Syllabus: RC 458 Judaism: Faith, History, Culture

Supplemental Course Information

Academic Learning Activities Required Outside of Scheduled Class Time: (Instructor Add or Delete 5-week hybrid/F2f classes only)

Course Meeting Times/Place

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Location: [Instructor add Online/Campus]
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End Date: [instructor add]
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Type: [Online, Face to Face, Blended, Hybrid]

Instructor Information

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Course Description

Studies Judaic religious history and traditions, sacred scriptures, key historic figures, and contemporary issues facing the local and international Jewish community as well as its connection to and relationships with members of other faith communities. (3 Credits)

Course Overview

What is Judaism? What makes someone a Jew or Jewish? In this course, you will examine how Judaism has been practiced throughout history, from the ancestor stories of the Hebrew Bible to the modern day. You will sample many primary, classical Jewish texts in order to understand developments in Jewish thought throughout space and time, and explore some of the common themes that have tied together people of diverse historical periods and geographical locations, such as community, ritual, survival, and the relationship of Jewish (and other) communities to God. You will also have an experiential component based on site-visits and a learning portfolio on a topic of the student’s choice.

Prerequisites

None

Course Objectives

Upon completion of this course, students should be able to:

Identify key time periods and events in Jewish history and articulate their religious, historical, and/or political significance.
Articulate the importance of significant figures in Jewish history and biblical narratives for the development of religiosity.
Compare and contrast ancient and contemporary branches of Judaism to answer the question “what is Judaism?” and be able to discuss the diversity of beliefs, practices, and values.
Explain Jewish life cycle rituals, key holidays and their place on the Jewish religious calendar, and Judaism’s sacred observances.
Discuss the theological and political importance of interfaith relationships and communities for contemporary Judaism.
Assess theological positions on selected issues through the critical reading of Jewish textual sources.

Course Materials

Required Texts

Hahn Tapper, A. J. (2016). Judaisms: A Twenty-First Century Introduction to Jews and Jewish Identities. Oakland: University of California Press. (ISBN: 978-0520-281356)

Available as an e-book through Regis University’s Dayton Memorial Library at: https://lumen.regis.edu/record=b1813338~S3

Required Resources

Summaries of the APA Publication Manual 7th edition available at:

The APA website: https://apastyle.apa.org/style-grammar-guidelines/
The APA blog: https://apastyle.apa.org/blog/
Regis Library: http://libguides.regis.edu/writecite/apa7
Online Writing Lab (OWL) at Purdue University: https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/apa_style/apa_style_introduction.html

Technology Tools

Minimum Technology Requirements

Course Assignments & Activities

*Refer to each weekly overview page in the course to find all of the required readings and resources for that week.

Summary of Assignments

Snapshot view of the assignments, the week they are due, and their total point value.

Learning Activities	Percent
Open-book Quizzes (7 questions per quiz; 6 quizzes)	15%
Discussions (3 posts per week; 7 weeks)	40%
Learning Portfolio (due week 5)	30%
Site Visit Paper (due week 7)	15%
Total	100%

**Weekly Readings and Assignments**
Week	Reading	Learning Activities
Week 1: Who is a Jew & What Does That Mean?	Hahn Tapper (2016). “Preface” (ix-x), “Introduction” (pgs. 1-11), and Ch.1 “Narratives” (pgs. 12-27)	Discussion Learning Portfolio, Phase 1
Week 2: Sinais & Zions	Hahn Tapper (2016). Ch. 2 “Sinais” (pgs. 28-44) and Ch. 3 “Zions” (pgs. 45-59)	Quiz Discussion Learning Portfolio, Phase 2
Week 3: Messiahs & Laws	Hahn Tapper (2016). Ch. 4 “Messiahs” (pgs. 60-71) and Ch. 5 “Laws” (pgs. 72-94)	Quiz Discussion Learning Portfolio, Phase 3
Week 4: Mysticisms & Cultures	Hahn Tapper (2016). Ch. 6 “Mysticisms” (pgs. 95-112) and Ch. 7 “Cultures” (pgs. 113-139)	Quiz Discussion Learning Portfolio, Phase 4
Week 5: Modern Movements	Hahn Tapper (2016). Ch. 8 “Movements” (pgs. 140-67)	Quiz Discussion Complete Learning Portfolio Due (30% of final grade)
Week 6: Genocides & Powers	Hahn Tapper (2016). Ch. 9 “Genocides” (pgs. 168-84) and Ch. 10 “Powers” (pgs. 185-216) Matlins & Magida, “Jewish” (pgs. 132-58) in How to Be a Perfect Stranger: The Essential Religious Etiquette Handbook (4th ed.; 2006) Reference: Key Dates of the Holocaust and WWII Reference from a Jewish Organization: Key Dates in Israel’s History Reference from an Arab Organization: Timeline of Palestine’s History	Quiz Discussion Site Visit
Week 7: Borders & Futures	Hahn Tapper (2016). Ch. 11 “Borders” (pgs. 217-30) and Ch. 12 “Futures” (pgs. 231-44)	Quiz Discussion Site Visit Paper Due (15% of final grade)
Total		100%

NOTE TO LEARNERS: On occasion, the course faculty may, at his or her discretion, alter the Learning Activities shown in this Syllabus. The alteration of Learning Activities may not, in any way, change the Learner Outcomes or the grading scale for this course as contained in this syllabus. Examples of circumstances that could justify alterations in Learning Activities could include number of learners in the course; compelling current events; special faculty experience or expertise; or unanticipated disruptions to class session schedule.

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