Big Questions: Introduction to Jewish History, Culture and Heritage

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Tuesday/Thursday
11:00 am–12:15 pm
McBryde Hall 224 Links to an external site.

Prof. Rachel Gross
rbgross@vt.edu
Office: 211 Major Williams Hall (Links to an external site.)
Office hours by appointment.

This class fulfills CLE Area 2. It counts toward the the Religion and Culture major (Links to an external site.), the Judaic Studies minor (Links to an external site.), and the Religious Studies minor.

Download Syllabus

Big Questions

Judaism, like other religions, offers a very particular worldview that focuses on a set of unique responsibilities, beliefs, and values. But Judaism is also a religion and culture that grapples with enduring human issues. In this course, we will use these fundamental questions individuals and members of larger communities as the lens for studying Jews, Judaism (the religion), and Jewishness (Jewish culture):

Overview and objectives

Upon the successful completion of this course, students will learn to:

  • Engage with central Jewish texts, including the Tanakh, the Talmud, and rabbinic and contemporary midrashim.
  • Discuss historical construction of Jewish practices and beliefs.
  • Recognize the diversity of Jewish practices over time and throughout the world.
  • Reflect on readings and discussion throughout the semester orally and in writing.
  • Define key terms and concepts in the Jewish tradition.
  • Explain key narrative themes of Jewish religion and culture.

Assignment guidelines

 

Course Summary:

Date Details Due
Wed Jan 20, 2016 Discussion Topic Class 2. 1/21 Foundational beliefs and narratives
(Discussion group 1)
 due by 10pm
Thu Jan 21, 2016 Discussion Topic Class 2. 1/21 Foundational beliefs and narratives
(Discussion group 2)
 due by 10am
Mon Jan 25, 2016 Discussion Topic Class 3. 1/26 Creation, covenant, and chosenness
(Discussion group 2)
 due by 10pm
Tue Jan 26, 2016 Discussion Topic Class 3. 1/26 Creation, covenant, and chosenness
(Discussion group 3)
 due by 10am
Wed Jan 27, 2016 Discussion Topic Class 4. 1/28 Revelation and redemption
(Discussion group 3)
 due by 10pm
Thu Jan 28, 2016 Discussion Topic Class 4. 1/28 Revelation and redemption
(Discussion group 1)
 due by 10am
Mon Feb 1, 2016 Discussion Topic Class 5. 2/2 Rabbinic literature: Mishnah
(Discussion group 1)
 due by 10pm
Tue Feb 2, 2016 Discussion Topic Class 5. 2/2 Rabbinic literature: Mishnah
(Discussion group 2)
 due by 10am
Wed Feb 3, 2016 Discussion Topic Class 6. 2/4 Rabbinic literature: Talmud
(Discussion group 2)
 due by 10pm
Thu Feb 4, 2016 Discussion Topic Class 6. 2/4 Rabbinic literature: Talmud
(Discussion group 3)
 due by 10am
Mon Feb 8, 2016 Discussion Topic Class 7. 2/9 Rabbinic literature: midrash
(Discussion group 3)
 due by 10pm
Tue Feb 9, 2016 Discussion Topic Class 7. 2/9 Rabbinic literature: midrash
(Discussion group 1)
 due by 10am
Assignment Midrash characteristics due by 11:59pm
Wed Feb 10, 2016 Discussion Topic Class 8. 2/11 Contemporary midrash
(Discussion group 1)
 due by 10pm
Thu Feb 11, 2016 Discussion Topic Class 8. 2/11 Contemporary midrash
(Discussion group 2)
 due by 10am
Mon Feb 15, 2016 Discussion Topic Class 9. 2/16 Exile
(Discussion group 2)
 due by 10pm
Tue Feb 16, 2016 Discussion Topic Class 9. 2/16 Exile
(Discussion group 3)
 due by 10am
Wed Feb 17, 2016 Discussion Topic Class 10. 2/18 Sacred time: Shabbat (the Sabbath)
(Discussion group 3)
 due by 10pm
Thu Feb 18, 2016 Discussion Topic Class 10. 2/18 Sacred time: Shabbat (the Sabbath)
(Discussion group 1)
 due by 10am
Assignment Heschel's architecture in time due by 11:59pm
Mon Feb 22, 2016 Discussion Topic Class 11. 2/23 God and mitzvot (commandments)
(Discussion group 1)
 due by 10pm
Tue Feb 23, 2016 Discussion Topic Class 11. 2/23 God and mitzvot (commandments)
(Discussion group 2)
 due by 10am
Wed Feb 24, 2016 Discussion Topic Class 12. 2/25 Sin and repentence
(Discussion group 2)
 due by 10pm
Thu Feb 25, 2016 Discussion Topic Class 12. 2/25 Sin and repentence
(Discussion group 3)
 due by 10am
Assignment Dorff repentance due by 11:59pm
Fri Feb 26, 2016 Assignment Response paper 1 due by 11:59pm
Mon Feb 29, 2016 Discussion Topic Class 13. 3/1 Prayer as theology and practice
(Discussion group 3)
 due by 10pm
Tue Mar 1, 2016 Discussion Topic Class 13. 3/1 Prayer as theology and practice
(Discussion group 1)
 due by 10am
Assignment M. Kaplan prayer due by 11:59pm
Wed Mar 2, 2016 Discussion Topic Class 14. 3/3 Political emancipation and Judaism as a religion
(Discussion group 1)
 due by 10pm
Thu Mar 3, 2016 Discussion Topic Class 14. 3/3 Political emancipation and Judaism as a religion
(Discussion group 2)
 due by 10am
Mon Mar 14, 2016 Discussion Topic Class 15. 3/15 Reform and Orthodox movements
(Discussion group 2)
 due by 10pm
Tue Mar 15, 2016 Discussion Topic Class 15. 3/15 Reform and Orthodox movements
(Discussion group 3)
 due by 10am
Calendar Event Mad Max: Fury Road 6:30pm to 9pm
Wed Mar 16, 2016 Discussion Topic Class 16. 3/17 Conservative, Reconstructionist, and Renewal
(Discussion group 3)
 due by 10pm
Thu Mar 17, 2016 Discussion Topic Class 16. 3/17 Conservative, Reconstructionist, and Renewal
(Discussion group 1)
 due by 10am
Fri Mar 18, 2016 Assignment Discussion audit due by 11:59pm
Mon Mar 21, 2016 Discussion Topic Class 17. 3/22 Pluralism
(Discussion group 1)
 due by 10pm
Quiz Mid-semester evaluation due by 11:59pm
Tue Mar 22, 2016 Discussion Topic Class 17. 3/22 Pluralism
(Discussion group 2)
 due by 10am
Assignment Dorff - pluralism due by 11:59pm
Wed Mar 23, 2016 Discussion Topic Class 18. 3/24 Am Yisrael (the People of Israel)
(Discussion group 2)
 due by 10pm
Thu Mar 24, 2016 Discussion Topic Class 18. 3/24 Am Yisrael (the People of Israel)
(Discussion group 3)
 due by 10am
Mon Mar 28, 2016 Calendar Event Ambassador Dennis Ross 7pm to 8pm
Discussion Topic Class 19. 3/29 Jews and the state
(Discussion group 3)
 due by 10pm
Tue Mar 29, 2016 Discussion Topic Class 19. 3/29 Jews and the state
(Discussion group 1)
 due by 10am
Calendar Event Ed Blum, San Diego State University, “War Is All Hell: Devils, Demons, and Darkness in the American Civil War” 7pm
Wed Mar 30, 2016 Discussion Topic Class 20. 3/31 Anti-Judaism, anti-semitism, and the Holocaust
(Discussion group 1)
 due by 10pm
Thu Mar 31, 2016 Discussion Topic Class 20. 3/31 Anti-Judaism, anti-semitism, and the Holocaust
(Discussion group 2)
 due by 10am
Sun Apr 3, 2016 Assignment Response paper 2 due by 11:59pm
Tue Apr 5, 2016 Calendar Event Tucker & Dale vs. Evil 6:30pm to 9pm
Mon Apr 11, 2016 Discussion Topic Class 23. 4/12 Jewish nationalism and the State of Israel
(Discussion group 2)
 due by 10pm
Tue Apr 12, 2016 Discussion Topic Class 23. 4/12 Jewish nationalism and the State of Israel
(Discussion group 3)
 due by 10am
Calendar Event Yavilah McCoy, Jewish and African American Gospel Singer 6pm to 8pm
Thu Apr 14, 2016 Calendar Event Extra Credit: Amy Gottlieb, The Beautiful Possible 7pm to 8:30pm
Mon Apr 18, 2016 Discussion Topic Class 25. 4/19 Contemporary Jewish identities
(Discussion group 3)
 due by 10pm
Tue Apr 19, 2016 Discussion Topic Class 25. 4/19 Contemporary Jewish identities
(Discussion group 1)
 due by 10am
Calendar Event Rose Ensemble, Land of Three Faiths lecture demonstration 2pm
Calendar Event Rose Ensemble, Land of Three Faiths recital 7:30pm
Wed Apr 20, 2016 Discussion Topic Class 26. 4/21 Conversion to Judaism
(Discussion group 1)
 due by 10pm
Thu Apr 21, 2016 Discussion Topic Class 26. 4/21 Conversion to Judaism
(Discussion group 2)
 due by 10am
Mon Apr 25, 2016 Discussion Topic Class 27. 4/29 Diaspora and homelands
(Discussion group 2)
 due by 10pm
Tue Apr 26, 2016 Discussion Topic Class 27. 4/29 Diaspora and homelands
(Discussion group 3)
 due by 10am
Assignment Aviv & Shneer argument due by 11:59pm
Wed Apr 27, 2016 Discussion Topic Class 28. 4/28 Jewish homes
(Discussion group 3)
 due by 10pm
Assignment Response paper 3 due by 11:59pm
Thu Apr 28, 2016 Discussion Topic Class 28. 4/28 Jewish homes
(Discussion group 1)
 due by 10am
Thu May 5, 2016 Assignment SPOT survey due by 11:59pm
Tue May 10, 2016 Assignment Pomegranate seeds activity due by 11:59pm
Assignment Response paper 4 due by 11:59pm
Discussion Topic Class 10. 2/18 Sacred time: Shabbat (the Sabbath)  
Discussion Topic Class 11. 2/23 God and mitzvot (commandments)  
Discussion Topic Class 12. 2/25 Sin and repentence  
Discussion Topic Class 13. 3/1 Prayer as theology and practice  
Discussion Topic Class 14. 3/3 Political emancipation and Judaism as a religion  
Discussion Topic Class 15. 3/15 Reform and Orthodox movements  
Discussion Topic Class 16. 3/17 Conservative, Reconstructionist, and Renewal  
Discussion Topic Class 17. 3/22 Pluralism  
Discussion Topic Class 18. 3/24 Am Yisrael (the People of Israel)  
Discussion Topic Class 19. 3/29 Jews and the state  
Discussion Topic Class 2. 1/21 Foundational beliefs and narratives  
Discussion Topic Class 20. 3/31 Anti-Judaism, anti-semitism, and the Holocaust  
Discussion Topic Class 23. 4/12 Jewish nationalism and the State of Israel  
Discussion Topic Class 25. 4/19 Contemporary Jewish identities  
Discussion Topic Class 26. 4/21 Conversion to Judaism  
Discussion Topic Class 27. 4/29 Diaspora and homelands  
Discussion Topic Class 28. 4/28 Jewish homes  
Discussion Topic Class 3. 1/26 Creation, covenant, and chosenness  
Discussion Topic Class 4. 1/28 Revelation and redemption  
Discussion Topic Class 5. 2/2 Rabbinic literature: Mishnah  
Discussion Topic Class 6. 2/4 Rabbinic literature: Talmud  
Discussion Topic Class 7. 2/9 Rabbinic literature: midrash  
Discussion Topic Class 8. 2/11 Contemporary midrash  
Discussion Topic Class 9. 2/16 Exile  
Assignment Extra credit event 1  
Assignment Extra credit event 2  
Assignment Participation  
Assignment Roll Call Attendance