2013-2014 Academic Catalog

May 09, 2024

2013-2014 Academic Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

JS 123 - The Midrashic Tradition

An English-language study of Midrashic literature, the primary Jewish literary expression after the Bible. Written down mainly during the Roman period, the texts comprise independent legends about supernatural beings; writings about biblical characters (filling in gaps in the biblical stories); traditions about the lives of the ancient rabbis; and wide-ranging statements about worldly wisdom, ethical values and political reality. Sources are ready with an eye toward what they reveal about ancient Jewish society and in the light of recent work in folklore studies. A final unit considers later forms of Midrash, such as Hasidic and contemporary variations.

Anticipated Terms Offered: Offered every other year