Textbook:

• D. Cohn-Sherbok, Judaism: History, Belief and Practice.

Course Description:

This course will present a survey of developments in Jewish practice, belief and institutions from the close of the biblical era to the present day.

Students will be introduced to the distinctive features associated with Judaism in various eras, and the major works of Jewish religious literature.

Attention will be devoted to the values, beliefs and rituals that developed within the diverse historical and cultural settings in which Judaism took root.

Students will be assumed to have prepared the assigned readings for each class session (see the Preliminary Timetable below). The lectures will not repeat the contents of the textbooks. Rather, they will provide opportunities to discuss the assigned readings, to focus on specific issues, and to supplement the information contained in the textbooks.

Note that this is a course on the Jewish religion. It will not deal directly with the national or political history of the Jewish people, nor with the attitudes of other religions towards Jews and Judaism (even though these aspects are covered quite extensively in the textbook).

Core Competencies:

While learning about Judaism, students will be trained in research skills, which include:

• how to find and organize data (primarily through library research)


• how to read critically and analytically in order to draw conclusions from the evidence of documents


• how to evaluate the plausibility of claims and theories that have been proposed by scholars.


• how to present the results of one's research in a logical and coherent manner.

Course Requirements:

There will be a Registrar's office scheduled final examination in this course.

Suggestions for paper topics, bibliographies and guidelines will be provided at a later date. Students should consult the instructor if they have any doubts about the appropriateness of their topic.

Grading System:

A numerical mark will be given for each course requirement. At the conclusion of the course, a letter grade will be assigned on the following number and letter grade scheme (standardized within the Department of Religious Studies).

Plagiarism:

Students should be familiar with University regulations regarding academic integrity, as set down in the University Calendar
.

Academic Accommodation

It is a student's responsibility to request academic accommodation. If you are a student with a disability who may require academic accommodation and have not registered with the Disability Resource Centre, please contact their office at 220-8237. Your academic accommodation letters should be provided to your instructor no later than fourteen (14) days after the commencement of this course. Students who have not registered with the Disability Resource Centre are not eligible for formal academic accommodation.

(DRC web address is: http://www.ucalgary.ca/UofC/Others/DRC/.)

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