RLBcA005 Judaism

Faculty of Arts
Autumn 2022
Extent and Intensity
2/0/0. 4 credit(s) (plus 1 credit for an exam). Recommended Type of Completion: zk (examination). Other types of completion: k (colloquium).
Teacher(s)
PhDr. Dalibor Papoušek, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
PhDr. Dalibor Papoušek, Ph.D.
Department for the Study of Religions – Faculty of Arts
Contact Person: Mgr. Matouš Vencálek
Supplier department: Department for the Study of Religions – Faculty of Arts
Timetable
Wed 10:00–11:40 K21
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
The capacity limit for the course is 100 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 7/100, only registered: 0/100, only registered with preference (fields directly associated with the programme): 0/100
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
The course offers a complex introduction to Judaism as the oldest monotheistic religion. Following a paradigmatic scheme of periodization it provides a general survey of its historical transformations: religion of the ancient Israel, early Judaism in the post-exilic period, Sepharadim and Ashkenazim during the Middle Ages, and modern Judaism, including its national-political features.
Learning outcomes
After the successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
  • demonstrate the basic factual knowledge of the history of Judaism, including main features of its teachings, religious law and ritual practices;
  • identify the principal historical transformations in the development of Judaism;
  • use the basic terminology of Judaism and its academic study;
  • interpret key literary sources connected with the topic (biblical text, halakhic commentary, Hasidic legend etc.);
  • compare Judaism with other monotheistic systems (Christianity and Islam).
    • Syllabus
    • Introduction to the course. General characterization of Judaism.
    • Ethnogenesis of Hebrew tribes. The earliest religion of Israel.
    • Religion in the pre-exilic period. Hezekiah's and Josiah's reforms.
    • The Babylonian exile and the Persian period. Panel discussion on the Hebrew cosmogony.
    • Hellenization and differentiation of early Judaism. Rabbinic Judaism and the crystallization of the Talmud.
    • Visit to the Brno synagogue. Ritual life of Judaism.
    • Test in the Hebrew Bible. Ga'onic period.
    • Sepharadim a Ashkenazim.
    • Jewish mysticism.
    • Panel discussion on Maharal. Jewish religious philosophy.
    • Haskalah and the differentiation of Judaism in modern times.
    • Test in the basic terminology of Judaism. Zionism and the origins of the State of Israel.
    Literature
      required literature
    • STEMBERGER, Günter. Úvod do judaistiky. Translated by Štěpán Zbytovský. Vyd. 1. Praha: Vyšehrad, 2010, 228 s. ISBN 9788070219881. info
      recommended literature
    • SCHUBERT, Kurt. Židovské náboženství v proměnách věků : zdroje, teologie, filosofie, mystika. Translated by Jindřich Slabý. Vyd. 3., rev. Praha: Vyšehrad, 2010, 293 s. ISBN 9788074290459. info
    • BRENNER, Michael. Malé dějiny Židů. Translated by Zlata Kufnerová. Vyd. 1. Praha: Paseka, 2014, 351 s. ISBN 9788074324437. info
    • HORYNA, Břetislav and Helena PAVLINCOVÁ. Judaismus-Křesťanství-Islám (Judaism-Christianity-Islam). Nové rozšířené. Olomouc: nakladatelství Olomouc, 2003, 661 pp. ISBN 80-7182-165-9. info
    • The Oxford handbook of Jewish studies. Edited by Jeremy Cohen - David Jan Sorkin - Martin Goodman. New York: Oxford University Press, 2002, xiv, 1037. ISBN 9780199280322. info
    Teaching methods
    Lectures; home readings; two semestral commentaries on assigned texts; class discussions; two semestral written tests.
    Assessment methods
    Requirements for the colloquium (recommended for students in the fields other than religion)
  • written test in the Hebrew Bible;
  • written test in the basic terminology of Judaism.
    The final assessment includes: two semestral tests (200 points = 40%, limit 120 points), participation in the classes (extra points added to the total of tests).

    Requirements for the oral examination (compulsory for students of religion)
    Prerequisites for the examination:
  • written test in the Hebrew Bible;
  • written test in the basic terminology of Judaism.
  • two accepted commentaries.
    Requirements for the oral examination:
  • to prove the basic factual knowledge of Judaism according to the given list of topics;
  • to prove the interpretative ability in a given field.
    The final grade includes assessment of: two written tests (200 points = 40%, limit 120 points), two semestral commentaries (100 points = 20%, limit 60 points), oral examination (200 points = 40%, limit 120 points), participation in the classes (extra points added to the total of tests).

    Detailed schedule of the course and topics for the examination with recommended reading are available in the ELF (e-learning environment of the Faculty of Arts, Masaryk University).
    • Language of instruction
    Czech
    Follow-Up Courses
    Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
    Study Materials
    The course is taught annually.
    The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2020, Autumn 2021, Autumn 2023, Autumn 2024.
    • Enrolment Statistics (Autumn 2022, recent)
    • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/phil/autumn2022/RLBcA005