The Jews: History, Culture, and Religion (Bible to Middle Ages)
JUDS 0020.S01 (10058)
Fall, 2007
This course surveys Jewish history, culture, and religion from the biblical period through the middle
ages. We will pay particularly close attention to issues of Jewish identity and religious expression: What
did it mean to be an Israelite or a Jew in antiquity? What is the relationship between the Israelites,
whose beliefs and practices are reflected in much of the Hebrew Bible, and the Jews, who returned from
the Babylonian captivity to Jerusalem around 520 BCE to rebuild their temple? What linked, and
divided, different Jewish groups? Who were “the rabbis,” and why were they so important for the
development of Judaism? We will also focus on the production and canonization of the texts (e.g., Bible,
Talmud, Zohar) that remain important for Jews today.
There are no prerequisites for this class. It is continued next semester in JUDS 0030, although that
course can be taken without first taking this one.
Instructor Information
Michael Satlow, Associate Professor, Program in Judaic Studies and Department of Religious Studies.
My office is in the Program in Judaic Studies, 163 George St. My number is 863-3911, and my email is
Michael_Satlow@brown.edu. I will hold office hours on Tuesday, 11-12 at my office in Judaic Studies
(163 George St.). Should this time not be convenient for you, I am also happy to meet with you by
appointment. I strongly encourage you to visit me, even if you think that you have nothing to talk
about!
This class meets Tuesday and Thursday, 2:30-3:50 (K Hour), and is in Exam group 11 (Wednesday,
December 19, 2 PM). Due to some necessary cancellations throughout the semester, this course will
not observe Reading Week.
Objectives, Approach, Structure
This course has two primary substantive goals: To provide you with a broad conceptual map for
understanding early Jewish history and the development of Judaism as we now know it, and to give you
some exposure to how scholars produce such a history. I also aim to help you to acquire communication
and critical thinking skills that you will be able to use more generally.
My pedagogical approach continues to evolve, but is grounded in three core convictions:
I believe in the value of a liberal education. Much of life is about learning to ask, and grapple with, the
right questions, even while admitting that the answers are sometimes elusive. Learning to ask those
questions and find frameworks for answering them, though, is an acquired skill.
I believe that learning is best done actively rather than passively. Education is not about the delivery
and memorization of data, although knowledge of stuff is surely important. It is about knowing what to
do with that stuff. This process draws upon a set of skills that can be attained only through active
engagement and practice.
I believe that education is a relationship, not a transaction. The classroom is a dynamic environment in
which human beings engage each other. As a class, our goal is to set up a safe learning environment
that challenges each of us to further our human potential.
This class will require your regular and active participation. Most classes will involve a “mini-lecture” of
20-30 minutes. The bulk of our time in class, however, will be spent in discussion, usually of a primary
text or two. The lectures are intended to provide a context; your preparation and our discussions is
where most of the learning will occur, as you learn how to ask “good” questions and provide alternative,
justified, and evidence-based answers to them.
Books
You should purchase the books below. All other materials will be available through the OCRA system or
will be distributed. Our OCRA password is “jews”.
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You should buy either David Biale, ed., Cultures of the Jews: A New History (Schocken, 2002;
ISBN: 978-0805241310), or both Cultures of the Jews: Mediterranean Origins (Schocken, 2006;
ISBN: 978-0805212006) and Cultures of the Jews: Diversities of Diaspora (Schocken, 2006; ISBN:
978-0805212013). The latter two books each contain essays found in the former book, but the
full volume contains many other essays as well, and can be found for about the same price as
the two slimmer volumes. The disadvantage of the full volume is that it is big and heavy. Your
choice.
Michael L. Satlow, Creating Judaism: History, Tradition, Practice (Columbia, 2006; ISBN: 9780231134897);
Herschel Shanks, ed., Ancient Israel: From Abraham to the Destruction of the Temple, 2nd edition
(Biblical Archaeology Society, 1999; ISBN: 978-1880317549)
Richard E. Friedman, Who Wrote the Bible? (HarperSanFrancisco, 1997; ISBN: 978-0060630355)
The Jewish Study Bible (Oxford University Press, 2003; ISBN: 978-0195297546)
Requirements and Grading
We will be using the Mycourses (mycourses.brown.edu) system extensively. I will use it to post study
guides, and you will regularly submit assignments online. We will also keep a class blog. Note that you
must be registered for the course in order to have access.
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Regular, prepared attendance and participation (15%). Much of your learning will take place in
class discussions, and it is vitally important for both you and your classmates that you attend,
are prepared, and participate. At the end of the semester you will be asked to complete a selfassessment to help me determine the appropriate credit.
Writing Assignments (20%). Approximately once a week (indicated below with an asterisk [*]),
you will have a short writing assignment based on your class reading. The assignment question
will be posted on Mycourses, and you should submit it online. These assignments should each
amount to 2-3 pages, and must be submitted prior to the class meeting. There are nine
assignments, of which you are permitted to miss one.
Two short (5-page) papers (40%). These essays will focus on synthesizing the most recent unit
of study. They are due on October 11 and November 15.
Take-home final (25%). This will be due on Wednesday, December 19, at 5 PM in my box in the
Judaic Studies office. The questions will be made available on the last day of class.
Class blog assignment. Each student will be responsible for making at least one entry in the
class blog. That student will briefly record what he or she saw as the major issues to emerge
from the class discussion. Other students are encouraged to consult and comment on these
entries in a timely fashion.
6. All grading (except for participation) will be done on an A, B, C, NC scale. As a general rule of
thumb, I consider an A grade to indicate “exceeding expectations”; B indicates “meeting
expectations”; C indicates “falling short of expectations”; NC indicates having fallen far short or
missing the assignment completely. I convert the letter grade to a numerical one (A=95%;
B=85%; C=75%; NC=0), do the math, convert back to a letter (A=90 and up, etc.; rounding up at
.5); and voilà, you have a final grade.
7. Policy on extensions and make-ups. Only under exceptional circumstances will I allow you to
make-up an assignment, or submit it late. All missed assignments will be scored as a “NC”.
8. Policy on plagiarism. Plagiarism and cheating, whether intentional or not, are very serious
matters. Should you engage in either, you will automatically fail the course. If you have any
questions about what constitutes plagiarism or cheating, never hesitate to ask me or consult
the appropriate academic handbooks.
Tentative Schedule
Please note that the following regularly scheduled classes have been cancelled: September 13, 27;
October 4; November 20.
They will be made up by the following mandatory meetings: October 22 (7:30 PM); November 29 (7:30
PM); December 11 (during our normal class hours). An additional meeting may be scheduled.
September 6
Introduction
September 11
Studying Jews
Reading: Cultures of the Jews, vol. 1, pp. xv-xxxi
September 13
Cancelled: Rosh HaShanah
September 18
Who Wrote the Bible?
Reading: Who Wrote the Bible?, pp. 1-116
September 20
Who Wrote the Bible?*
Reading: Who Wrote the Bible?, pp. 117-245
September 25
Biblical History*
Reading: Ancient Israel, pp. 1-52; Hendel, “Israel among the Nations,” in
Cultures of the Jews, vol. 1, pp. 43-76
Genesis 16:1-18:15
September 27
Cancelled: Sukkot
October 2
Biblical Religion*
Reading: Stephen Geller, “The Religion of the Bible,” in the Jewish
Study Bible, pp. 2021-2040
Leviticus 19; Numbers 28:1-30:1
October 4
Cancelled: Shemini Atzeret
October 9
From Captivity to Return
Reading: Ancient Israel, pp. 201-229
Haggai
October 11
Biblical Period: Synthesis
Paper due
October 16
Hellenism and the Maccabean Revolt*
Reading: Ancient Israel, pp. 231-64
1 Maccabees 1; 2 Maccabees 1-7
October 18
Jews in the Diaspora
Reading: Erich Gruen, “Hellenistic Judaism,” in Cultures of the Jews, vol.
1, pp. 77-132
Judith
October 22 (Monday)
Lecture by Professor Martin Goodman (Oxford), 7:30 PM
October 23
Guest teacher: Professor Goodman [Jewish Sectarianism]
Reading: TBA
October 25
Jewish Identity*
Reading: Shaye Cohen, The Beginnings of Jewishness, pp. 140-174
Tosefta Avodah Zara 4(5): 6; passage from Babylonian Talmud, Pesahim
3b; inscriptions to be made available
October 30
From Herod to Revolt
Reading: Ancient Israel, pp. 265-298
Josephus, Jewish War, book 5, sections 362-419; book 6, sections 236270
November 1
The Rabbis*
Reading: H. Lapin, “The Origins and Development of the Rabbinic
Movement in the Land of Israel,” in Cambridge History of Judaism, vol.
4, pp. 206-229
Passage from the Babylonian Talmud, Hagiga 3a-b
November 6
Rabbinic Literature
Reading: I. Gafni, “Babylonian Rabbinic Culture,” in Cultures of the Jews,
vol. 1, pp. 223-265; Creating Judaism, pp. 115-139
BT Eruvin 54b
November 8
Rabbinic Judaism: Concepts*
Reading: Satlow, Creating Judaism, pp. 140-163
BT Shabbat 33b-34a
November 13
Rabbinic Judaism: Practice
Reading: Satlow, Creating Judaism, pp. 164-186; L. Levine, “Jewish
Archaeology in Late Antiquity: Art, Architecture, and Inscriptions,” in
Cambridge History of Judaism, vol. 4, pp. 519-555
Mishnah Shabbat, chapter 12
November 15
The Geonim
Reading: Satlow, Creating Judaism, pp. 187-208
Paper due
November 20, 22
Cancelled
November 27
Jews in Ashkenaz
Reading: I. Marcus, “A Jewish-Christian Symbiosis: The Culture of Early
Ashkenaz,” in Cultures of the Jews, vol. 2, pp. 147-214
A Hebrew First Crusade Chronicle, translated in R. Chazan, European
Jewry and the First Crusade, pp. 225-242
November 29
Jews in Sepharad*
Reading: R. Scheindlin, “Merchants and Intellectuals, Rabbis and Poets,”
in Cultures of the Jews, vol. 2, pp. 11-86
Poems by Judah Halevi in R. Scheindlin, The Gazelle, pp. 77-83, and
idem, Wine, Women, and Death, pp. 119-121
November 29 (evening)
Lecture by Professor Robert Chazan
December 4
Jewish Philosophy*
Reading: Satlow, Creating Judaism, pp. 209-228
Selections from Maimonides, Guide for the Perplexed, in I. Twersky, A
Maimonides Reader, pp. 236-277
December 6
Jewish Mysticism
Reading: Satlow, Creating Judaism, pp. 229-249
Zohar 1:119b-120a, translation from Daniel Matt, The Zohar: Pritzker
Edition, vol. 2, pp. 191-195
December 11
Conclusions