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Hebrew College

School

Hebrew College

BIB800A

Core Text –Torah 3: Vayikra - A

BTI Category

Semester

Scripture & Biblical Studies

FA26

Standing at the very center of the Pentateuch, Vayikra reveals the priestly view of the relationship between God and Israel, and the interconnected dimensions of sacred time, space, and person. We will study major themes of Vayikra including the sacrificial system, the numinous power of the divine Presence, purity and impurity, the relationship between personal and social embodiment, the meaning of sacred time, and the interplay of the ritual and the ethical. We shall attempt to understand Vayikra’s theory of priesthood, including the paradox of self-referentiality and the paradox of initiation. Attention will be given to the role of Vayikra in the context of the Pentateuch as a whole, with special focus on narrative elements such as the death of Aaron’s sons on the Tabernacle’s inaugural day. We will apply insights from anthropology, comparative theology, and the contributions of modern scholars, but our main emphasis will be a close and careful reading of the text, assisted by classical commentators including Rashi, Ramban and Seforno.

Professor

Class Day & Time

Rabbi Dr. Nehemia Polen

T

2:30-4p

Grades

PF or Audit

Credits

3

Online?

N

Professor Approval Req'd?

Y

Prerequisites?

N

Notes

N

School

Hebrew College

CAN519

Introduction to Basic Cantillation

BTI Category

Semester

Judaic Studies

FA26

This class is an introduction to basic concepts of Torah cantillation. It is not just about learning the melodies. Students will acquire and/or improve skills to chant Torah on weekdays, Sabbaths and Festivals using a common Ashkenazi trope. Topics will all include some of the rituals surrounding the Torah service, the history of cantillation/trope, correct contemporary pronunciation of Biblical Hebrew, and the underlying syntactic structure of the whole system of cantillation. While this course is primarily for Rabbinical students, others are welcome (depending on size of the class), provided they have adequate sense of musical pitch and the ability to read and translate Biblical Hebrew (with the help of a dictionary). This course will be 9 classes - dates TBA.

Professor

Class Day & Time

Cantor Louise Treitman

W

2:30-4:30p

Grades

PF or Audit

Credits

2

Online?

N

Professor Approval Req'd?

Y

Prerequisites?

N

Notes

N

School

Hebrew College

HBW518

Intermediate Hebrew 1

BTI Category

Semester

Languages

FA26

In this course, which runs in parallel with the Shanah Aleph Bereshit course, students will hone Biblical Hebrew reading and translation skills, review key topics in grammar and syntax, and practice using reference tools to develop a deeper understanding of Biblical texts on their own terms. This course assumes the successful completion of Foundations of Biblical Hebrew 1

Professor

Class Day & Time

TBD

TR

2:30-4p

Grades

PF or Audit

Credits

4

Online?

N

Professor Approval Req'd?

Y

Prerequisites?

Y

Notes

Foundations of Biblical Hebrew 1 or equivalent

School

Hebrew College

JTH918

Contemporary Jewish Thought in Historical Context

BTI Category

Semester

Judaic Studies

FA26

This course has two components. In the first half of the semester we will explore American Jewish history focusing on themes of particular importance to rabbinical students like the emergence of denominations and the evolution of the American synagogue. The second half of the course is a survey of the seminal Jewish thinkers who wrote in an American context such as Mordecai Kaplan, Abraham Joshua Heschel, Joseph Soloveitchik, Judith Plaskow and others. We will ultimately be aiming to place our own historical moment and our own theologies within broader historical/theological frameworks.

Professor

Class Day & Time

Rabbi Dr. Dan Judson

W

10-11:30a

Grades

PF or Audit

Credits

2

Online?

N

Professor Approval Req'd?

Y

Prerequisites?

N

Notes

N

School

Hebrew College

BIB800B

Core Text –Torah 3: Vayikra - B

BTI Category

Semester

Scripture & Biblical Studies

FA26

Standing at the very center of the Pentateuch, Vayikra reveals the priestly view of the relationship between God and Israel, and the interconnected dimensions of sacred time, space, and person. We will study major themes of Vayikra including the sacrificial system, the numinous power of the divine Presence, purity and impurity, the relationship between personal and social embodiment, the meaning of sacred time, and the interplay of the ritual and the ethical. We shall attempt to understand Vayikra’s theory of priesthood, including the paradox of self-referentiality and the paradox of initiation. Attention will be given to the role of Vayikra in the context of the Pentateuch as a whole, with special focus on narrative elements such as the death of Aaron’s sons on the Tabernacle’s inaugural day. We will apply insights from anthropology, comparative theology, and the contributions of modern scholars, but our main emphasis will be a close and careful reading of the text, assisted by classical commentators including Rashi, Ramban and Seforno.

Professor

Class Day & Time

Rabbi Dr. Nehemia Polen

T

11:30a-1p

Grades

PF or Audit

Credits

2

Online?

N

Professor Approval Req'd?

Y

Prerequisites?

N

Notes

N

School

Hebrew College

HBW510

Foundations of Biblical Hebrew 1

BTI Category

Semester

Languages

FA26

This course is an intensive introduction to Biblical Hebrew. A basic familiarity with Hebrew is presumed. Students will learn grammatical concepts to be applied to the decoding of Biblical texts.

Professor

Class Day & Time

Rabbi Navah L:evine

MTR

2:30-4p

Grades

PF or Audit

Credits

4

Online?

N

Professor Approval Req'd?

Y

Prerequisites?

Y

Notes

Basic familiarity with Hebrew

School

Hebrew College

JTH750

Hasidut I

BTI Category

Semester

Judaic Studies

FA26

In this course we will explore the emergence and early development of Eastern European Hasidism (c. 1740-1815). This will include the study of primary and secondary sources—which students will prepare in a weekly beit midrash session with a havruta partner and individually—with special attention given to major theological and psycho-spiritual concepts and values, as well as ritual life. We will also investigate how various modern and contemporary seekers, religious leaders, and scholars have interpreted early Hasidic teachings of different types as well as the historical movement. In so doing, we will reflect together on how we might make thoughtful use of Hasidic and Neo-Hasidic resources in our lives and work as rabbis, cantors, and educators.

Professor

Class Day & Time

Rabbi Or Rose

T

9:45-11:15a

Grades

PF or Audit

Credits

2

Online?

N

Professor Approval Req'd?

Y

Prerequisites?

N

Notes

N

School

Hebrew College

LGY591

Siddur

BTI Category

Semester

Judaic Studies

FA26

Transform words of liturgy into words of prayer. We will focus our attention on the weekday Shacharit service because it offers a foundation for understanding many other Jewish tefillah liturgies and because it is the primary tefillah experience we will engage in together at Hebrew College. We will spend some time on liturgical variations for Shabbat and holidays. We will use Nusah Ashkenaz as our base text because it is the most common liturgy used in North America, though we will note some moments of liturgical variation with Nusah Sefard.

Professor

Class Day & Time

Rabbi Jessica Kate Meyer

R

11:30a-1p

Grades

PF or Audit

Credits

2

Online?

N

Professor Approval Req'd?

Y

Prerequisites?

N

Notes

N

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