Professors: Michael Katz (Russian), Robert S. Schine, Director (religion/Classics); O. Larry Yarbrough (religion); Associate Professors: Theodore Sasson (international studies, on leave winter and spring 2010); Assistant Professors: Rebecca Bennette (history, on leave), Natasha Chang (Italian) Natalie Eppelsheimer (German) Instructor: Nathan Devir (international studies, Hebrew). Department Coordinator: Charlene Barrett
Jewish Studies ranges over the study of Jews and Judaism from the Biblical period to the present. It takes Judaism not only as a "religion," but as a civilization and culture encompassing a rich textual tradition, literature in several languages, philosophy and theology, customs and folkways, art, music and film. Jewish Studies is by its nature interdisciplinary and can be approached, for example, from within the disciplines of history, religion, sociology and anthropology, or literary study. The program also sponsors a wide array of lectures and other events, including the annual Hannah A. Quint Lecture in Jewish Studies and the Silberman Symposium in Jewish Studies.
A distinguishing aspect of Middlebury's program is the depth of study possible in Hebrew. Middlebury offers courses in both Modern and Classical Hebrew. Introductory Modern Hebrew is offered every year, and Introductory Classical Hebrew in winter term in alternate (even) years. Intermediate and advanced courses acquaint students with different genres and interpretive methods in the reading of Biblical and later Hebrew literature. (See course listings for Modern Hebrew under "Hebrew" and, course listings for Classical Hebrew, under "Classics".)
This program offers a minor in Jewish Studies to students who complete the following requirements:
(1) One of the following courses that offer a broad introduction to the study of Judaism:
RELI 0160 The Jewish Tradition
RELI/CLAS 0262 The Formation of Judaism in Antiquity
(2) Three additional courses pertinent to Jewish Studies from among the following:
HEBM 0201 Modern Hebrew Culture in Translation
HIST 0250 The Jews in Modern Europe
HIST 0257 The Holocaust
HIST 0424 Readings in Modern European History: The Nazis and the Jews
INTL 0343 State and Society in Contemporary Israel
RELI 0260 Classical Jewish Texts
RELI 0180 Biblical Literature
RELI 0280 Hebrew Bible / Old Testament
Up to two courses in Hebrew language or texts (HEBR 0201 and higher) may count toward the requirements for the minor
(3) A 0300-level seminar in Jewish Studies;
RELI 0360 Seminar in Jewish Thought
RELI 0362 Zionism: Idea and Realities
RELI 0380 Seminar in Biblical Studies
Other appropriate courses may be substituted for courses in categories (2) or (3) with the approval of the program director.