RELG 004B. Biblical Interpretation


A famous rabbinic statement proclaims, "If you wish to know The-One-Who-Spoke-and-the-World-Came-Into-Being, learn aggadah" (Sifre Deuteronomy 11:22). This course further proclaims, if you wish to know Judaism, study Jewish interpretation. The process of Jewish interpretation, begun in the Hebrew Bible and continuing to the present day, offers great insight not only into the ways Jewish tradition, literature, and culture have come into being, but also how these facets of Judaism, and Judaism writ large, adapt and develop over time. This class begins with Jewish interpretations during the 2nd Temple Period, proceeds to examine in some depth classical rabbinic exegesis, moves on to explore some "off the beaten track" medieval sources, and culminates in contemporary meditations (and movies) about Judaism. We pay attention to both the continuities and disjunctions of Jewish writings and representations over time as we explore what the boundaries are-if indeed there are any-of both Jewish interpretation and Judaism.
Humanities.
1 credit.
Catalog chapter: Religion  
Department website: http://www.swarthmore.edu/religion


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