History 418/JWST419W
Spring Term, 2002
Reading Medieval Jewish History
Francis Scott Key Hall 3111
Thursday, 4:00 pm--6:30 pm
Bernard D. Cooperman
F. S. Key Hall 2116c
301-405-4271
bc40@umail.umd.edu
NOTE: Readings are due for the class under which they are listed. (The reading for the first class is an obvious exception. They will be discussed at our next meeting.)
Course Calendar
January 31. Defining the Issues. The term "middle ages" in Jewish history. Periodization.
Readings:
Ben-Sasson: chapter 25.
Ivan Marcus, "Medieval Jewish Studies: Toward an Anthropological History of the Jews," and Hava Tirosh-Rothschild, "Response" in The State of Jewish Studies, ed. Shaye J.D. Cohen and Edward Greenstein (Detroit: Wayne State University Press, 1990), pp. 113-142. [McKeldin DS 115.95.S73 1990] On reserve. Available online.
February 7 The economic functions of Jews in medieval society.
Readings:
Ben-Sasson: chapters 26, 30 and 34.
February 14 Relations with Outside Society. "Anti-Semitism." Religious Polemics. Host desecration. Ritual Murder.
Readings:
Ben-Sasson: chapters 27, 32 and 35.
Gavin Langmuir. Toward a Definition of Antisemitism. (Berkeley: Univ. of Califonria Press, 1990). McK DS 145.L32 1990] Chapters 6: "Anti-Judaism as the Necessary Preparation for Antisemitism," pp. 57–62, and 13: "Medieval Antisemitism," pp. 301–310. Also available on reserve.
David Nirenberg. Conversion, Sex and Segregation. Iberian Jews and Christains after the Massacres of 1391. Available online.
February 21 Reading Historical Accounts. The First Crusade.
Readings:
Chazan, Robert. In the Year 1096. The First Crusade and the Jews. (Philadelphia: Jewish Publication Society, 1996.)
Cohen, Jeremy. "A 1096 Complex? Constructing the First Crusade in Jewish Historical Memory, Medieval and Modern" in Jews and Christians in Twelfth-Century Europe. Michael A. Signer and John Van Engen, eds. (Notre Dame, IA: University of Notre Dame Press, 2001). Pp. 9-26. [McK DS 124.J52 2001] On reserve and online as part 1, part 2, part 3, and part 4.
Assignment:
In an essay of approximately 1 to 2 pages, discuss Robert Chazan and Jeremy Cohen's views of how the events of 1096 have been used by later Jewish writers to tell the story of Jewish suffering and persecution.
February 28 Jews' Perception of the Surrounding Society.
Readings:
Katz, Jacob. Exclusiveness and Tolerance (New York: Behrmn Hosue, 1983).
Remer, Gary. "Ha-Me'iri's theory of Religious Toleration," in John Christian Laursen and Cary J. Nederman, eds., Beyond the Persecuting Society. Religious Toleration Before the Enlightenment" (Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 1998), pp. 71—91. [McK BR1610.B48 1998]
March 7 Reading Halakhic Texts. Leadership and Community
Readings:
Ben-Sasson: chapters 28, 31 and 32.
Moshe Rosman, "Prolegomenon to the Study of Jewish Cultural History," Jewish Studies. An Internet Journal 1 (2002), pp. 109–127 available online.
March 14 Culture and Creative Life
Readings:
Ben-Sasson: chapters 29, 33 and 37.
By now you should be ready to meet with the instructor to work on a paper topic.
March 21 Reading Scriptural Exegesis.
March 28 Spring Recess. No class
April 4 NO CLASS.
If you have not already met with the professor to choose a paper topic, do so now!
April 11 Education. Childhood.
Readings:
Ivan Marcus. Rituals of Childhood. Jewish Acculturation in Medieval Europe. (New Haven: Yale University Press, 1996,).
Kanarfogel, Ephraim. Jewish Education and Society in the High Middle Ages (Detroit: Wayne State University Press, 1992).
April 18 Gender, Sexuality and Satire. Readings in Medieval Literature.
Readings:
Adelman, "Servants and Sexuality" in Gender and Judaism, ed. Tamar Rudavsky, (New York University Press, 19??), pp.
Baskin, Judith. Jewish Women in Historical Perspective. 2nd edition. (Detroit: Wayne State University Press, 1998.)
Dishon, Judith. "Images of Women in Medieval Hebrew Literature" in Women of the Word, Judith R. Baskin, ed., (Detroit: Wayne State University Press, 1994), pp. 35—49.
Rosen, Tova. "Circumscised Cinderella: the Fantasies of a 14th-Century Jewish Author," Prooftexts 20 (2000), pp. 87—110.
Nirenberg, David. Mass conversion and genealogical mentalities: Jews and Christians in fifteenth-century Spain. Available online.
April 25 TBA
May 2 Messianism and Apocalyptic.
May 9 Review. Discussion of Papers.
Requirements
(70%) The major goal for students this semester is the preparation of an original research essay of approximately 20 pages in length on a topic related to the history of the Jewish people in medieval times. Your paper must address both primary and secondary sources. Primary sources must be identified and analyzed. Secondary materials must be evaluated as part of the context of the course.
(20%) In preparation for the final paper, there will be a number of brief assignments, each intended to give you one or more of the skills you need to write your paper. These assignments will be graded as a way of showing you how you are progressing in developing the skills and knowledge you need.
(10%) A participation grade based on the level of your participation in class. In particular, you are expected to demonstrate that you have mastered the readings. You should be able to summarize their content for your classmates, and you should be able to evaluate the arguments made by the author.
Texts
Baskin, Judith. Jewish Women In Historical Perspective. 2nd edition.
Ben-Sasson, Hayim Hillel. History of the Jewish People.
Chazan, Robert. In The Year 1096.
Kanarfogel, Ephraim. Jewish Education And Society in the Middle Ages
Katz, Jacob. Exclusiveness and Tolerance.
Marcus, Ivan G. Rituals Of Childhood
Rampolla, Mary Lynn. Pocket Guide To Writing In History
Recommended
Lovinger. Penguin Dictionary Of American English Usage