Jewish Studies

The BA program in Jewish Studies provides a context in which College students may examine the texts, cultures, languages, and histories of Jews and Judaism over three millennia. The perspective is contextual, comparative, and interdisciplinary. The long and diverse history of Jews and Judaism affords unique opportunities to study modes of continuity and change, interpretation and innovation, and isolation and integration of a world historical civilization. Students are encouraged to develop appropriate skills (in texts, languages, history, and culture) for independent work.
Students in other fields of study may also complete a minor in Jewish Studies. Information follows the description of the major.
A two-course Jewish Civilization sequence is offered in the Autumn and Winter Quarters. The first course begins in antiquity and extends to the early medieval period (JWSC 12000 Jewish Civilization I: Ancient Beginnings to Early Medieval Period). The second course begins in the medieval period and extends to the present (JWSC 12001 Jewish Civilization II: Late Medieval to Modern Period). Jewish civilization courses may be used to fulfill the College’s general education requirement in civilization studies. It is recommended, though not required, that students take these two courses in sequence. Students who register for the Autumn Quarter course will automatically be pre-registered for the winter segment.
Note: Jewish Studies revised its civilization studies courses starting in academic year 2018–19. Students who began the requirement prior to Autumn Quarter 2018, under the previous course options, may complete it with those courses that remain available, or they may combine them with the new course options. However, students must have at least one course on the ancient/medieval period (JWSC 20120-20199 or JWSC 12000 Jewish Civilization I: Ancient Beginnings to Early Medieval Period) and at least one on the modern period (JWSC 20220-20299 or JWSC 12001 Jewish Civilization II: Late Medieval to Modern Period). Students who began the requirement in Autumn Quarter 2018 or later may only use the new sequence to meet the general studies requirement in civilization studies.
Students may also fulfill the Jewish civilization requirement by participating in the “Jerusalem in Middle Eastern Civilizations” Study Abroad program, where they can earn credit for three courses in Jewish civilization (ancient, medieval, and modern) and one credit in modern Hebrew. (For more information about this program, please see the Study Abroad page of this catalog.)
Students who have not completed the College’s general education requirements before starting the major should do so during their first year as Jewish Studies majors. Students are required to meet with the director of undergraduate studies before declaring a major in Jewish Studies. Each student in the major will have as an adviser a faculty member who is affiliated with the Greenberg Center for Jewish Studies.
The major requires twelve courses distributed according to the guidelines that follow. A full, constantly updated list of courses approved for the major and minor is available on the Greenberg Center for Jewish Studies website at ccjs.uchicago.edu.
Language
Students must take three quarters of Hebrew (classical or modern) or Yiddish. If the student's research project requires knowledge of a different language, the student may petition the committee to substitute that language in the place of Hebrew or Yiddish.
Jewish Civilization and Electives
Students in the major must take nine additional courses in Jewish Studies, for a total of twelve courses. 
Jewish Civilization: Students in the major must complete either the two-quarter Jewish Civilization sequence or the Jerusalem Study Abroad program.
If students take one of these sequences to satisfy the general education requirement in civilization studies, one elective in the major must come from another civilization studies sequence pertinent to the area and period of the student’s primary interest in Jewish Studies.
For students who take a sequence outside Jewish Studies to satisfy the general education requirement in civilization studies, the two-course Jewish Civilization sequence (or three-course sequence offered in Jerusalem) will count among the JWSC electives required for the major.
Other Electives: The remaining courses must come from JWSC course offerings. These elective courses should normally focus in a specific area of concentration within Jewish Studies and should be chosen in consultation with the director of undergraduate studies. Students who complete the option BA these (as described under Optional BA Paper) may count JWSC 29900 among these courses.
Beyond the requirements for the major, students are encouraged to take at least one course in method or theory pertaining to their area of concentration in Jewish Studies, whether it is a JWSC course that can count in the major or is simply a general elective credit.
Optional BA Paper
Students who choose this option are to meet with their advisers by May 15 of their third year to determine the focus of the research project, and they are expected to begin reading and research for the BA paper during the summer before their fourth year. After further consultation, students are to continue guided readings and participate in a (formal or informal) tutorial during Autumn Quarter of their fourth year. Credit toward the major is received only for the Winter Quarter tutorial during which the BA paper is finally written and revised. The BA tutorial may count toward one of the courses related to Jewish Studies. The BA paper must be received by the primary reader by the end of fifth week of Spring Quarter. A BA paper is a requirement for consideration for honors.
This program may accept a BA paper or project used to satisfy the same requirement in another major if certain conditions are met and with the consent of the other program chair. Approval from both program chairs is required. Students should consult with the chairs by the earliest BA proposal deadline (or by the end of their third year, if neither program publishes a deadline). A consent form, to be signed by both chairs, is available from the College adviser. It must be completed and returned to the College adviser by the end of Autumn Quarter of the student's year of graduation.
Honors
Honors are awarded to students who demonstrate excellence in their course work, as well as on the BA paper. To qualify for honors, students must register for JWSC 29900 BA Paper Preparation Course in addition to the twelve courses required in the general program of study, bringing the total number of courses required to thirteen. Students must maintain an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher and a GPA of 3.5 or higher in the major, and the BA paper must be judged to be at least of A- quality.
Grading
Students take all courses required for the major for quality grades.
The minor in Jewish Studies provides a basic introduction to the texts, cultures, languages, and history of the Jews and Judaism. Six courses are required for the minor, two of which are the Jewish Civilization sequence. The other courses may be in any area of Jewish Studies, including languages such as Hebrew and Yiddish; such courses can be identified by their JWSC prefix. Students can earn credit for three courses in Jewish civilization (ancient, medieval, and modern) and one credit in modern Hebrew by participating in the “Jerusalem in Middle Eastern Civilizations” Study Abroad program. (For more information about this program, please see the Study Abroad page of this catalog.)
Students who wish to do a minor in Jewish Studies must meet with the director of undergraduate studies before the end of the Spring Quarter of their third year to declare their intention to complete the minor. The director’s approval for the minor program will then be communicated to the student’s College adviser.
Courses taken to fulfill the requirements for the minor in Jewish Studies may not be double-counted with courses taken for the student’s major(s) or courses taken for other minors. Courses taken for the minor in Jewish Studies must be taken for quality grades.
JWSC 11000-11100-11200. Biblical Aramaic; Old Aramaic Inscriptions; Imperial Aramaic.
Three quarter sequence in Aramaic spanning Biblical Aramaic (Autumn), Old Aramaic (Spring), and Imperial Aramaic (Winter).
JWSC 11000. Biblical Aramaic. 100 Units.
This course provides a thorough introduction to the grammar of the Aramaic portions of the Hebrew Bible during the first few weeks. The remainder of the course is spent reading texts from the books of Daniel and Ezra.
Instructor(s): S. Creason     Terms Offered: Autumn Prerequisite(s): HEBR 10103 or equivalent. Equivalent Course(s): ARAM 10101
JWSC 11100. Old Aramaic Inscriptions. 100 Units.
Course in Old Aramaic Inscriptions
Instructor(s): S. Creason     Terms Offered: Spring Prerequisite(s): ARAM 10101 or equivalent. Equivalent Course(s): ARAM 10102
JWSC 11200. Imperial Aramaic. 100 Units.
Course in Imperial Aramaic
Instructor(s): S. Creason     Terms Offered: Winter Prerequisite(s): ARAM 10101 or equivalent. Equivalent Course(s): ARAM 10103
JWSC 12000-12001. Jewish Civilization I-II.
Jewish Civilization is a two-quarter sequence that explores the development of Jewish culture and tradition from its ancient beginnings through its rabbinic and medieval transformations to its modern manifestations. Through investigation of primary texts—biblical, Talmudic, philosophical, mystical, historical, documentary, and literary—students will acquire a broad overview of Jews, Judaism, and Jewishness while reflecting in greater depth on major themes, ideas, and events in Jewish history. Note: Jewish Studies revised its civilization studies courses starting in academic year 2018–19. Students who began the requirement prior to Autumn Quarter 2018, under the previous course options, may complete it with those courses that remain available, or they may combine them with the new course options. However, students must have at least one course on the ancient/medieval period (JWSC 20120-20199 or JWSC 12000 Jewish Civilization I: Ancient Beginnings to Early Medieval Period) and at least one on the modern period (JWSC 20220-20299 or JWSC 12001 Jewish Civilization II: Late Medieval to Modern Period). Students who began the requirement in Autumn Quarter 2018 or later may only use the new sequence to meet the general studies requirement in civilization studies.
JWSC 12000. Jewish Civilization I: Ancient Beginnings to Early Medieval Period. 100 Units.
Jewish Civilization is a two-quarter sequence that explores the development of Jewish culture and tradition from its ancient beginnings through its rabbinic and medieval transformations to its modern manifestations. Through investigation of primary texts-biblical, Talmudic, philosophical, mystical, historical, documentary, and literary-students will acquire a broad overview of Jews, Judaism, and Jewishness while reflecting in greater depth on major themes, ideas, and events in Jewish history. The Autumn course will deal with antiquity to the early medieval periods. Its readings will include works from the Bible, the Dead Sea Scrolls, Philo, Josephus, the Rabbis, Yehudah Halevy, and Maimonides. All sections of each course will share a common core of readings; individual instructors will supplement with other materials. It is recommended, though not required, that students take these two courses in sequence. Students who register for the Autumn Quarter course will automatically be pre-registered for the winter segment.
Instructor(s): J. Robinson     Terms Offered: Autumn Equivalent Course(s): MDVL 12000, RLST 22010, NEHC 22010
JWSC 12001. Jewish Civilization II: Late Medieval to Modern Period. 100 Units.
Jewish Civilization is a two-quarter sequence that explores the development of Jewish culture and tradition from its ancient beginnings through its rabbinic and medieval transformations to its modern manifestations. Through investigation of primary texts-biblical, Talmudic, philosophical, mystical, historical, documentary, and literary-students will acquire a broad overview of Jews, Judaism, and Jewishness while reflecting in greater depth on major themes, ideas, and events in Jewish history. The Winter quarter will begin with the late medieval period and continue to the present. It will include discussions of mysticism, the works of Spinoza and Mendelssohn, the nineteenth-century reform, the Holocaust and its reflection in writers such as Primo Levi and Paul Celan, and literary pieces from postwar American Jewish and Israeli authors. All sections of each course will share a common core of readings; individual instructors will supplement with other materials. It is recommended, though not required, that students take these two courses in sequence. Students who register for the Autumn Quarter course will automatically be pre-registered for the winter segment.
Instructor(s): S. Hammerschlag     Terms Offered: Winter Equivalent Course(s): MDVL 12010, RLST 22011, NEHC 22011
JWSC 20120. Introduction to the Hebrew Bible. 100 Units.
The Hebrew Bible (Old Testament) is a complex anthology of disparate texts and reflects a diversity of religious, political, and historical perspectives from ancient Israel, Judah, and Yehud. Because this collection of texts continues to play an important role in modern religions, new meanings are often imposed upon it. In this course, we will attempt to read biblical texts apart from modern preconceptions about them. We will also contextualize their ideas and goals through comparison with texts from ancient Mesopotamia, Syro-Palestine, and Egypt. Such comparisons will demonstrate that the Hebrew Bible is fully part of the cultural milieu of the Ancient Near East. To accomplish these goals, we will read a significant portion of the Hebrew Bible in English, along with representative selections from secondary literature. We will also spend some time thinking about the nature of biblical interpretation.
Instructor(s): J. Stackert     Terms Offered: Autumn Equivalent Course(s): NEHC 30504, RLST 11004, BIBL 31000, NEHC 20504
JWSC 20121. The Bible and Archaeology. 100 Units.
In this course we will look at how interpretation of evidence unearthed by archaeologists contributes to a historical-critical reading of the Bible, and vice versa. We will focus on the cultural background of the biblical narratives, from the stories of Creation and Flood to the destruction of the Jerusalem temple by the Romans in the year 70. No prior coursework in archaeology or biblical studies is required, although it will be helpful for students to have taken JWSC 20120 (Introduction to the Hebrew Bible).
Instructor(s): David Schloen     Terms Offered: Winter Equivalent Course(s): RLST 20121, NEHC 20121, NEHC 30121
JWSC 20300-20400-20500. Elementary Yiddish I-II-III.
The goal of this sequence is to develop proficiency in Yiddish reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills. Touchstones of global Yiddish culture are also introduced through song, film, and contemporary Yiddish websites.
JWSC 20300. Elementary Yiddish I. 100 Units.
The goal of this sequence is to develop proficiency in Yiddish reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills. Touchstones of global Yiddish culture are also introduced through song, film, and contemporary Yiddish websites.
Instructor(s): Jessica Kirzane     Terms Offered: Autumn Equivalent Course(s): YDDH 10100
JWSC 20400. Elementary Yiddish for Beginners-II. 100 Units.
In this course, students will extend basic Yiddish speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills. By the end of the course, students should have a basic understanding of regional Yiddish variations in pronunciation and spelling, be able to understand and participate in a conversation in an increasingly comfortable and complex way, read simple texts with ease, have experience tackling more complex texts with the aid of a dictionary, and write short compositions with grammatical complexity. In the course of language study, students will also be exposed to key topics in the history of the Yiddish language and culture.
Instructor(s): Jessica Kirzane     Terms Offered: Winter Prerequisite(s): Yiddish 10100 Equivalent Course(s): YDDH 37400, YDDH 10200
JWSC 20500. Elementary Yiddish III. 100 Units.
In this course, students will acquire intermediate Yiddish speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills. By the end of the course, students should be able to conduct a conversation on a wide range of topics, be comfortable tackling complex texts with the aid of a dictionary, and write short compositions with grammatical complexity. In the course of language study, students will also be exposed to key topics in the history of the Yiddish language and culture. Students will also be introduced to basic Yiddish research skills.
Equivalent Course(s): YDDH 37500, YDDH 10300
JWSC 20701. The Jewish Graphic Novel. 100 Units.
Over the past decade, there has been an explosion of "graphic novels" aimed at adult readers concerning Jewish society, history, and religion. This course explores the history of comics through the lens of its Jewish creators and Jewish themes, and the history of twentieth century Jewish culture through the lens of graphic storytelling. We learn to interpret this complex art form that combines words and hand-drawn images, translating temporal progression into a spatial form. Reading American, European, and Israeli narratives, our discussions will focus on autobiographical and journalistic accounts of uprooting, immigration, conflict, and loss. Authors whose work we will study include: Art Spiegelman, Rutu Modan, Leela Corman, Joann Sfar, Joe Sacco, R. Crumb.
Instructor(s): Na'ama Rokem     Terms Offered: Spring Equivalent Course(s): CMLT 20711, NEHC 26062, SIGN 26062
JWSC 20895. The Construction of Jewish History in Israel. 100 Units.
The course concerns the ways Jewish history has been constructed and conceptualized in the State of Israel since 1948. It will examine academic and para academic research, popular history books, TV series, educational programs, national archives and public ceremonies.
Instructor(s): Miriam Frenkel     Terms Offered: Autumn Equivalent Course(s): NEHC 20895
JWSC 21107. Readings in Maimonides' Guide of the Perplexed. 100 Units.
A careful study of select passages in Maimonides' Guide of the Perplexed, focusing on the method of the work and its major philosophical-theological themes, including: divine attributes, creation vs. eternity, prophecy, the problem of evil and divine providence, law and ethics, the final aim of human existence.
Instructor(s): James Robinson     Terms Offered: Winter Equivalent Course(s): FNDL 24106, HREL 45401, NEHC 40470, HIJD 45400, ISLM 45400, MDVL 25400, RLVC 45400, RLST 21107.
JWSC 22000-22100-22200. Elementary Classical Hebrew I-II-III.
The purpose of this three-quarter sequence is to enable the student to read biblical Hebrew prose with a high degree of comprehension. The sequence is divided into two segments: (1) the first two quarters are devoted to acquiring the essentials of descriptive and historical grammar (including translation to and from Hebrew, oral exercises, and grammatical analysis); and (2) the third quarter is spent examining prose passages from the Hebrew Bible and includes a review of grammar.
JWSC 22000. Elementary Classical Hebrew I. 100 Units