Status: Protection and Vulnerability.
 Mark Cohen Under Crescent and Cross ch.3;
 Jacob Marcus The Jew in the Medieval World ch. 7,8;
 Robert Chazan Church, State and Jew, part II, chapter 5 "Local Charters," chapter 6
"General charters";
 Optional: Peters, Europe and the Middle Ages, 196-211, 271-301.
16. Mon. 10/28 Church and the Jews II: Papal Attitudes.
 Chazan Church, State and Jew, ch. 7 "Pope Alexander II" and "Pope Gregory IX",
 Marcus The Jew in the Medieval World ch. 22, 27, 30; Boniface VIII Unam Sanctam
 On E-RESERVES: Bernard Bumenkranz "The Roman Church and the Jews;" Solomon
Grayzel "The Papal Bull Sicut Judeis" (both reprinted in Essential Papers);
 Peters Europe and the Middle Ages, 213-225, 250-269.
17. Wed. 10/30 The Crusades and the Aftermath
 Eidelberg, The Jews and the Crusaders, 21-72, 99-115, 117-133;
 On E-RESERVES: Y. Yerushalmi Zakhor ch.2.
 Optional: Peters, Europe and the Middle Ages, 225-229.
 BY NOW YOU SHOULD HAVE DISCUSSED YOUR TEXT OF CHOICE WITH ME
18. Mon. 11/04 Jews and Christians: Mutual Knowledge and Attitudes:
 Marcus The Jew in the Medieval World, ch. 25, 26, 28, 31;
 Ben-Sasson History of the Jewish People, 477-487;
 On E-RESERVES: Jacob Katz "Social and Religious Segregation";Ivan Marcus "A
Jewish-Christian Symbiosis: The Culture of Early Ashkenaz"; Yeshu and Joshua b.
Perachiah ; Baraitha Sanhedrin 43a ; Toledoth Yeshu; (+Handout, Midrash) )
19. Wed. 11/06 Church and the Jews III: Friars, the Popes and the Jews ? New AntiJudaism.
 Chazan Church, State and Jew, ch. 16 "Attack on the Talmud," ch.18 "Forced
Sermon;" ch.19 "Forced disputation";
 Marcus The Jew in the Medieval World ch. 28-29;
 Mark Cohen Under Crescent and Cross ch.9;
 Jeremy Cohen "Scholarship and Intolerance in Medieval Academy" American
Historical Review 91 (1986):592-613; reprinted in Essential Papers on Judaism and
Christianity in Conflict ch.11,
 On E-RESERVES: D. Berger "Jewish Christian Debate in the Middle Ages:
Introduction" (also reprinted in Essential Papers),
 Additional Readings: Peters Europe and the Middle Ages, 231-248
4
20. Mon. 11/11 Jews in Medieval Economy
 Cohen Under Crescent and Cross ch. 5-8;
 Ben-Sasson History of the Jewish People, 462-476;
 On E-RESERVES: Jacob Katz "Economic Intercourse and Religious Factor".
21. Wed. 11/13 Age of Expulsions: France and England.
 Marcus Jew in the Medieval World ch.5;
 Chazan Church, State and Jew, ch. 22: all documents except the last one.
FRIDAY, 11/15 DRAFTS OF FINAL PAPERS PAPERS DUE BY 4:30 PM
22. Mon. 11/18 Medieval Jewish Community and Culture: Communal Organization and
Rabbinic Culture.
 Ben-Sasson History of the Jewish People, 432-438; 458-461;
 Marcus The Jew in the Medieval World ch. , 49, 50, 60, 61, 63-II,74,77;
 Judaism in Practice, pp. 191-202 ;
 Medieval Sourcebook: A Rabbinic Responsum: The Shabbat Goy: Angevin England ;
Medieval Sourcebook: Rashi: Jewish Community in Troyes, c.1100
 Intellectual and Mystical Heritage, On E-RESERVES: G. Scholem Major Trends in
Jewish Mysticism ch. 3;)
 Medieval (Christian) Manuscripts at the Bodleian Library; + HANDOUT in class.
23. Wed. 11/20 Medieval Jewish Community and Culture III: Jewish Family and Rituals
 Ivan Marcus The Rituals of Childhood; Judaism in Practice, pp. 99-114; 131-142);
 Medieval Sourcebook: Reciting the Grace after Meals: The Status of Jewish Women,
from Berakhot, chapter 7;
 Optional: Peters Europe and the Middle Ages, 119-134.
24. Mon. 11/25 Between Ashkenaz and Sepharad: the Maimonidean Controversy
 Marcus Jew in the Medieval World , ch. 39
Wed. 11/27 NO CLASS THANKSGIVING RECESS
25. Wed. 12/02 Rise and Decline of Iberian Jewry
 Ben-Sasson History of the Jewish People, 487-489;
 J. Marcus Jew in the Medieval World ch.7, 11, 12.
 See also: Medieval Sourcebook: Jewish Community of Barcelona: The Book of
Document Forms; Medieval Sourcebook: Barcelona Jewish Court Documents, 1293:
A Daughter's Inheritance; Medieval Sourcebook: Barcelona Jewish Court
Documents: A Jewish Widow and her Daughter, 1261-1262;
 Barcelona Haggadah
FRIDAY 12/06 FINAL PAPERS DUE 4:30 PM
26. Wed. 12/04 From Biblical Israelites to Diaspora Jews: A Reassessment
5
TAKE HOME FINAL EXAM POSTED on MOODLE on the FIRST DAY OF THE EXAM
PERIOD. DUE ON MOODLE ON THE DAY OF THE REGISTRAR'S SCHEDULED EXAM.
Course Requirements
All work in the course is done under the Honor Code. Cases will be brought to the
Honor Board, should questions concerning potential, or actual, violation of the Honor
Code arise
Students' Rights:

To express their ideas freely, while being respectful to others.
 To meet with me during office hours to discuss issues related to the course or
students' performance in the classroom.
 To make an appointment outside office hours (via email).
 To know their grade at any give time during the semester.
 To give me feedback throughout the duration of the semester (in fact, you are
encouraged to do so).
Requirements:











Two 5-7-page papers based on primary sources.
Take-home midterm and final exam
4 one-page responses to the readings (2 in the first half of the semester, two after
the Spring Break)
Class attendance (3 unexcused absences allowed, 4+ will entail grade penalty)
Excessive lateness (more than 15 minutes) counts as absence.
Sleeping in class also counts as absence.
Class participation: the success of this class depends on our mutual involvement and
therefore your participation in class discussions is crucial. You can earn points for:
participating in class discussions; responding to post-class surveys; and posting on
the Moodle Forum (3 points total/per class). The minimum expectation is 2
points/class, if you do all of the three, you will get a bonus grade.
Written assignments:
There are writing fellows available at the Writing Center, I encourage you to work
with them on your papers.
All written assignments are due on the day noted in the syllabus. Papers must be
submitted through Moodle. No extensions will be given. There will be a grade
penalty for lateness (1 grade per day).
Papers are graded based on: clarity of writing; evidence provided to support the
claim; insight; argument; spelling and punctuation; proper use and acknowledgment
of sources (footnotes, proper acknowledgment of ideas and sources).
Footnoting should follow Chicago Manual Style 15thA (on EndNote), they
correspond to the formats given in Mary Rampolla's book A Pocket Guide to Writing
6


in History, which is required for this class. Improper footnoting will result in grade
penalty, and/or referring the case to the Honor Board.
Plagiarism is one of the most serious academic offenses a student can commit at
Wesleyan.
Instances of plagiarism:
o submitting essays or portions of essays written by other people as one's own;
o failing to acknowledge, through footnotes and bibliographical entries, the source
of ideas that are essentially not one's own;
o failing to indicate paraphrases or ideas or verbatim expressions not one's own
through proper use of quotations and footnotes;
o submitting an essay written for one course to a second course without having
sought prior permission from both instructors (self-plagiarism).




Grading:
Two papers: (drafts 10% each, final versions 15%)
Midterm and final exams (15% midterm, 25% final)
Class participation: 10% (bonus: 100% rate of attendance).
Penalties: missing more than 3 classes, missing the assignment deadline.
Policy on Religious Holidays and Disabilities
Religious Observance:
The absence due to religious observance will not count toward your 3 unexcused absences.
If you need to miss a class due to religious observance, you are still responsible for the
readings and should contact your classmates about the material we discussed during class.
You are also welcome to meet with me to discuss the material.
Accommodation for Disability:
In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, Wesleyan University has a policy of
accommodating learning and other disabilities. If you identify as disabled, or are
chronically ill, although the requirements of this course remain the same, you are eligible
for accommodation and/or assistance. If you believe that you need accommodations for a
disability, please contact Dean Patey in Disability Resources, located in North College,
Room 021, or call 860-685-2332 for an appointment to discuss your needs and the process
for requesting accommodations. You should also talk to me so that we can make sure that
your needs are accommodated.
7