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Centre
for Jewish Studies, University of Manchester
Website: www.mucjs.org
Why
read Jewish Studies at University?
The
MUCJS is based within the Dept of Religions & Theology.
It is the only such Department in the UK to have achieved perfect
scores in both teaching and research assessment exercises.
UNDERGRADUATE
T670 BA
with Honours in Hebrew and Jewish Studies (in the Department
of Middle Eastern Studies: commencing September 2001)
T654 BA with Honours in Hebrew (in the Department of Middle
Eastern Studies: commencing September 2001)
Y300 BA
(Hons) in Combined Studies (in the Department of Combined
Studies): combining Jewish Studies (from one-third to two-thirds
of the programme) with one of eleven other subject areas. No
language requirement.
V800 BA
with Honours in the Study of Religion and Theology (in the
Department of Religions & Theology). No language requirement.
T608 Hebrew may be taken as one of two languages in the BA in
Middle Eastern Languages.
TT62 Hebrew may be taken as one of two languages in the BA in
Middle Eastern & Modern European Languages.
1ST
YEAR
NE 1211:
Modern Hebrew Language IA (Sophie Garside, email: Sophie.Garside@man.ac.uk):
a beginner’s level course, aiming to acquaint the student with
the basic structure of the language, using all four language
skills: reading, writing, listening and speaking.
NE 1222:
Modern Hebrew Language IB (Sophie Garside, email: Sophie.Garside@man.ac.uk):
a continuation of NE 1211, also suitable for students who already
have a very basic knowledge of the language.
NE 1710:
Introduction to the Contemporary Middle East (Ed Herzig,
email: edmund.herzig@man.ac.uk):
Intended for students with little previous knowledge of the
Middle East, this course aims to impart essential information
on the geography, peoples, politics and economics, as well as
to introduce major concepts and issues in Middle Eastern studies.
NE 1810:
The Middle East Before Islam; an Introduction (John Healey,
email: john.f.healey@man.ac.uk).
NE 1611/1622:
Aramaic/Syriac Language IA and IB (John Healey, email:
john.f.healey@man.ac.uk).
TH 1101:
The
World of the Ancient Israelites (John Applegate and
Adrian Curtis, email: Adrian.Curtis@man.ac.uk)
provides an introduction to the literary genres of the Hebrew
Bible/Old Testament and to modern Biblical Criticism and aims
to make students familiar with the geographical and cultural
context in which the ancient Israelites lived and from which
the Old Testament/Hebrew Bible emerged.
TH 1140:
Biblical
Hebrew (Adrian Curtis, email: Adrian.Curtis@man.ac.uk):
introduces students to the basic vocabulary, grammar and syntax
of Biblical Hebrew (designed for those who have no prior knowledge
of the Hebrew language).
TH 1192:
Introduction
to Judaism (Philip Alexander, email: Philip.Alexander@man.ac.uk;
currently taught by Bernard Jackson, email: Bernard.Jackson@man.ac.uk):
provides an historical introduction to contemporary Judaism,
defining Judaism as a system of beliefs and practices based
on Torah. The basic creed of Judaism is explored, as expressed
in law, mysticism, ethics and philosophy. Major practices and
rituals are described. The course concludes with a demographic
and statistical overview of Judaism today, and a consideration
of some of the major issues which currently exercise the Jewish
community.
2ND
YEAR
(3rd year
students may be allowed one 2nd year course)
NE 2210:
Modern Hebrew Language IIA and IIB (Sophie Garside, email:
Sophie.Garside@man.ac.uk):
a lower intermediate level course, aiming to improve and expand
the student's basic level to reach an intermediate level, using
all four language skills: reading, writing, listening and speaking.
NE 2220:
Introduction to Modern Hebrew Texts (Sophie Garside,
email: Sophie.Garside@man.ac.uk):
introduces students to a variety of modern Hebrew texts, e.g.
short stories, news extracts, reports, etc. It will be complementary
to the language courses and will help expand the student’s vocabulary,
reading skills and use of dictionaries.
NE 2230:
Biblical Hebrew Texts I (John Healey, email: john.f.healey@man.ac.uk):
a basic training in the methodology of traditional Hebrew Bible
studies, based on the student’s existing knowledge from first
level Hebrew, studied principally through classwork on Genesis
40-45 and selections from the Book of Psalms.
NE 2241:
Talmudic Judaism (10 Credits) (Alex Samely, email: Alexander.Samely@man.ac.uk):
an introduction to the main concepts of talmudic Judaism in
its historical setting, its literary genres and its relationship
to the Hebrew Bible and other cultural influences.
NE 2252:
Readings in the Talmudic Judaism (10 Credits) (Alex Samely,
email: Alexander.Samely@man.ac.uk):
supplements NE 2240 by the study of concrete examples of rabbinic
literature, requiring active preparation of texts to be discussed
in class.
NE 2261:
Semitic Languages; an Outline (John Healey, email: john.f.healey@man.ac.uk):
introduces the main features common to the Semitic language
family, with special emphasis on classification, writings systems,
phonology and morphology.
NE 2610
Aramaic/Syriac Language II (John Healey, email: john.f.healey@man.ac.uk).
TH 2002:
The Jews in Europe 1789-1939 (Sharman Kadish, email:
Sharman.Kadish@man.ac.uk):
This course explores the nature of Jewish identity under the
impact of modernization on traditional Jewish society as it
existed in the ghettos of Europe before the Enlightenment. It
examines the progress towards civil and political emancipation
of the Jews in Western Europe and the reasons for its failure
in Eastern Europe, especially in Russia. The range of Jewish
responses on exposure to European culture are studied, such
as Reform Judaism, Jewish socialism, Zionism, and mass migration.
An attempt is made to explain and analyse the recurring phenomenon
of anti-Semitism that culminated in the Nazi Holocaust.
TH 2081:
Jewish
Ways of Reading the Bible (Philip Alexander, email:
Philip.Alexander@man.ac.uk):
(alt: TH 2362): the course considers early Jewish commentaries
on the Bible from Second Temple times down to the Middle Ages.
A number of major commentators (Rashi, Kimhi and Ibn Ezra) are
singled out for closer investigation. Much of the course is
devoted to reading and analysing in English translation sample
texts, particularly (though not exclusively) concerned with
the Account of Creation in Genesis 1-3, the story of the Binding
of Isaac in Genesis 22, the Song of Songs and the Servant Songs
in the Book of Isaiah. (NOT RUNNING)
TH 2161:
Dead
Sea Scrolls (George Brooke, email: George.Brooke@man.ac.uk):
a guided reading course which provides the opportunity for in-depth
study of one aspect of the study of the Dead Sea Scrolls which
is selected by those registering for the course at the start
of the academic year.
TH 2170:
Biblical
Hebrew Texts I (Adrian Curtis, email: Adrian.Curtis@man.ac.uk):
translation and exegesis of selected passages of the Hebrew
Bible (currently: Joshua 23-24; 2 Samuel 6-7; Jeremiah 1-5;
Psalms 15, 51, 82, 93, 137).
TH 2182:
The
Prophetic Literature (Adrian Curtis, email: Adrian.Curtis@man.ac.uk):discusses
the definition of the term ‘prophet’ and its background in ancient
Israel. Some account is given of so-called ‘primitive’ prophecy,
but the course concentrates on the messages of certain key figures
in the biblical prophetic tradition.
TH 2351:
Jewish
Liturgy and Religious Practice (Alan Unterman, email:
Alan.Unterman@man.ac.uk):
The course surveys the main elements of Jewish religious practice
from the late Second Temple period to Modern Times. It casts
light upon the history and variety of Jewish communities and
their contact with Christian and Islamic cultures; the development
of liturgy & ritual; community structures; the influences
of custom, mysticism & folklore; sacred time and sacred
space. The course concludes with the changes in liturgical and
ritual practice introduced as a response to modernity.
TH 2360:
The Visual Dimensions of Judaism (Philip Alexander, email:
Philip.Alexander@man.ac.uk):
(alt: TH 2080): The course considers the roles played by visual
symbols within religious systems in general, Judaism's prohibition
of images and its effects on the development of Jewish art,
the major visual symbols of Judaism - their history, meaning
and purpose , and the functions of symbolism within Judaism,
its role in defining group identity and how it reflects the
changing relationship of Jewish communities to the non-Jewish
world. (NOT RUNNING)
TH 2370:
Landmarks
in Jewish History (Irene Lancaster). The course surveys
the main landmarks in Jewish history from Second Temple times
to the 21st century. It embraces a variety of Jewish communities,
and their contact with Greek, Roman, Christian and Islamic cultures,
as well as those of more modern times. Throughout the course,
comparison is made between early and later Jewish historical
experience, in order to emphasise the relevance of ancient,
mediaeval and early modern history on contemporary Judaism,
including post-modernism. SUBJECT TO CONFIRMATION
TH 2611:
Introduction
to the History of Jewish-Christian Relations (Daniel
Langton, email: Daniel.Langton@man.ac.uk):
First half provides an overview of the history of Jewish-Christian
relations. Second half adopts a thematic approach and highlights
the development of the thought and theology of various individuals,
concentrating particularly on the last hundred years or so.
3RD
YEAR
(2nd year
students may be allowed one 3rd year course)
NE 3200:
Jewish Aramaic Texts (Alex Samely, email: Alexander.Samely@man.ac.uk):
a detailed study of selected Aramaic documents aimed at teaching
students how to appreciate advanced forms of rabbinic exegetical
and legal discourse. Course Texts: Palestinian Targum Gen 4;
Targum Song of Songs 1-3; Talmud Bavli Sukkah 2a-5a.
NE 3210:
Modern Hebrew Language III (Sophie Garside, email: Sophie.Garside@man.ac.uk):
an upper intermediate level language course, aiming to achieve
a higher level of fluency in the language using all four skills:
reading, writing, listening and speaking.
NE 3220:
Modern Hebrew Literature (Sophie Garside, email: Sophie.Garside@man.ac.uk):
aims at developing fluency in reading and the appreciation of
modern Hebrew literature, including a brief introduction to
the history of Modern Hebrew Literature. The works of three
modern Hebrew authors (Agnon, Appelfeld , Oz) are studied in
the original, using English translations as support.
NE 3250:
Medieval Hebrew Texts (Alex Samely, email: Alexander.Samely@man.ac.uk):
study of the essential characteristics of the religious discourse
of medieval Judaism, through a detailed study (in the original)
of the following exegetical and philosophical texts: Gen. 1-3;
David Kimhi on Psalms 125-130 (ed. Baker-Nicholson); Maimonides,
Mishneh Torah, Hilkhot Yesode ha-Torah, I-III (ed. Aramah).
NE 3270:
Modern Hebrew Language IV (Sophie Garside, email: Sophie.Garside@man.ac.uk):
an advanced level language course, aiming to provide the student
with additional tools to make a free and creative use of contemporary
Hebrew.
NE 3870:
Jewish Philosophy in the 20th Century (Alex Samely, email:
Alexander.Samely@man.ac.uk):
aims to introduce students to discourse of the 20th century.
Central texts by philosophers such as Cohen, Buber, Rosenzweig,
Fackenheim and Levinas are investigated with special regard
to their contribution of the problem of (existential) time,
hermeneutics and ethics, as well as the significance of the
holocaust.
TH 3100:
Being
Jewish in Britain (Bill Williams): This course introduces
students to the empirical study of Jewish identity in contemporary
Britain and to the collection and interpretation of oral testimony.
TH 3171:
The
Mystical Tradition in Judaism (Philip Alexander, email:
Philip.Alexander@man.ac.uk):
(alt: TH 3250): This course considers the ‘canon’ of Jewish
mystical literature, starting with Heikhalot mysticism and Jewish
Gnosticism in late antiquity, proceeding chronologically to
the Qabbalah (Zoharic, Abulafian and Lurianic), mediaeval German
Hasidism, the Jewish Sufis of Egypt, Shabbateanism and its offshoots
and modern Hasidism, and concludes with an investigation of
the vitality of the mystical tradition within Judaism today.
Special emphasis is placed on reading and analysing primary
sources in English translation, especially from the Zohar. The
course also considers the origins of mysticism and its importance
in the historical development of Judaism. (NOT RUNNING)
TH 3181:
Law
and Narrative in the Hebrew Bible (Bernard Jackson,
email: Bernard.Jackson@man.ac.uk):
(alt: TH 3241): Commencing with an introduction to biblical
law and its relation to biblical narrative, the course examines
legal aspects of the pre-patriarchal, patriarchal and royal
narratives; narratives of law-giving and adjudication; narrative
elements in the laws themselves, and the relationship between
law, narrative and theology in the Hebrew Bible. (NOT RUNNING)
TH 3192:
Jewish
Law and Problems of Jewish Life in the Modern World
(Bernard Jackson, email: Bernard.Jackson@man.ac.uk):
(alt: TH 3252): examines the approach of Jewish law to interfaith
relations (including the role of the trial of Jesus), the "legal
system" and its values, marriage, divorce, conversion,
the status of women (especially in the context of succession),
Jewish identity, medico-legal problems and the relationship
between law and state in the modern State of Israel. Bibliography
TH 3230:
Major
Themes in Jewish Theology (Philip Alexander, email:
Philip.Alexander@man.ac.uk):
(alt: TH 3170): The course surveys the history of theology within
Judaism from the 2nd Temple period to modern times and studies
the relationship of theology to halakhah, mysticism and ethics,
the debates over the role of creeds within Judaism , the concepts
of God, creation, humanity, sin and evil, Torah and revelation,
Israel, the Covenant at Sinai, and eschatology . It concludes
with the holocaust, the founding of the State of Israel, modern
science and feminism. (NOT RUNNING)
TH 3241:
Early Biblical Law: The Mishpatim of Exodus 21-22 (Bernard
Jackson, email: Bernard.Jackson@man.ac.uk):
(alt: TH 3181): This course offers an introduction to Biblical
Law and an analysis of one of its major texts, the first part
of the "Covenant Code" (Exodus 21:1-22:16), discussing
its relationship to other collections of Biblical Law. Study
of the text raises general questions as to the nature of the
rules of Biblical Law, and of the forms of dispute resolution
implied by them. Emphasis is placed on the reading and discussion
of primary sources in translation. (NOT RUNNING)
TH 3252:
Law
and Religion in the Modern State of Israel (Bernard
Jackson, email: Bernard.Jackson@man.ac.uk):
(alt: TH 3192): The course reviews the debates regarding the
relationship between law and religion within the Zionist movement;
traces the history of the relationship from the Ottoman Empire
through the British mandate to the modern State; and considers
the modern "compromise" as it affects both religious
practice and the law of personal status (marriage, divorce,
conversion) in the State of Israel, together with the definition
of "Jew" under the Law of Return and for other purposes.
(NOT RUNNING)
TH 3331
Holocaust
Theology (Daniel Langton, email: Daniel.Langton@man.ac.uk):
Considers the influence of the Shoah upon Jewish thought and
the implications for Jewish-Christian Relations. Close readings
of significant thinkers.
TH 3380:
Biblical
Hebrew Texts II (Adrian Curtis, email: Adrian.Curtis@man.ac.uk):
translation and exegesis of selected passages of the Hebrew
Bible (currently: Joshua 23-24; Judges 4-5; 2 Samuel 6-7; Jeremiah
1-5; Psalms 15, 51, 82, 93, 137; Ecclesiastes 1-3). MA students
(TH 9380) also study Exodus 21:1-22:16 with Professor Jackson.
TH 3912:
Jewish
Literature of the Early Graeco-Roman Period (George
Brooke, email: George.Brooke@man.ac.uk):
pays particular attention to identifying the characteristics
of a wide range of literary genres including stories, poems,
wisdom literature, testaments, apocalypses, philosophy, and
history writing. Literary works from both the early Palestinian
Judaism and also from the Jewish diaspora are studied. Some
elementary knowledge of the history of the period 200 BCE -
200 CE is covered briefly at the beginning of the course. All
the compositions are studied in English.
TH 3921:
Ancient
Israel: Recent Research (Adrian Curtis, email: Adrian.Curtis@man.ac.uk):
this seminar-based course enables students to consider in detail
a number of issues of current or recent debate in the field
of Old Testament/Hebrew Bible, the topics being decided each
year in consultation with the members of the class.
TH 3991:
Archaeology of Jerusalem and Palestine (John Kane): studies
issues in the archaeology of Palestine in the Hellenistic and
early Roman periods. The focus is the Jewish State and its identity
as revealed by material remains studied alongside written sources.
(NOT RUNNING)
TH 4001:
Special
Subject: Dead Sea Scrolls (George Brooke, email: George.Brooke@man.ac.uk):
This course provides an opportunity for in-depth study of one
aspect of the Dead Sea Scrolls, selected by each participant
at the start of the semester.
GV 4132:
The Holocaust (Norman Geras, email: Norman.Geras@man.ac.uk):
The course explores some of the issues central to the experience
of the Holocaust or Shoah - the Nazi attempt to destroy the
Jews of Europe - and considers its implications for contemporary
moral and political thought. (NOT RUNNING)
POSTGRADUATE
MA in Jewish Studies
TH 9651
Sources, Resources and Methods in the
Study of Judaism compulsory core course
NE 1211
+ 1212 Modern Hebrew Language (Sophie
Garside, email: Sophie.Garside@man.ac.uk):
Modern Hebrew at any of the levels I-IV.
NE 6200
Rabbinic Aramaic Texts (Alex
Samely, email: Alexander.Samely@man.ac.uk):
Introduces Syriac grammar through grammatical explanation and
exercises, Aramaic texts and the Aramaic of the Book of Daniel.
NE 6030
Spinoza's Philosophy and Critique of
Religion (Alex Samely, email: Alexander.Samely@man.ac.uk):
Explores the interplay between philosophical system and biblical
criticism in Spinoza as one of the forefathers of modernity.
(NOT RUNNING)
NE 8100
Jewish Philosophy in the 20th Century
(Alex Samely, email: Alexander.Samely@man.ac.uk):
Introduces the conceptual contributions of thinkers of Jewish
orientation including Cohen, Buber, Rosenweig, Fackenheim and
Levinas.
NE 9142
The Legal Discourse of Rabbinic Judaism
(Alex Samely, email: Alexander.Samely@man.ac.uk):
Explores some of the central concerns, topics, conceptual assumptions
and methods of rabbinic legal discourse, in particular in the
Mishnaic period.
NE 9132
The Exegetical Discourse of Rabbinic
Judaism (Alex Samely, email: Alexander.Samely@man.ac.uk):
Introduces the literary formats, topics, and hermeneutic methods
of rabbinic Bible interpretation, in particular in the earlier
period (Mishnah and Bereshit Rabba).
TH 6111
Holocaust Theology (Daniel
Langton, email: Daniel.Langton@man.ac.uk):
explores a number of theological responses to the Holocaust,
with Jewish and Christian writers including Richard Rubenstein,
Emil Fackenheim, Irving Greenberg, Ignaz Maybaum, Eliezer Berkovits,
Arthur Cohen, Rosemary Ruether, Paul van Buren.
TH 9000
Approaches and Methods in the Study
of the Hebrew Bible (Adrian Curtis, email: Adrian.Curtis@man.ac.uk):
Introduces students to a variety of approaches to, and methods
of study of, the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament which have been
employed during the twentieth century, and to consider their
respective contributions.
TH 9080
Jewish Ways of Reading the Bible
(Philip Alexander, email: Philip.Alexander@man.ac.uk):
Explores how canonic texts function within Judaism, and how
they are creatively adapted to meet changing historical and
social conditions. (NOT RUNNING)
TH 9100
Being Jewish in Britain (Bill
Williams): Introduces the empirical study of the Jewish identity
in contemporary Britain and to the collection and interpretation
of oral testimony.
TH 9140
Biblical Hebrew (Adrian Curtis,
email: Adrian.Curtis@man.ac.uk):
Introduces the vocabulary, grammar and syntax of Biblical Hebrew.
Aims primarily to prepare students to undertake the subsequent
study of Bible and make intelligent use of commentaries and
other works which presume a knowledge of Hebrew. Regular written
exercises and oral work in class are crucial. This course will
be enhanced with additional reading and exercises for MA students.
TH 9171
Gnosticism and the Jewish Mystical Tradition
(Philip Alexander, email: Philip.Alexander@man.ac.uk):
Introduces the 'canon' of Jewish mystical literature, starting
with Heikhalot mysticism and Jewish Gnosticism in late antiquity,
proceeding chronologically to the Qabbalah (Zoharic, Abulafian
and Lurianic), mediaeval German Hasidism, the Jewish Sufis of
Egypt, Shabbateanism and its offshoots and modern Hasidism.
(NOT RUNNING)
TH 9181
Law and Narrative in the Old Testament
(Bernard Jackson, email: Bernard.Jackson@man.ac.uk):
Introduces biblical law and its relation to biblical narrative.
Examines legal aspects of the pre-patriarchal, patriarchal and
royal narratives; narratives of law giving and adjudication;
narrative elements in the laws themselves, and the relationship
between law, narrative and theology in the Old Testament. (NOT
RUNNING)
TH 9192
Jewish Law and Problems of Jewish Life
in the Modern World (Bernard Jackson, email: Bernard.Jackson@man.ac.uk):
Explores specific legal problems, to appreciate the nature of
and constraints upon development in Jewish law and the problems
of its application in the modern world.
TH 9380
Hebrew Texts (Adrian Curtis,
email: Adrian.Curtis@man.ac.uk):
Explores selected passages from the Hebrew Bible and consideration
of issues of textual, linguistic and exegetical interest arising
from them.
TH 9452
Readings in the Gemara of the Babylonian
Talmud (Alex Samely, email: Alexander.Samely@man.ac.uk):
Introduces the Babylonian Talmud. Begins by clarifying the origins
of the Talmud in the Rabbinic schools of Babylonia in late antiquity,
and concludes by discussing the influence of the Talmud on the
historical development of Judaism. (NOT RUNNING)
TH 9812
Jewish
Approaches to Jesus and Paul (Daniel Langton, email:
Daniel.Langton@man.ac.uk):
explores Jewish approaches to Jesus and the apostle Paul, concentrating
on the modern period, and places them in the wider context of
the study of Jewish-Christian relations.
TH 9990
Dead Sea Scrolls (George Brooke,
email: George.Brooke@man.ac.uk):
Explores in depth one aspect of the study of the Dead Sea Scrolls.
TH 9910
Intertestamental Literature
(George Brooke, email: George.Brooke@man.ac.uk):
Introduces the non-biblical Jewish literature of the late Second
Temple period.
TH 9920
Ancient Israel: Recent Research (Adrian
Curtis, email: Adrian.Curtis@man.ac.uk):
Considers a number of issues of current or recent debate in
the field of Old Testament/Hebrew Bible. This course will be
enhanced with additional reading and exercises for MA students.
GV 4132
The Holocaust (Norman Geras,
email: Norman.Geras@man.ac.uk):
Considers the Nazi attempt to destroy the Jews of Europe - and
its implications for contemporary moral and political thought.
(NOT RUNNING)
MA in Hebrew
NE 9142 The
Legal Discourse of Rabbinic Judaism (Alex Samely, email:
Alexander.Samely@man.ac.uk)
NE 6200 Rabbinic
Aramaic Texts (Alex Samely, email: Alexander.Samely@man.ac.uk)
TH 9452 Readings
in the Gemara of the Babylonian Talmud (Alex Samely,
email: Alexander.Samely@man.ac.uk)
TH 9990 Dead
Sea Scrolls (George Brooke, email: George.Brooke@man.ac.uk)
TH 9380 Hebrew
Texts (Adrian Curtis, email: Adrian.Curtis@man.ac.uk)
PhD/MPhil
(Jewish Studies related)
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