Religious Syllabus 137
Content
RELIGIOUS STUDIES 137: JEWISH-CHRISTIAN RELATIONS
(SPRING 2009)
GARY GILBERT 528 N. MILLS AVENUE , R O O M 103 909.607.1877 GARY .GILBERT@CLAREMONTMCKENNA .EDU OFFICE HOURS : TUESDAY 9:00-11:00 AND WEDNESDAY 3:00-4:30
Course Description The course will examine the varied relations between Jews and Christians from antiquity to the present, focusing on the ways in which Jews and Christians have thought about and represented the other, and the issues that have divided the two communities. We will trace the origins of Christian anti-Judaism and examine how theology, culture, politics, and economics contributed to the formation of antisemitism in the Medieval and modern periods. We will also study how Jews have understood Christianity and responded to Christian claims about Jews and Judaism. Course Materials Required texts Jeremy Cohen (ed.), Essential Papers on Judaism and Christianity in Conflict (=JCC) Richard Rubenstein and John Roth, Approaches to Auschwitz (revised edition) (=Approaches) Reserve Materials Available in hardcopy in Honnold and through the library’s electronic reserve system C Go to: http://eres.claremont.edu/eres/default.aspx C Password: gilbert137 David Berger, “Jewish-Christian Relations: a Jewish Perspective,” Essential Papers on Jewish-Christian Relations in the United States Mary Boys, “The Covenant in Contemporary Ecclesial Documents” Two Faiths, One Covenant John Conway, “The Changes in Recent Decades in the Churches’ Doctrine and Practice Toward Judaism and the Jewish People,” Major Changes Within the Jewish People in the Wake of the Holocaust Todd Endelman, “Memories of Jewishness: Jewish Converts and Their Jewish Pasts,” Jewish History and Jewish Memory Jane Gerber, “Path to Expulsion,” The Jews of Spain Sander Gilman, “The Construction of the Male Jew,” Freud, Race, and Gender Susannah Heschel, “Introduction: Reversing the Gaze,” Abraham Geiger and the Jewish Jesus Susannah Heschel, “Reading Jesus as a Nazi,” A Shadow of Glory Jacob Katz, “Ghetto Segregation,” Exclusiveness and Tolerance Eugene Korn, “One God, Many Faiths,” Two Faiths, One Covenant Moshe Lazar, “The Lamb and the Scapegoat,” Anti-Semitism in Times of Crisis Marc Saperstein, “Christians and Jews,” Your Voice is Like a Ram’s Horn Uriel Tal, “Liberal Protestantism and the Jews in the Second Reich” Jewish Social Studies 26 (1964): 23-41 Carl Voss and David Rausch, “American Christians and Israel,” Essential Papers on Jewish-Christian Relations in the United States A copy of the syllabus is available on the Sakai course site (http://sakai.claremont.edu)
Class Topics and Assignments Please come to class having read the assigned materials and being prepared to discuss the perceptions, attitudes, and interactions that Jews and Christians have exhibited toward one another. You might consider one or more of the following questions C What does the author/text say about the religious beliefs and practices or the other? C How does the author/text represent the other as a person (e.g., physical traits, habits)? C How does the author/text justify or support its presentation (e.g., Scripture, history, reason, science)? C How do political, legal, economic, and social factors inform attitudes and perceptions and structure relations? C How have Jews and Christians responded to the attitudes and perceptions of the other?
1. January 21 2. January 26
Introduction: Defining the Issue God, Israel, and Covenant Biblical texts •Genesis 12.1-9; 15; 17 (Hebrew Bible) http://quod.lib.umich.edu/r/rsv/browse.html •Exodus 19-20 (Hebrew Bible) http://quod.lib.umich.edu/r/rsv/browse.html •Deuteronomy 29.9-31.13 (Hebrew Bible) http://quod.lib.umich.edu/r/rsv/browse.html •Isaiah 1 (Hebrew Bible) http://quod.lib.umich.edu/r/rsv/browse.html •Jeremiah 11; 30; 31 (Hebrew Bible) http://quod.lib.umich.edu/r/rsv/browse.html •Psalms 19; 30; 86 (Hebrew Bible) http://quod.lib.umich.edu/r/rsv/browse.html •Proverbs 8 (Hebrew Bible) http://quod.lib.umich.edu/r/rsv/browse.html Ancient Jewish writings •Dead Sea Scrolls, Commentary on Habakkuk (reader) Scholarly essays •Jeremy Cohen, “Introduction,” JCC, 1-36 •Rubenstein and Roth, Approaches, 25-47
3. January 28
The Law and Israel: the Pauline paradigm Biblical texts •Paul, Letter to the Galatians (New Testament) http://quod.lib.umich.edu/r/rsv/browse.html •Paul, Letter to the Romans, chapters 1-11 (New Testament) http://quod.lib.umich.edu/r/rsv/browse.html Bring to class a printed list of five passages that you think are important for understanding Paul’s views of Jews and Judaism.
4. February 2
Jews, Judaism, and Gospel Traditions Biblical texts •Gospel of Matthew 5-7; 12; 21-28 (New Testament) http://quod.lib.umich.edu/r/rsv/browse.html •Gospel of John 6-8 (New Testament) http://quod.lib.umich.edu/r/rsv/browse.html •Acts of the Apostles 2-4; 7; 10; 13 (New Testament) http://quod.lib.umich.edu/r/rsv/browse.html Scholarly essays •Meeks, “Breaking Away,” JCC, 89-113 •Brandon, “History of Theology,” JCC, 114-130 Bring to class a printed list of five passages that you consider important for understanding how the Gospels of Matthew and John and/or Acts of the Apostles present Jews or Judaism.
5. February 4
Theologizing the Jews Biblical texts •Letter to the Hebrew 6.13-9.22 (New Testament) http://quod.lib.umich.edu/r/rsv/browse.html Other early Christian writings •Melito of Sardis, Paschal Homily, 37-100 http://www.monachos.net/content/patristics/patristictexts/ 186-melito-of-sardis-on-pascha-excerpts •Justin Martyr, Dialogue with Trypho, chapters 18-29; 36-44 http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/anf01.viii.iv.html •Tertullian, An Answer to the Jews, chapters 1-6 http://tertullian.org/anf/anf03/anf03-19.htm Scholarly essays •Ruether, “Adversus Judaeos Tradition,” JCC, 174-189
6. February 9
Images of Jews in Late Antique Christian Thought Christian writings from Late Antiquity •Aphrahat, “Of the People Which Are in the Place of the people” (reader) •John Chrysostom, Homily Against the Jews, Homily 1, I.1-VII.2 http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/chrysostom-jews6.html •Jerome, “On the Promised Land,” Letter 129 to Dardanus (reader) •Augustine, Reply to Faustus, 12.9-13 http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/140612.htm •Augustine, City of God, 4.34; 18.46 http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/1201.htm Scholarly essays •Simon, “Christian Anti-Semitism,” JCC, 131-173
7. February 11
Jewish-Christian Relations in the Fourth and Fifth Centuries Christian Laws and Canons •Codex Theodosianus, Laws Concerning the Jews (reader) •Apostolical Canons: 62; 64; 70; 71 http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/npnf214.xvii.iii.html Destruction of the Synagogue at Callinicum •Ambrose, Letter 40 and 41 (to Theodosius) http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/340940.htm http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/340941.htm Conversions on Minorca •Severus of Minorca, “Conversion of the Jews” (reader) Scholarly essay •Rubenstein and Roth, Approaches, 49-55
8. February 16
Jewish Views of and Responses to Christianity Jewish Texts on Jesus and Christianity http://ccat.sas.upenn.edu/~humm/Topics/JewishJesus/ Scholarly essay •Schiffman, “At the Crossroads,” JCC, 431-457
9. February 18
Jews and Christians in Medieval Europe Fourth Lateran Council http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/lat4-c68.html Charters and Privileges •England: Charter of Richard I (1190) http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/1190richard1-charterjews.html •England: Charter of King John of England (1201) http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/kingjohn-jews.html •Germany: Bishop of Speyer (1084) http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/1084landj ews.html •Austria: Charter of the Jews of the Duchy of Austria (1244) http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/jewish/1244-jews-austria.html Jews and Moneylending •Loans to the Abbey of St. Edmunds http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/1173badloans.html •Loan arising from a tax http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/1203double-loan.html •Concerning loans from the Jews http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/hen2-jewsloans.html Scholarly essays •Blumenkranz, “Roman Church and the Jews,” JCC, 193-230 •Grayzel, “The Papal Bull Sicut Judeis,” JCC, 231-259 •Ruderman, “Jewish Economic Interests,” JCC, 514-535 •Marc Saperstein, “Christians and Jews” (reserve)
10. February 23 The Crusades Christian Accounts of the Crusades •Albert of Aix and Ekkehard of Aura http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/1096jews.html Jewish Accounts of the Crusades •Solomon bar Samson http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/1096jews-mainz.html •Anonymous, “The Martyrs of Mainz” (reader) •David bar Meshullam of Speyer, “The Sacrifices” (reader) •Ephraim of Bonn, “The Slaughter of Isaac and His Revival” (reader) Scholarly essays •Liebeschütz, “The Crusading Movement,” JCC, 260-275 •Marcus, “From Politics to Martyrdom,” JCC, 469-483
11. February 25 Ritual Murder and Blood Libel Origin of Accusations of Ritual Murder and Blood Libel •Thomas of Monmouth, “Life of William of Norwich” http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/1173williamnorwich.html Accusations of Blood Libel at Blois (France) •Ephraim ben Jacob, “Ritual murder accusation at Blois” http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/1171blois.html •Ephraim of Bonn, “Lament for Massacre at Blois” (reader) •Barukh of Magenza, “The Martyrs of Blois” (reader) Papal Position on Blood Libel •Gregory X, Letter on Jews http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/g10-jews.html Accusations in Popular Culture •Geoffrey Chaucer, “The Prioress’s Tale” http://www.ronaldecker.com/prioress.htm Scholarly essays •Little, “Jews in Christian Europe,” JCC, 276-297 •Roth, “Medieval Conception of a Jew,” JCC, 298-309 Showing of The Merchant of Venice in the Athenaeum, Thursday, February 26th at 6:00 pm 12. March 2 Images of Jews in European Art and Drama Images of Jews in Medieval and Renaissance Drama •Shakespeare, Merchant of Venice, I.3, III.1, IV.1 http://www-tech.mit.edu/Shakespeare/merchant/ •The Oberammergau Passion Play, VIII.3, XI (reader) Images of Jews in Christian Art •Moshe Lazar, “The Lamb and the Scapegoat” (reserve) 13. March 4 Disputation and Conversion Theological Arguments •Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologica II.2.10, “On Unbelief” http://www.newadvent.org/summa/3010.htm Early Disputation Accounts •Gilbert Crispin, “Disputation of a Jew with a Christian” http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/1196crispin-jews.html •Peter of Blois, “Against the Perfidy of the Jews” http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/1198peterblois-jews.html Barcelona Disputation •Moses Nachmanides http://medspains.stanford.edu/demo/barcelona/disputation.html •Anonymous Latin Report http://medspains.stanford.edu/demo/barcelona/disputation.html
14. March 9
Apologetics and Polemics Nizzahon Vetus on Psalm 22 (reader) Joseph Kimhi, The Book of the Covenant, 46-49, 74-78 (reader) Hasdai Crescas, “Concerning the New Torah” (reader) Scholarly essay •Berger, “The Jewish-Christian Debate,” JCC, 484-513
15. March 11
Jews and Christians in Late Medieval Spain Spanish Laws Regulating Jews •Las Siete Partidas http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/jews-sietepart.html •Ordinances of the Jews http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/1354ordinance-aragon-jews.html Expulsion from Spain •Account of expulsion http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/jewish/1492-jews-spain1.html Scholarly essay •Jane Gerber, The Jews of Spain, 113-144 (reserve)
Spring Break 16. March 23 Reformation and the Jews Martin Luther, “On the Jews and Their Lies” http://www.awitness.org/books/luther/ Read from “Selected Quotes from ‘On Jews and Their Lies’” You can also read through the entire document. (Note: The text is accurate; I cannot vouch for the website itself.) Johannes Reuchlin, Recommendation Whether to Confiscate, Destroy, and Burn All Jewish Books, 37-46 (reader) Scholarly essays •Edwards, “Against the Jews,” JCC, 345-379 •Baron, “John Calvin and the Jews,” JCC, 380-400 •Stow, “Burning of the Talmud,” JCC, 401-430 •Rubenstein and Roth, Approaches, 55-70 •Jacob Katz, “Ghetto Segregation,” Exclusiveness and Tolerance (reserve)
17. March 25
Emancipation and Jewish Responses Debate on Emancipation •Wilhelm von Dohm, “Concerning the Amelioration of the Civil Status of the Jews” (reader) •Johann David Michaelis, “Arguments Against Dohm” (reader) •Moses Mendelssohn, “Response to Dohm” (reader) Conversion to Christianity •Moses Mendelssohn, “Letter to Johann Caspar Lavater” (reader) •David Friedländer, “Open Letter to Teller” (reader) •Abraham Mendelssohn, “Why I Have Raised You as a Christian” (reader) •Heinirch Heine, “A Ticket to Admission To European Culture” (reader) •Rahel Varnhagen, “O How Painful to Have Been Born a Jewess!” (reader) •Todd Endelman, “Memories of Jewishness” (reserve) Reform Judaism •Basic information on Reform Judaism http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Judaism/ref.html The Origins of Reform Judaism The Pittsburgh Platform Counter-history and Wissenschaft des Judentums •Michael Meyer, “Two Persistent Tensions Within Wissenschaft des Judentums,” Modern Judaism 24:2 (2004): 105-19 (access through BLAIS) Scholarly essay •Rubenstein and Roth, Approaches, 71-78
18. March 30
From Anti-Judaism to Antisemitism The Jewish Question •Voltaire, “Jews” (reader) •Bruno Bauer, The Jewish Problem (reader) •Karl Marx, On The Jewish Problem (reader) •Adolf Stoecker, “What We Demand of Modern Jewry” (reader) •Heinrich von Treitschke, “A Word About Our Jewry” •Karl Duehring, “The Question of the Jew Is a Question of Race” (reader) Scholarly essay •Sander Gilman, “The Construction of the Male Jew,” Freud, Race, and Gender (reserve)
19. April 1
Moments in Modern Antisemitism The Dreyfus Affair •Edouard-Adolphe Drumont, Jewish France (reader) •Antisemitic songs (reader) Conspiratorial Theories •Protocols of the Elders of Zion (reader) Scholarly essay •Rubenstein and Roth, Approaches, 71-95
20. April 6
Jews and Christians in Pre-War Europe Liberal Protestant Theology and Jewish Responses •Adolf Harnack, What is Christianity? (reader) •Leo Baeck, “Harnack’s Lectures on the Essence of Christianity” (reader) •Franz Rosenzweig, “Selections from the Letters” (reader) Scholarly essay •Uriel Tal, “Liberal Protestantism and the Jews in the Second Reich” (reserve)
21. April 8
Jews and Christians on Jesus Jewish Reclamation of Jesus •Samuel Sandmel, “Jesus the Man” (reserve) •Susannah Heschel, Abraham Geiger and the Jewish Jesus, 1-22 (reserve) •Sholem Asch, “The Carnival Legend” (reader) Aryanization of Jesus •Susannah Heschel, “Reading Jesus as a Nazi” (reserve)
22. April 13
Antisemitism in Nazi Germany Nazi Material •General: http://www.calvin.edu/academic/cas/gpa/ww2era.htm •Newspapers: http://www.calvin.edu/academic/cas/gpa/ds6.htm •Schools: http://www.calvin.edu/academic/cas/gpa/catech.htm •Film: http://www.calvin.edu/academic/cas/gpa/judsuss2.htm Scholarly essay •Rubenstein and Roth, Approaches, 97-142
23. April 15
Christians, Christianity, and the Holocaust Protestant Theologians •Karl Barth, “The Jewish Problem and the Christian Answer” (reader) •Dietrich Bonhoeffer, “The Aryan Clauses” (reader) Catholic Church •Information of Pope Pius XII http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Holocaust/piustoc.html Scholarly essay •Rubenstein and Roth, Approaches, 249-290
24. April 20 25. April 22
Lecture by Bob Skloot, Professor University of Wisconsin, Madison Post-Holocaust and Contemporary Relations: Christian Perspectives Catholic Statements http://www.bc.edu/research/cjl/cjrelations/resources/documents/catholic.html •Roman Catholic Church, Nostra Aetate, section 4 •Notes on the Correct Way to Present Jews and Judaism •We Remember: Reflections on the Shoah Protestant Statements •Various documents from other Protestant churches http://www.bc.edu/research/cjl/cjrelations/resources/documents/protestant.html (Read through several of the Protestant statements.) Scholarly essays •Rubenstein and Roth, Approaches, 327-354 •John Conway, “The Changes in Recent Decades in the Churches Doctrine and Practice Toward Judaism and the Jewish People” (reserve)
26. April 27
Post-Holocaust and Contemporary Relations: Jewish Perspectives Dabru Emet and Responses •Dabru Emet http://www.jcrelations.net/en/?item=1014 •Michael Signer, “Some Reflections on Dabru Emet” http://jcrelations.net/en/?item=781 •Irving Greenberg, “Judaism Meets Christianity” http://jcrelations.net/en/?item=935 •David Berger, “Some Reservations” http://jcrelations.net/en/?item=1888 Scholarly essay •David Berger, “Jewish-Christian Relations: a Jewish Perspective” (reserve)
27. April 29
The Question of Covenant Dominus Iesus http://www.bc.edu/research/cjl/meta-elements/texts/cjrelations/resources/ documents/catholic/cdf_dominusiesus.htm Paul van Buren, “Covental Pluralism?” http://jcrelations.net/en/?item=792 Rowen Williams, “Two Covenants or One?” http://jcrelations.net/en/?item=2421 Mary Boys, “The Covenant in Contemporary Ecclesial Documents” (reserve) Eugene Korn, “One God, Many Faiths” (reserve)
28. May 2
Israel and Jewish-Christian Relations Churches on the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict •Presbyterian Church USA http://www.bc.edu/research/cjl/meta-elements/texts/cjrelations/topics/ Israel_divestment.htm •Carl Voss and David Rausch, “American Christians and Israel” (reserve) Christian Zionism •Tim Weber, “How Evangelicals Became Israel’s Best Friend,” Christianity Today 42:11 (1998) (access through BLAIS) • Christians United for Israel http://cufi.org
29. May 6
Conclusion
RLST 137: Jewish-Christian Relations: Course Requirements 1. Class attendance and Participation (35 points) Regular class attendance is expected. Points will be deducted for more than two absences. You are expected to have read the material assigned for each class and contribute to class discussions with questions, comments, and observations. A few classroom etiquette guidelines C Entering and exiting the room during the class time can be disruptive. Please try to be on-time and, unless absolutely necessary, refrain from leaving (e.g., to go to the bathroom) until the class session is finished. C Please turn off cell phones. C You are permitted to use computers, but only for the purpose of taking notes. Using computers for any other purpose (e.g., e-mail, IM, web surfing) will result in revocation of classroom computer privileges and deduction of points. I will be communicating with the class using your campus e-mail address. Please be sure to check it regularly. 2. Exams (150 points) Mid-term: Take-home exam; distributed in class on March 11, and due March 13 by 5:00 pm (50 points) Final: Monday, May 13 at 2:00. Graduating seniors will have a take-home exam due May 7 (100 points) 3. Topic Papers (75 points) Select three topics, one in each group, from the list on the following page. Group 1: classes 5-8 Group 2: classes 9-16 Group 3: classes 17-28 Each paper, two to three pages single-spaced, should include a basic information about the author, text, or event (including its historical context), and your analysis of the writing. You are not required, but may wish to consult additional sources for this paper. If you do, please use a standard form of citation. Papers are due in class on the day the topic is discussed. There are no extensions on this assignment.
RLST 137: Jewish-Christian Relations: Topic Papers Date 5 February 4 Topic Justin Ma rtyr Tertullian 6 February 9 John Chrysostom Augustine 7 February 11 Laws concerning Jews Ambrose 8 February 16 Blessing of the Heretics (birkaht ha-minim) Toldolth Yeshu 9 February 18 Medieval laws and charters Moneylending 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 February 23 February 25 March 2 March 4 March 9 March 11 March 23 March 25 March 30 April 1 Jewish responses to Crusades Ritual murder/blood libel Shakespeare, Merchant of Venice Disputations; particularly Barcelona Jewish polemical writings Expulsion from Spa in Martin Luther Wilhelm von Dohm Racial antisemitism Dreyfus affair Protocols of the Elders of Zion 20 21 23 April 6 April 8 April 15 Adolf Harnack Abraham Geiger on Jesus Karl Ba rth Dietrich Bonhoeffer 25 26 28 April 22 April 27 May 2 Nostra A etate Dabru Emet Christian Zionism
4. Research Paper (120 points) The paper invites you to explore in greater depth some aspect of Jewish-Christian relations. The topic for your research paper may be related to one of the topic papers you write. I have suggested some possible topics, but you are welcome to construct your own. Regardless of topic, your paper should be narrowly conceived. I am more interested in depth than breadth. C defining the problem: what is anti-Judaism and antisemitism C differing interpretations of Scripture among Jews and Christians C importance of Christian Scripture in Christian attitudes towards Jews and Judaism C Jewish views of Jesus C demonization of the Jews in Medieval Europe (e.g., blood libel, Black Death) C specific events: e.g., Crusades, expulsions, Dreyfus affair C contributions of Christian theology to the Holocaust C problems and possibilities in contemporary Jewish-Christian dialogue C theological understandings of the other (e.g., specific writer or synthetic treatment) C representations of Jews in art and literature Stage 1: Project Proposal: due in class on March 2 (10 points) Submit a brief paper (one page single-spaced) identifying the general area or topic on which you intend to work and some of the issues you intend to examine. In Stage 2: Annotated Bibliography: due in class March 30 (10 points) Prepare an annotated bibliography (i.e., full citation with a brief paragraph describing the contents and its importance for your research), including at least five relevant sources beyond those listed in the syllabus, and at least one book and one scholarly article, that you are using in your research. An excellent database of books and articles is available through BLAIS: http://voxlibris.claremont.edu/resources/databases/bysubject/religion: ATLA Religion Stage 3: Final paper: due in class April 27 (100 points) The final research paper should be 12-15 page (double-spaced) paper in length, and should employ an standard method of citations, such as footnotes, endnotes, or parenthetical citations. Points will be deducted for papers submitted after the deadline. With extenuating circumstances (e.g., illness) I will accept late papers. To request an extension you must indicate so in writing (either hard copy or electronically), include an indication that work has commenced on the assignment, and be prepared to document the extenuating circumstance.
(SPRING 2009)
GARY GILBERT 528 N. MILLS AVENUE , R O O M 103 909.607.1877 GARY .GILBERT@CLAREMONTMCKENNA .EDU OFFICE HOURS : TUESDAY 9:00-11:00 AND WEDNESDAY 3:00-4:30
Course Description The course will examine the varied relations between Jews and Christians from antiquity to the present, focusing on the ways in which Jews and Christians have thought about and represented the other, and the issues that have divided the two communities. We will trace the origins of Christian anti-Judaism and examine how theology, culture, politics, and economics contributed to the formation of antisemitism in the Medieval and modern periods. We will also study how Jews have understood Christianity and responded to Christian claims about Jews and Judaism. Course Materials Required texts Jeremy Cohen (ed.), Essential Papers on Judaism and Christianity in Conflict (=JCC) Richard Rubenstein and John Roth, Approaches to Auschwitz (revised edition) (=Approaches) Reserve Materials Available in hardcopy in Honnold and through the library’s electronic reserve system C Go to: http://eres.claremont.edu/eres/default.aspx C Password: gilbert137 David Berger, “Jewish-Christian Relations: a Jewish Perspective,” Essential Papers on Jewish-Christian Relations in the United States Mary Boys, “The Covenant in Contemporary Ecclesial Documents” Two Faiths, One Covenant John Conway, “The Changes in Recent Decades in the Churches’ Doctrine and Practice Toward Judaism and the Jewish People,” Major Changes Within the Jewish People in the Wake of the Holocaust Todd Endelman, “Memories of Jewishness: Jewish Converts and Their Jewish Pasts,” Jewish History and Jewish Memory Jane Gerber, “Path to Expulsion,” The Jews of Spain Sander Gilman, “The Construction of the Male Jew,” Freud, Race, and Gender Susannah Heschel, “Introduction: Reversing the Gaze,” Abraham Geiger and the Jewish Jesus Susannah Heschel, “Reading Jesus as a Nazi,” A Shadow of Glory Jacob Katz, “Ghetto Segregation,” Exclusiveness and Tolerance Eugene Korn, “One God, Many Faiths,” Two Faiths, One Covenant Moshe Lazar, “The Lamb and the Scapegoat,” Anti-Semitism in Times of Crisis Marc Saperstein, “Christians and Jews,” Your Voice is Like a Ram’s Horn Uriel Tal, “Liberal Protestantism and the Jews in the Second Reich” Jewish Social Studies 26 (1964): 23-41 Carl Voss and David Rausch, “American Christians and Israel,” Essential Papers on Jewish-Christian Relations in the United States A copy of the syllabus is available on the Sakai course site (http://sakai.claremont.edu)
Class Topics and Assignments Please come to class having read the assigned materials and being prepared to discuss the perceptions, attitudes, and interactions that Jews and Christians have exhibited toward one another. You might consider one or more of the following questions C What does the author/text say about the religious beliefs and practices or the other? C How does the author/text represent the other as a person (e.g., physical traits, habits)? C How does the author/text justify or support its presentation (e.g., Scripture, history, reason, science)? C How do political, legal, economic, and social factors inform attitudes and perceptions and structure relations? C How have Jews and Christians responded to the attitudes and perceptions of the other?
1. January 21 2. January 26
Introduction: Defining the Issue God, Israel, and Covenant Biblical texts •Genesis 12.1-9; 15; 17 (Hebrew Bible) http://quod.lib.umich.edu/r/rsv/browse.html •Exodus 19-20 (Hebrew Bible) http://quod.lib.umich.edu/r/rsv/browse.html •Deuteronomy 29.9-31.13 (Hebrew Bible) http://quod.lib.umich.edu/r/rsv/browse.html •Isaiah 1 (Hebrew Bible) http://quod.lib.umich.edu/r/rsv/browse.html •Jeremiah 11; 30; 31 (Hebrew Bible) http://quod.lib.umich.edu/r/rsv/browse.html •Psalms 19; 30; 86 (Hebrew Bible) http://quod.lib.umich.edu/r/rsv/browse.html •Proverbs 8 (Hebrew Bible) http://quod.lib.umich.edu/r/rsv/browse.html Ancient Jewish writings •Dead Sea Scrolls, Commentary on Habakkuk (reader) Scholarly essays •Jeremy Cohen, “Introduction,” JCC, 1-36 •Rubenstein and Roth, Approaches, 25-47
3. January 28
The Law and Israel: the Pauline paradigm Biblical texts •Paul, Letter to the Galatians (New Testament) http://quod.lib.umich.edu/r/rsv/browse.html •Paul, Letter to the Romans, chapters 1-11 (New Testament) http://quod.lib.umich.edu/r/rsv/browse.html Bring to class a printed list of five passages that you think are important for understanding Paul’s views of Jews and Judaism.
4. February 2
Jews, Judaism, and Gospel Traditions Biblical texts •Gospel of Matthew 5-7; 12; 21-28 (New Testament) http://quod.lib.umich.edu/r/rsv/browse.html •Gospel of John 6-8 (New Testament) http://quod.lib.umich.edu/r/rsv/browse.html •Acts of the Apostles 2-4; 7; 10; 13 (New Testament) http://quod.lib.umich.edu/r/rsv/browse.html Scholarly essays •Meeks, “Breaking Away,” JCC, 89-113 •Brandon, “History of Theology,” JCC, 114-130 Bring to class a printed list of five passages that you consider important for understanding how the Gospels of Matthew and John and/or Acts of the Apostles present Jews or Judaism.
5. February 4
Theologizing the Jews Biblical texts •Letter to the Hebrew 6.13-9.22 (New Testament) http://quod.lib.umich.edu/r/rsv/browse.html Other early Christian writings •Melito of Sardis, Paschal Homily, 37-100 http://www.monachos.net/content/patristics/patristictexts/ 186-melito-of-sardis-on-pascha-excerpts •Justin Martyr, Dialogue with Trypho, chapters 18-29; 36-44 http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/anf01.viii.iv.html •Tertullian, An Answer to the Jews, chapters 1-6 http://tertullian.org/anf/anf03/anf03-19.htm Scholarly essays •Ruether, “Adversus Judaeos Tradition,” JCC, 174-189
6. February 9
Images of Jews in Late Antique Christian Thought Christian writings from Late Antiquity •Aphrahat, “Of the People Which Are in the Place of the people” (reader) •John Chrysostom, Homily Against the Jews, Homily 1, I.1-VII.2 http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/chrysostom-jews6.html •Jerome, “On the Promised Land,” Letter 129 to Dardanus (reader) •Augustine, Reply to Faustus, 12.9-13 http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/140612.htm •Augustine, City of God, 4.34; 18.46 http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/1201.htm Scholarly essays •Simon, “Christian Anti-Semitism,” JCC, 131-173
7. February 11
Jewish-Christian Relations in the Fourth and Fifth Centuries Christian Laws and Canons •Codex Theodosianus, Laws Concerning the Jews (reader) •Apostolical Canons: 62; 64; 70; 71 http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/npnf214.xvii.iii.html Destruction of the Synagogue at Callinicum •Ambrose, Letter 40 and 41 (to Theodosius) http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/340940.htm http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/340941.htm Conversions on Minorca •Severus of Minorca, “Conversion of the Jews” (reader) Scholarly essay •Rubenstein and Roth, Approaches, 49-55
8. February 16
Jewish Views of and Responses to Christianity Jewish Texts on Jesus and Christianity http://ccat.sas.upenn.edu/~humm/Topics/JewishJesus/ Scholarly essay •Schiffman, “At the Crossroads,” JCC, 431-457
9. February 18
Jews and Christians in Medieval Europe Fourth Lateran Council http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/lat4-c68.html Charters and Privileges •England: Charter of Richard I (1190) http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/1190richard1-charterjews.html •England: Charter of King John of England (1201) http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/kingjohn-jews.html •Germany: Bishop of Speyer (1084) http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/1084landj ews.html •Austria: Charter of the Jews of the Duchy of Austria (1244) http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/jewish/1244-jews-austria.html Jews and Moneylending •Loans to the Abbey of St. Edmunds http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/1173badloans.html •Loan arising from a tax http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/1203double-loan.html •Concerning loans from the Jews http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/hen2-jewsloans.html Scholarly essays •Blumenkranz, “Roman Church and the Jews,” JCC, 193-230 •Grayzel, “The Papal Bull Sicut Judeis,” JCC, 231-259 •Ruderman, “Jewish Economic Interests,” JCC, 514-535 •Marc Saperstein, “Christians and Jews” (reserve)
10. February 23 The Crusades Christian Accounts of the Crusades •Albert of Aix and Ekkehard of Aura http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/1096jews.html Jewish Accounts of the Crusades •Solomon bar Samson http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/1096jews-mainz.html •Anonymous, “The Martyrs of Mainz” (reader) •David bar Meshullam of Speyer, “The Sacrifices” (reader) •Ephraim of Bonn, “The Slaughter of Isaac and His Revival” (reader) Scholarly essays •Liebeschütz, “The Crusading Movement,” JCC, 260-275 •Marcus, “From Politics to Martyrdom,” JCC, 469-483
11. February 25 Ritual Murder and Blood Libel Origin of Accusations of Ritual Murder and Blood Libel •Thomas of Monmouth, “Life of William of Norwich” http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/1173williamnorwich.html Accusations of Blood Libel at Blois (France) •Ephraim ben Jacob, “Ritual murder accusation at Blois” http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/1171blois.html •Ephraim of Bonn, “Lament for Massacre at Blois” (reader) •Barukh of Magenza, “The Martyrs of Blois” (reader) Papal Position on Blood Libel •Gregory X, Letter on Jews http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/g10-jews.html Accusations in Popular Culture •Geoffrey Chaucer, “The Prioress’s Tale” http://www.ronaldecker.com/prioress.htm Scholarly essays •Little, “Jews in Christian Europe,” JCC, 276-297 •Roth, “Medieval Conception of a Jew,” JCC, 298-309 Showing of The Merchant of Venice in the Athenaeum, Thursday, February 26th at 6:00 pm 12. March 2 Images of Jews in European Art and Drama Images of Jews in Medieval and Renaissance Drama •Shakespeare, Merchant of Venice, I.3, III.1, IV.1 http://www-tech.mit.edu/Shakespeare/merchant/ •The Oberammergau Passion Play, VIII.3, XI (reader) Images of Jews in Christian Art •Moshe Lazar, “The Lamb and the Scapegoat” (reserve) 13. March 4 Disputation and Conversion Theological Arguments •Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologica II.2.10, “On Unbelief” http://www.newadvent.org/summa/3010.htm Early Disputation Accounts •Gilbert Crispin, “Disputation of a Jew with a Christian” http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/1196crispin-jews.html •Peter of Blois, “Against the Perfidy of the Jews” http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/1198peterblois-jews.html Barcelona Disputation •Moses Nachmanides http://medspains.stanford.edu/demo/barcelona/disputation.html •Anonymous Latin Report http://medspains.stanford.edu/demo/barcelona/disputation.html
14. March 9
Apologetics and Polemics Nizzahon Vetus on Psalm 22 (reader) Joseph Kimhi, The Book of the Covenant, 46-49, 74-78 (reader) Hasdai Crescas, “Concerning the New Torah” (reader) Scholarly essay •Berger, “The Jewish-Christian Debate,” JCC, 484-513
15. March 11
Jews and Christians in Late Medieval Spain Spanish Laws Regulating Jews •Las Siete Partidas http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/jews-sietepart.html •Ordinances of the Jews http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/1354ordinance-aragon-jews.html Expulsion from Spain •Account of expulsion http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/jewish/1492-jews-spain1.html Scholarly essay •Jane Gerber, The Jews of Spain, 113-144 (reserve)
Spring Break 16. March 23 Reformation and the Jews Martin Luther, “On the Jews and Their Lies” http://www.awitness.org/books/luther/ Read from “Selected Quotes from ‘On Jews and Their Lies’” You can also read through the entire document. (Note: The text is accurate; I cannot vouch for the website itself.) Johannes Reuchlin, Recommendation Whether to Confiscate, Destroy, and Burn All Jewish Books, 37-46 (reader) Scholarly essays •Edwards, “Against the Jews,” JCC, 345-379 •Baron, “John Calvin and the Jews,” JCC, 380-400 •Stow, “Burning of the Talmud,” JCC, 401-430 •Rubenstein and Roth, Approaches, 55-70 •Jacob Katz, “Ghetto Segregation,” Exclusiveness and Tolerance (reserve)
17. March 25
Emancipation and Jewish Responses Debate on Emancipation •Wilhelm von Dohm, “Concerning the Amelioration of the Civil Status of the Jews” (reader) •Johann David Michaelis, “Arguments Against Dohm” (reader) •Moses Mendelssohn, “Response to Dohm” (reader) Conversion to Christianity •Moses Mendelssohn, “Letter to Johann Caspar Lavater” (reader) •David Friedländer, “Open Letter to Teller” (reader) •Abraham Mendelssohn, “Why I Have Raised You as a Christian” (reader) •Heinirch Heine, “A Ticket to Admission To European Culture” (reader) •Rahel Varnhagen, “O How Painful to Have Been Born a Jewess!” (reader) •Todd Endelman, “Memories of Jewishness” (reserve) Reform Judaism •Basic information on Reform Judaism http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Judaism/ref.html The Origins of Reform Judaism The Pittsburgh Platform Counter-history and Wissenschaft des Judentums •Michael Meyer, “Two Persistent Tensions Within Wissenschaft des Judentums,” Modern Judaism 24:2 (2004): 105-19 (access through BLAIS) Scholarly essay •Rubenstein and Roth, Approaches, 71-78
18. March 30
From Anti-Judaism to Antisemitism The Jewish Question •Voltaire, “Jews” (reader) •Bruno Bauer, The Jewish Problem (reader) •Karl Marx, On The Jewish Problem (reader) •Adolf Stoecker, “What We Demand of Modern Jewry” (reader) •Heinrich von Treitschke, “A Word About Our Jewry” •Karl Duehring, “The Question of the Jew Is a Question of Race” (reader) Scholarly essay •Sander Gilman, “The Construction of the Male Jew,” Freud, Race, and Gender (reserve)
19. April 1
Moments in Modern Antisemitism The Dreyfus Affair •Edouard-Adolphe Drumont, Jewish France (reader) •Antisemitic songs (reader) Conspiratorial Theories •Protocols of the Elders of Zion (reader) Scholarly essay •Rubenstein and Roth, Approaches, 71-95
20. April 6
Jews and Christians in Pre-War Europe Liberal Protestant Theology and Jewish Responses •Adolf Harnack, What is Christianity? (reader) •Leo Baeck, “Harnack’s Lectures on the Essence of Christianity” (reader) •Franz Rosenzweig, “Selections from the Letters” (reader) Scholarly essay •Uriel Tal, “Liberal Protestantism and the Jews in the Second Reich” (reserve)
21. April 8
Jews and Christians on Jesus Jewish Reclamation of Jesus •Samuel Sandmel, “Jesus the Man” (reserve) •Susannah Heschel, Abraham Geiger and the Jewish Jesus, 1-22 (reserve) •Sholem Asch, “The Carnival Legend” (reader) Aryanization of Jesus •Susannah Heschel, “Reading Jesus as a Nazi” (reserve)
22. April 13
Antisemitism in Nazi Germany Nazi Material •General: http://www.calvin.edu/academic/cas/gpa/ww2era.htm •Newspapers: http://www.calvin.edu/academic/cas/gpa/ds6.htm •Schools: http://www.calvin.edu/academic/cas/gpa/catech.htm •Film: http://www.calvin.edu/academic/cas/gpa/judsuss2.htm Scholarly essay •Rubenstein and Roth, Approaches, 97-142
23. April 15
Christians, Christianity, and the Holocaust Protestant Theologians •Karl Barth, “The Jewish Problem and the Christian Answer” (reader) •Dietrich Bonhoeffer, “The Aryan Clauses” (reader) Catholic Church •Information of Pope Pius XII http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Holocaust/piustoc.html Scholarly essay •Rubenstein and Roth, Approaches, 249-290
24. April 20 25. April 22
Lecture by Bob Skloot, Professor University of Wisconsin, Madison Post-Holocaust and Contemporary Relations: Christian Perspectives Catholic Statements http://www.bc.edu/research/cjl/cjrelations/resources/documents/catholic.html •Roman Catholic Church, Nostra Aetate, section 4 •Notes on the Correct Way to Present Jews and Judaism •We Remember: Reflections on the Shoah Protestant Statements •Various documents from other Protestant churches http://www.bc.edu/research/cjl/cjrelations/resources/documents/protestant.html (Read through several of the Protestant statements.) Scholarly essays •Rubenstein and Roth, Approaches, 327-354 •John Conway, “The Changes in Recent Decades in the Churches Doctrine and Practice Toward Judaism and the Jewish People” (reserve)
26. April 27
Post-Holocaust and Contemporary Relations: Jewish Perspectives Dabru Emet and Responses •Dabru Emet http://www.jcrelations.net/en/?item=1014 •Michael Signer, “Some Reflections on Dabru Emet” http://jcrelations.net/en/?item=781 •Irving Greenberg, “Judaism Meets Christianity” http://jcrelations.net/en/?item=935 •David Berger, “Some Reservations” http://jcrelations.net/en/?item=1888 Scholarly essay •David Berger, “Jewish-Christian Relations: a Jewish Perspective” (reserve)
27. April 29
The Question of Covenant Dominus Iesus http://www.bc.edu/research/cjl/meta-elements/texts/cjrelations/resources/ documents/catholic/cdf_dominusiesus.htm Paul van Buren, “Covental Pluralism?” http://jcrelations.net/en/?item=792 Rowen Williams, “Two Covenants or One?” http://jcrelations.net/en/?item=2421 Mary Boys, “The Covenant in Contemporary Ecclesial Documents” (reserve) Eugene Korn, “One God, Many Faiths” (reserve)
28. May 2
Israel and Jewish-Christian Relations Churches on the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict •Presbyterian Church USA http://www.bc.edu/research/cjl/meta-elements/texts/cjrelations/topics/ Israel_divestment.htm •Carl Voss and David Rausch, “American Christians and Israel” (reserve) Christian Zionism •Tim Weber, “How Evangelicals Became Israel’s Best Friend,” Christianity Today 42:11 (1998) (access through BLAIS) • Christians United for Israel http://cufi.org
29. May 6
Conclusion
RLST 137: Jewish-Christian Relations: Course Requirements 1. Class attendance and Participation (35 points) Regular class attendance is expected. Points will be deducted for more than two absences. You are expected to have read the material assigned for each class and contribute to class discussions with questions, comments, and observations. A few classroom etiquette guidelines C Entering and exiting the room during the class time can be disruptive. Please try to be on-time and, unless absolutely necessary, refrain from leaving (e.g., to go to the bathroom) until the class session is finished. C Please turn off cell phones. C You are permitted to use computers, but only for the purpose of taking notes. Using computers for any other purpose (e.g., e-mail, IM, web surfing) will result in revocation of classroom computer privileges and deduction of points. I will be communicating with the class using your campus e-mail address. Please be sure to check it regularly. 2. Exams (150 points) Mid-term: Take-home exam; distributed in class on March 11, and due March 13 by 5:00 pm (50 points) Final: Monday, May 13 at 2:00. Graduating seniors will have a take-home exam due May 7 (100 points) 3. Topic Papers (75 points) Select three topics, one in each group, from the list on the following page. Group 1: classes 5-8 Group 2: classes 9-16 Group 3: classes 17-28 Each paper, two to three pages single-spaced, should include a basic information about the author, text, or event (including its historical context), and your analysis of the writing. You are not required, but may wish to consult additional sources for this paper. If you do, please use a standard form of citation. Papers are due in class on the day the topic is discussed. There are no extensions on this assignment.
RLST 137: Jewish-Christian Relations: Topic Papers Date 5 February 4 Topic Justin Ma rtyr Tertullian 6 February 9 John Chrysostom Augustine 7 February 11 Laws concerning Jews Ambrose 8 February 16 Blessing of the Heretics (birkaht ha-minim) Toldolth Yeshu 9 February 18 Medieval laws and charters Moneylending 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 February 23 February 25 March 2 March 4 March 9 March 11 March 23 March 25 March 30 April 1 Jewish responses to Crusades Ritual murder/blood libel Shakespeare, Merchant of Venice Disputations; particularly Barcelona Jewish polemical writings Expulsion from Spa in Martin Luther Wilhelm von Dohm Racial antisemitism Dreyfus affair Protocols of the Elders of Zion 20 21 23 April 6 April 8 April 15 Adolf Harnack Abraham Geiger on Jesus Karl Ba rth Dietrich Bonhoeffer 25 26 28 April 22 April 27 May 2 Nostra A etate Dabru Emet Christian Zionism
4. Research Paper (120 points) The paper invites you to explore in greater depth some aspect of Jewish-Christian relations. The topic for your research paper may be related to one of the topic papers you write. I have suggested some possible topics, but you are welcome to construct your own. Regardless of topic, your paper should be narrowly conceived. I am more interested in depth than breadth. C defining the problem: what is anti-Judaism and antisemitism C differing interpretations of Scripture among Jews and Christians C importance of Christian Scripture in Christian attitudes towards Jews and Judaism C Jewish views of Jesus C demonization of the Jews in Medieval Europe (e.g., blood libel, Black Death) C specific events: e.g., Crusades, expulsions, Dreyfus affair C contributions of Christian theology to the Holocaust C problems and possibilities in contemporary Jewish-Christian dialogue C theological understandings of the other (e.g., specific writer or synthetic treatment) C representations of Jews in art and literature Stage 1: Project Proposal: due in class on March 2 (10 points) Submit a brief paper (one page single-spaced) identifying the general area or topic on which you intend to work and some of the issues you intend to examine. In Stage 2: Annotated Bibliography: due in class March 30 (10 points) Prepare an annotated bibliography (i.e., full citation with a brief paragraph describing the contents and its importance for your research), including at least five relevant sources beyond those listed in the syllabus, and at least one book and one scholarly article, that you are using in your research. An excellent database of books and articles is available through BLAIS: http://voxlibris.claremont.edu/resources/databases/bysubject/religion: ATLA Religion Stage 3: Final paper: due in class April 27 (100 points) The final research paper should be 12-15 page (double-spaced) paper in length, and should employ an standard method of citations, such as footnotes, endnotes, or parenthetical citations. Points will be deducted for papers submitted after the deadline. With extenuating circumstances (e.g., illness) I will accept late papers. To request an extension you must indicate so in writing (either hard copy or electronically), include an indication that work has commenced on the assignment, and be prepared to document the extenuating circumstance.
