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New York - Fall, 2005 - Elective Courses - Rabbinics
| RAB 520 |
Pirkei d'Rabbi Eliezer
Dr. Norman J. Cohen
The purpose of this course is to provide the student with an opportunity to gain in-depth knowledge of the style of the Narrative
(Historical) Midrashim, in general, and of Pirqei d'Rabbi Eliezer, in particular. We will not only analyze selected passages
from the main work of this genre of Midrash, PRE, but we will also read and discuss some of the key secondary works which deal
with the questions pertaining to this volume. In addition, though our main focus will be Pirqei d' Rabbi Eliezer, we will
attempt to touch on some other narrative midrashic works as well.
Prerequisite: Basic Midrash course - 3.0 credits.
Monday and Wednesday 12:20-1:40 |
Rabbinics/
WRI 542 |
Life Cycle Liturgy
Dr. Lawrence A. Hoffman
Life cycles and how Jewish traditions have responded to them through ritual and liturgy. Analysis of significant texts from
tannaitic, amoraic, geonic and later strata. Study of the rabbis' manuals (Orthodox, Conservative and Reform). Basic halakha of
traditional life cycle ceremonies. Consideration of novel life cycle liturgies arising out of current social reality.
Development of practical bibliography for use in life-cycle ritual.
Prerequisite: Required Liturgy course - 3.0 credits.
Wednesday 12:20-1:40 and Thursday 1:45-3:05 |
| RAB 544 |
Halakha and Aggada
Dr. Alyssa Gray
In this course, we will study the phenomenon of halakha and aggada in the Bavli, Yerushalmi, and major classical
midrash-collections (notably Bereshit and Vayikra Rabbah, and Pesiqta d'Rav Kahana). Throughout, we will be asking the following
sorts of questions: what is the function of aggada in relation to halakha? Does it buttress or critique it? Does aggada have a
redactional purpose in the Talmuds that goes beyond any function in relation to specific halakhot? Does aggada influence the
post-talmudic codification of law in any way?
Prerequisites: Intro. to Talmud and Intro. to Codes - 3.0 credits.
Monday and Wednesday 1:45-3:05. |
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