Judaism from Qumran to Rambam
- Course Code
- HIST 0040/RELI 0040
- Course Type
- Tutorials
- Subject Credit
- Course Availability
In this course we will study a variety of texts and topics that cast light on important developments in Judaism from the period of the Second Temple to the Middle Ages. Beginning with the spectacular discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls that have revolutionized our understanding of ancient Judaism, we will pass by the fascinating world of Greek-speaking Judaism, and we will explore the art and architecture of ancient synagogues unearthed in the Galilee. After an introduction into the Mishnah and the Talmud, we will study rabbinic interpretation of the Bible (Midrash), and have a taste of the liturgical poetry from late antiquity (Piyyut) that was discovered in the Genizah of Cairo. We will end our journey in the Middle Ages by examining the influence of the Babylonian Geonim and the great rabbi, physician, philosopher and Torah scholar Moses Maimonides.