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HEBR1001 - A Survey of Jewish History and Culture in the 1st Millennium BCE

Course code:	HEBR1001
Tutor:	Dr Alinda Damsma
Mode of assessment:	Two essays
Taught:	In term 1 (for 5 weeks only)
Classes:	Wednesdays, 1100-1300 in Room 331, Foster Court Fridays 0900-1100 in Room 331, Foster Court

Module summary

This course introduces the students to Judaism in biblical times, beginning with the historical and cultural context in which Judaism developed. The module compares and discusses the development of writing and literature among Israel's neighbours in the Ancient Near East, e.g. the biblical accounts of the Flood and Babylonian flood stories. The Exodus is also examined against the background of Egyptian archaeology. The development of the monarchy, beginning with David, is compared with the role of the priesthood in the Temple, and the respective roles of king and priest are followed into the Hasmonean period under the Second Commonwealth. The Dead Sea Scrolls are examined from the perspectives of Pharisee, Sadducee, and Essene groups in the period of the Mishnah, to see how Rabbinic Judaism developed from conflicting views of Jewish law and interpretations.

Handout

A handout will be given to the students at the start of each lecture with text(s) that will be read and discussed during the lecture, additional bibliographic information relevant to the topic, and, if applicable, notification of preparatory reading for the next lecture.

Method of Assessment and Essay Topics

Undergraduate and Junior Year Abroad students are assessed by two essays, which must be completed in order to pass the course. Make sure that you follow the guidelines in the Departmental Style Sheet for Essays: The How to… Guide, which is available to download via http://www.ucl.ac.uk/hebrew-jewish/studentresources

Essay 1: Compare and discuss the Babylonian and Biblical accounts of The Flood
Essay 2: Were the Essenes the composers of the Dead Sea Scrolls?
Essay Deadlines:
Essay 1: Wednesday 17 October 2012
Essay 2: Wednesday 14 November 2012

Literature Review

As a non-formal assessment, the students must submit a literature review in preparation for the 2nd essay. The deadline for submitting the review is 2pm on Monday 29 October 2012. Students should email this review to the following address: a.damsma@ucl.ac.uk

The summary should be 2 pages long, and the system of referencing has to be strictly adhered to by the students. They can choose to read and summarize either one book or three (substantial) articles. Articles would need to address one topic relating to the second essay (see above), and be of sufficient academic quality. A list with literature suggestions will be distributed in class. The review does not count as a formal assessment but will be discussed in a tutorial with each individual student, which will be held before or after the lecture on Wednesday 31st October or Friday 2nd November.

Select Bibliography

This list forms the starting point of your literary research. Moreover, look out for further reading suggestions during the course and on the handout provided at the start of each lecture. All the works mentioned below are available in UCL’s library.

• Albertz, R. (1994) A History of Israelite religion in the Old Testament period. Vol.1, From the beginnings to the end of the Monarchy London: SCM Press
• Albertz, R. (1994) A History of Israelite religion in the Old Testament period. Vol.2, From the exile to the Maccabees London: SCM Press
• Alon, G. (1977) Jews, Judaism and the Classical World Jerusalem: Magnes
• Bickerman, E.J. (1962) From Ezra to the last of the Maccabees: foundations of post-Biblical Judaism New York: Schocken Books
• Bright, J. (1981) A history of Israel London: SCM Press
• Charlesworth, J.H. (ed.) (1983) The Old Testament Pseudepigrapha: Apocalyptic Literature and Testaments, I--II London: Darton, Longman & Todd
• Childs, B.S. (1996) Introduction to the Old Testament as Scripture London: SCM Press
• Cohen, S. (1987) From the Maccabees to the Mishnah Philadelphia: Westminster Press
• Cross, F.M. (1995) The Ancient Library of Qumran Sheffield: Sheffield Academic Press
• Danby, H. (1933) The Mishnah: translated from the Hebrew with introduction and brief explanatory notes London: Oxford University Press
• Eisenman, R., and Wise, M. (1992), The Dead Sea Scrolls Uncovered Shaftesburg, Dorset; Rockport, MA: Element
• Josephus, Flavius, Jewish Antiquities [with an English translation by H. St. J. Thackeray et al.] Cambridge, Mass.; London: Harvard University Press, 1998-.
• Miller, J.M., and Hayes, J. H. (2006) A History of Ancient Israel and Judah Louisville, Ky.; London: Westminster John Knox Press
• Schwartz, S. (2002). Imperialism and Jewish Society: 200 B.C.E. to 640 C.E. Chichester: Princeton University Press
• Soggin, J.A (1984) A history of Israel: from the beginnings to the Bar Kochba Revolt, AD 135 London: SCM Press
• Soggin, J.A (1989) Introduction to the Old Testament: from its origins to the closing of the Alexandrian canon London: SCM Press
• Vermes, G., and Millar, F. (eds.) Schürer, E. (1987) The history of the Jewish people in the age of Jesus Christ (175 B.C.- A.D. 135). I-III Edinburgh: T&T Clark (revised English edition)
• Vermes, G. (1995) The Dead Sea Scrolls in English 4th ed, revised and extended; Baltimore: Penguin Books