Hebrew Courses

Su, Au, Wi, Sp Qtrs. 5 cl. H241 (honors) may be available to students enrolled in an honors program or by permission of department or instructor. GEC arts and hums cultures and ideas course.

The purpose of this course is to familiarize students with contemporary Israeli culture in all of its diversity. In the fifty years since the founding of the State, Israeli society has faced a series of dramatic challenges and has undergone tremendous changes. This course will survey the major social, cultural, religious and political trends in Israel, focusing on the post-1967 period. Issues to be explored include responses to founding ideals and ideologies; the impact of the Arab-Israeli conflict; Jewish perceptions of Arabs; efforts to absorb new waves of immigration and to deal with questions of ethnicity; tensions between the religious and secular sectors of society; the centrality of the family; and the social, political and religious status of women. The course will draw on a broad range of material, including print media and films. By the end of the course, students should have an insight into the complexity of Israeli society and an understanding of Israel’s role in Jewish life, the Middle East, and the world at large.

293 Individual Studies U 1-15

Prereq: Written permission of dept. Repeatable to a maximum of 30 cr hrs.

294 Group Studies U 1-15

Prereq: Written permission of dept. Repeatable to a maximum of 30 cr hrs.

370 Biblical and Post-Biblical Hebrew Literature in Translation U 5
Reading and analysis of selected chapters from the Hebrew scriptures and post-biblical Hebrew writings representative of major historical, cultural, and literary trends.

H370 (honors) may be available to students enrolled in an honors program or by permission of department or instructor. Prereq: English 110 or 111 or equiv. Not open to students with credit for 273. GEC arts and hums lit course.

The purpose of this course is to provide the student with some fundamental insights into the Hebrew Scriptures (the Old Testament) within the context of their social, cultural, and historical milieux, as well as their common Near Eastern setting. One of the main objectives is to explore the searching spirit of ancient man for ultimate issues, such as the purpose of existence, the destiny of man, the problem of evil, etc. While this course stresses that the Hebrew Scriptures cannot be understood and still less appreciated without their larger cultural setting, it also strives to point out the distinctive features of these scriptures. Insights from post-biblical Hebrew exegeses (Talmud, Midrash, etc.) are provided. In addition to the traditional approach, contributions from a great many academic disciplines are utilized to provide diverse scholarly and objective views of the Holy Scriptures. This course is taught in English.

371 Medieval Hebrew Literature in Translation U 5
Post-biblical and medieval Hebrew literature from the Near East, North Africa, and Europe.

Prereq: English 110 or 111 or equiv. Not open to students with credit for 272.

The objectives of this course are: 1) to acquaint the student with the various literary genres of Hebrew literature in the medieval period; 2) to highlight the influences on and development of this literature; and 3) to understand the importance and role of medieval Jewry and their literature in Jewish history.

372 Modern Hebrew Literature in Translation U 5
Modern Hebrew literature; works of major writers from the middle of the 18th century to the present; emphasis on European literary influences.

H372 (honors) may be available to students enrolled in an honors program or by permission of department or instructor. Prereq for 372: English 110 or equiv. Prereq for H372: English H110 or equiv. Not open to students with credit for 271. GEC arts and hums lit course.

The purpose of this course is to familiarize students with the richly variegated body of modern Hebrew literature, while challenging them to read and write analytically. The major elements in this literature, from its origins in nineteenth-century Eastern Europe to its flowering in present-day Israel, will be examined. Addressing questions of aesthetics and literary context, the course will highlight such major themes as the tension between tradition and modernity; the rise of Zionism; the negation of the Diaspora; the pioneer experience; the Arab-Israeli conflict; responses to the Holocaust; the relationship of the individual to the collectivity; optimism and disillusionment. Readings will consist of novels, short stories and poems in English translation. Literary critical evaluations will be assigned in connection with oral presentations and term papers.

373 Prophecy in the Bible and Post-Biblical Literature U 5
The dynamics of Israelite prophecy and apocalyptic in the context of ancient Near Eastern culture.

GEC arts and hums lit course.

By the end of this course, the student will be able to: 1) articulate the essential features of Israelite prophecy as a distinctive social phenomenon in the context of ancient Near Eastern culture; 2) trace the evolution of the phenomenon in Israel from its rise to its decline and ultimate transformation into apocalyptic; 3) identify the nuances and idiosyncrasies of certain individual prophets; and 4) identify the primary contributions of the prophetic phenomenon to the Judaeo-Christian heritage. To achieve these objectives, class lecture coupled with class discussion will form the core of this course, supplemented by outside readings and written assignments. The readings will include primary and secondary sources, providing the student opportunity for exposure to the prophetic literature at first hand while also supplying input from contemporary scholarship.

374 Women in Biblical and Post-Biblical Literature U 5

Prereq: English 110 or 111 or equiv. Not open to students with credit for 274. Taught in English. GEC arts and hums lit course.

This course examines the cultural images and legal status of women during biblical times and late antiquity. Although its focus will be on the period of ancient Israel, students will also examine how biblical narrative and law have continued to have an impact on Jewish, Christian and secular culture. By looking at the images of women in biblical texts, students will be asked how contemporary feminist readers of the Bible have found new meanings in a literature that has been the subject of so much re-reading and re-writing over the centuries. The course will begin with a general review of biblical literature and a historical survey of the status of women in some ancient societies. Throughout, its approach will be interdisciplinary, inviting students to pursue interests in historical, literary critical, feminist, and religious studies approaches.

375 The Holocaust in Literature and Film U 5
Religious, psychological, cultural, and national aspects of the Holocaust as reflected in Hebrew literature. Taught in English. Prereq: English 110 or 111 or equiv.

The Nazi-attempted genocide of the Jews was an unprecedented crime in human history. The inhuman atrocities of the Holocaust, perpetrated by enlightened people and carried out in the heart of Western civilization, pose enormous theological, historical, and psychological problems. Authors and philosophers also question the capacity of art and literature to adequately transmit or transmute the authentic horrors. The purpose of the course is to acquaint students with the singular character of the Holocaust, discuss its essential cultural implications, and examine a variety of artistic strategies adopted for its representation. The study of the Holocaust through Hebrew literature (texts include short stories, plays, novels, and poems) also highlights the place of the Jewish genocide in contemporary Israeli culture and in modern Jewish consciousness.

376 The Jewish Mystical Tradition U 5
The history of Jewish mysticism from antiquity to the present, with emphasis on its implications for the comparative study of religious experience.

H376 (honors) may be available to students enrolled in an honors program or by permission of department or instructor. Not open to students with credit for Rel Stds 376. Cross-listed in Comparative Studies. GEC arts and hums cultures and ideas course.

Jewish mysticism has been a constant yet controversial undercurrent in Jewish history, ranging from antiquity to the present day. Its adherents have pursued striking visions of God enthroned on a huge chariot; sought to penetrate the mysteries of the divine personality, perceiving both male and female in the One God; followed a manic-depressive false messiah; worshipped God through joyful song and dance; and imbued classical Judaism with meaning and life its originators could never have imagined. The Jewish Mystical Tradition is a look into this way of interpreting Judaism and how it has affected Jewish history. Jewish mystical texts also provide a rare look into the personal religious experience of individual Jews. Using William James’s classic Varieties of Religious Experience as a guide, students will probe the human dimensions of these forms of religious statement. Students will also learn how to read a mystical text, and to interpret the rich symbolism of the Kabbalah and other systems of Jewish mystical religion. This is also a course in the comparative study of religion and culture. In exploring Jewish mysticism, students will address questions central to the cross-cultural study of religion: Are all mystical experiences essentially the same? How can we tell the rational from the irrational? Can we reconstruct a person’s individual experience from a written text? Is spirituality a force for stability or anarchy in society?

378 Biblical and Post-Biblical Wisdom Literature U 5
An examination of the various ideas, themes, attitudes, implications, and genres of biblical and post-biblical wisdom literature.

Prereq: English 110 or 111 or equiv. GEC arts and hums lit course.

This course will explore a number of the biblical sapiential texts and compositions, mainly in Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Job, Psalms, the New Testament, and the Apocrypha. The wisdom literary corpus can be divided into two separate yet overlapping categories. One category, exemplified in the Book of Proverbs, constitutes a comprehensive code of conduct, which aims at directing society on the path to success, happiness, and reasonable harmony with its environment. The other category, exemplified by the Books of Ecclesiastes and Job, grapples with the eternal problems that beset humanity, primarily the agonizing question, "Why do the wicked prosper and the righteous suffer?" The course will stress the indivisible unity of the secular, religious, and ethical aspects of biblical wisdom. It will also explore the universal aspects of wisdom and its search for a certain regularity within the diversity of the phenomena of the world. Proper comprehension of biblical wisdom depends upon an understanding of related texts in Egypt and Mesopotamia. The course will address the striking similarities, in thought and form, between biblical wisdom and the Wisdom of Amenemope, Instructions of Merikare, Ptahhotep, and others. Only by means of such comparison will the distinctive features of Israelite wisdom come to prominence. Insights in Rabbinic wisdom (Pirqei Avot) will also be provided. By the end of this course, students will have achieved a broad exposure to the ideas and genres of Old Testament wisdom literature and the values affirmed therein. Through reading the biblical texts and selected secondary literature and commentaries, students will be able to identify the major themes addressed by wisdom literature and the various attitudes, solutions, and consolations it affords.

379 The World of the Rabbis U 5
Examination of the origins, literature, and religious values of the movement of intellectuals who remade the culture of Judaism in the 2nd through 6th centuries.

Prereq: English 110 or equiv. GEC arts and hums cultures and ideas course.

Judaism today has its roots in a remarkable movement of intellectuals who remade an entire people’s culture in a few short centuries. These people were known as Rabbis, or Teachers, and are responsible for some of the classics of Judaism, such as the intricate dialectic of the Talmud, the fanciful and insightful biblical interpretations of the Midrash, and the poetry of the Jewish prayerbook. In this course students will get to know this movement: its history, its literature, and its religious values. In doing so students will explore questions important to the study of religions, such as how a religious people responds to catastrophe, the relationship of law and spirituality, and the nature of holiness in ancient societies.

401 Review of Grammar and Composition U 5
Review of Hebrew grammar; composition on assigned topics and some practice in translation.

Prereq: 104.

The objectives of Hebrew 401 are: to review the grammatical patterns which have been covered in the elementary and intermediate courses (i.e., Hebrew 101-104); to introduce and practice new, more advanced grammatical patterns; and to improve students' Hebrew writing skills. During the quarter, students are required to write a number of compositions. The instructor will review each of these eight compositions and returns them to the student with grammatical exercises geared to his/her own needs. The classroom activity centers around the following: readings in modern Hebrew texts that will assist students in building up vocabulary and improving their knowledge of grammar; explanations of grammatical patterns; and analysis of typical mistakes found by the instructor in the weekly assignments.

402 Intermediate Hebrew Conversation and Composition U 5
Vocabulary building, practice in speaking Hebrew, conversation and composition dealing with social and everyday aspects of Israeli life.

Prereq: 104 or permission of instructor.

The objectives of Hebrew 402 are to improve students' speaking skills and to increase students' writing ability.

403 Hebrew Syntax U 3
Parts of speech, types of sentences, word order, and syntactic analysis.

Prereq: 104 or permission of instructor.

The objectives of Hebrew 403 are: to acquaint students with the syntactic structure of Hebrew; to contrast the syntactic structure of Hebrew with that of English and to highlight the differences; and to drill the students in syntactic analysis of Hebrew.

421 Modern Hebrew Short Story U 5
Reading and discussion of masterpieces of modern Hebrew short stories in the 19th and 20th centuries.

Prereq: 104 or permission of instructor.

The purpose of this course is to introduce students to modern Hebrew literary texts, as well as to develop reading skills in modern Hebrew. It will survey some of the major developments in the modern Hebrew short story, from the early twentieth century to the present day. Addressing questions of esthetics and literary context, the course will highlight such major themes as the rise of Zionism; the pioneer experience; the Arab-Israeli conflict; responses to the Holocaust; the relationship of the individual to the collectivity; optimism and disillusionment. Readings will be drawn from the work of Agnon, Kishon, Liebrecht, and Megged.

422 Modern Hebrew Poetry U 5
Reading and discussion of masterpieces of modern Hebrew poetry in the 19th and 20th centuries.

Prereq: 104 or permission of instructor.

The purpose of this course is to familiarize students with the outstanding works of modern Hebrew poetry. It will survey the major developments in this literature, from its origins in nineteenth-century Eastern Europe to its flowering in present-day Israel. Addressing questions of esthetics and literary context, the course will highlight such major themes as the rise of Zionism; the pioneer experience; the Arab-Israeli conflict; responses to the Holocaust; the relationship of the individual to the collectivity; optimism and disillusionment. Readings will be drawn from the masterpieces of Bialik, Tchernikhovsky, U.Z. Greenberg, Shlonsky, Alterman, Goldberg, Gilboa, Gury, Amichai, Pagis, Zach, and Ravikovitch.

425 Readings in the Mishnah U 5
Reading and discussion of the ideas and teachings of the Mishnah as they are reflected in the unique Mishnaic language.

Prereq: 104 or permission of instructor.

This course includes a close reading of passages from the six orders of the Mishnah, selected as examples of Mishnaic style and language. Readings and discussions cover such topics as theories on the development and reaction of the Mishnah, and the role of the Mishnah in the development of Halacha. Special attention is paid to a systematic study of Mishnah Avot, with the purpose of introducing the student to the rabbinic concepts of values embodied in the Mishnaic literature.

601 Biblical Hebrew Grammar U G 5

Prereq: 104 or permission of instructor.A study of the phonology, morphology, and syntax of the biblical Hebrew idiom, including reading short, abbreviated passages of the biblical text during the first half of the course, and selections from some of the narrative biblical books during the second half of the course. Taught in English.

The course covers such topics as vocalization, noun and verb structures, suffixed forms, stress, and vocabulary building, especially as compared to the modern Hebrew idiom. During the second half of the course, selections are read from one or more of the narrative books (e.g., Joshua, Judges, Samuel, Kings), according to the expressed desire of class members.

604 Hebrew Phonetics and Vocalization U G 3
Rules of Hebrew phonetics and vocalization; lectures and abundant practical exercises.

Prereq: 104 or permission of instructor.

605 Hebrew Morphology U G 5
The morphological system of Hebrew; the interrelations between roots and forms.

Prereq: 604 or permission of instructor.

The objectives of Hebrew 605 are: to introduce students to the foundations of the Hebrew morphological system; to acquaint students with the structure of the Hebrew noun, verb, and particle; and to illustrate the main morphological changes which have taken place in modern Hebrew. In the classroom the following topics are discussed and illustrated: roots and patterns; the effects of special phonetic features in the root on the structure of the pattern; the seven verb patterns; noun patterns and inflections (including adjectives and prepositions); and morphological features of conjunctions and particles.

611 History of the Hebrew Language U G 5
Genealogical and typological relations within the Semitic family, a survey of Biblical, Mishnaic, and modern Hebrew.

Prereq: 104 or permission of instructor. GEC third writing course.

A study of the panorama of the entire history of the Hebrew language, from the earliest biblical texts, through Classical and Late Classical Biblical Hebrew, Qumran Hebrew, Mishnaic Hebrew, Medieval Hebrew, early modern Hebrew and standard modern Hebrew. Taught in English. In this course, students read a variety of examples of Hebrew from many different periods, and discuss the development of the language based on the forms found in the texts. A comprehensive introduction is given before the texts are read. The class also reads some examples of Phoenician texts and extra-biblical contemporary texts to highlight the nature of the language as a member of the Semitic family. The unity of the language over time is stressed, and the development of new vocabulary is investigated. The issue of Hebrew as a "dead" language is addressed, and the period of the revival is subjected to linguistic scrutiny.

620 Introduction to Hebrew Literary and Cultural Texts U G 5
Literary and cultural Hebrew texts from the biblical to the modern period; students will develop the ability to read critically and to build analytical vocabulary.

Prereq: 205 or permission of instructor.

This course introduces the student to Hebrew literary and cultural texts from the biblical to the modern period. Focusing on Jerusalem, students will gain familiarity with a variety of Hebrew literary genres and their distinctive features. While continuing to build vocabulary and reading skills, students will be encouraged to read these texts critically and analytically. Secondary readings (in English) on the history and cultural life of Jerusalem will provide additional insights.

621 The Bible as Literature: Selected Readings U G 5
Critical study of basic issues in the language and analysis of biblical texts.

Prereq: 421 or 422 or 423. Repeatable to a maximum of 20 cr hrs.

Selections from different parts of the Hebrew Scriptures are studied with an emphasis on their literary, grammatical, syntactical, historical and theological content. Attention is given to both rabbinic textual exegeses and modern philological and critical approaches. The course explores various genres of biblical literature: myth, epic, law, prophecy, poetry, and wisdom literature.

623 Readings in Rabbinic Literature U G 5
Study of selected texts and issues in Rabbinic literature, and discussions of the methods by which they are studied.

Prereq: Permission of instructor. Repeatable to a maximum of 20 cr hrs.

671 The Problem of Evil in Biblical and Post-Biblical Literature U G 5 Study of the vexing problem of evil; the seeming contradiction between tradition and experience; extensive readings and discussions of appropriate biblical and post-biblical materials.

Prereq: 273 or 274 or equiv or permission of instructor. Given in English, but grad students and undergrad Hebrew majors will read the texts in the original Hebrew.

This is an exploration of the most vexing of all biblical and post-biblical questions: how can a just and infallible God allow evil in His world and how does one account for the seeming contradiction between tradition and experience? Relevant passages from the Bible (Job and Koheleth in particular) and selections from apocryphal and rabbinic literature will be studied, along with comparable texts from ancient Near Eastern literatures and additional readings in contemporary secondary literature. Graduate students and undergraduate Hebrew majors will be required to read the texts in the original Hebrew.

680 Basic Bibliographic and Reference Tools in Hebraica, Judaica, and Semitics U G 5

The purpose of this course is to introduce the student to the different types of research sources available in English, Hebrew, and western European languages. Examples of these diverse sources will be shown in class, and students will be asked to evaluate and report to the class on individual titles. While much of the discussion will, of necessity, center on using tools available in the Ohio State libraries, the emphasis will be upon 1) learning a methodology which can be applied to any research topic, 2) using bibliographic tools in any research institution, and 3) evaluating sources of information.

693 Individual Studies U G 1-5

Prereq: Written permission of instructor. Repeatable to a maximum of 15 cr hrs.

694 Group Studies U G 1-15
Special topics to be announced in the quarter previous to the one in which the course is offered.

Prereq: Permission of instructor. Repeatable to a maximum of 30 cr hrs.

697 Study at a Foreign Institution U G 1-15
An opportunity for students to study at a foreign institution and receive Ohio State credit for that work.

Prereq: Written permission of dept chairperson. Repeatable to a maximum of 45 cr hrs.This course is Progress ("P") graded. Students will pay Ohio State fees and any fees in excess of Ohio State tuition, as well as all travel and subsistence costs.

721 Studies in Hebrew Poetry U G 5
Advanced study of specific poetic periods, figures, and/or topics involving extensive readings and discussions of appropriate primary and secondary materials.

Prereq: 10 hrs of Hebrew at the 400 level and above, or equiv. Repeatable to a maximum of 15 cr hrs.

Sample Topic (1): The Lyrical Voice and the National Predicament This course involves a critical study of the development of modern Hebrew poetry, focusing on the elements of linguistic usage, artistic styles, and ideological stances. The Hebrew poets' involvement with the dramatic events of modern Jewish history has rendered much of their art the voice of a national consciousness. At the same time they display modernist sensitivities and lyrical individualism. Focusing on the tension between personal lyricism and the statement of the national predicament, we will examine the career of modern Hebrew poetry in terms of its development toward contemporary modernist poetics and its reflection of the plights of the Jews and the Israeli experience in the twentieth century. Through close readings and detailed textual analysis of works by prominent Hebrew poets, students will gain some awareness of the complexity of modern Hebrew literary culture, increase their linguistic competence, and sharpen their appreciation of modern poetical texts.

Sample Topic (2): The Book of Psalms. The purpose of this course is to study the psalms as religious lyrics, focusing mainly on their ideas, moods, syntactical turns, and literary devices. The main literary types of the psalms (Gattungen) will be explored with the aim of identifying the Sitz-im-Leben of each type: i.e., their proper setting and their traditionally fixed function in religious life. The form and content of the psalms will be analyzed within the context of the literary compositions of the same general pattern, emanating from earlier and contemporary cultures of Mesopotamia, Egypt and Ugarit.

722 Studies in Hebrew Prose U G 5
Advanced study of specific periods, authors, and/or genres of prose writing (literary or non-literary) involving extensive reading and discussion of primary and secondary materials.

Prereq: 10 hrs of Hebrew at the 400 level and above or permission of instructor. Repeatable to a maximum of 15 cr hrs.

Sample Topic (1): The Narrative Art of S.Y. Agnon Nobel Laureate S.Y. Agnon occupies a unique position in modern Hebrew literature. His artistic style, thematic concerns, and ideological attitudes reflect the crucial transition in Jewish history from tradition to modernism and the movement from the flourishment of shtetl culture to the secular achievements of the State of Israel. A critical study and discussion of Agnon's works will provide the student with an insight into the diversity of his art, his mastery of different genres, and the complexity of his world view. Reading secondary sources will highlight different interpretations of some of Agnon's enigmatic stories and the alternative approaches to his entire work.

Sample Topic (2): Studies in Biblical Prose Texts. The aim of this course is twofold: a) to increase the student's linguistic competence in dealing with Biblical Hebrew prose texts, and b) to introduce him/her to the major prose genres in the Tanakh (narratives, legal corpora) and their various sub-types. Particular attention will be paid to characteristic literary structures and linguistic patterns in the texts studied. Through the reading of some of the modern commentary and secondary literature, the student will also become familiar with the dominant traditions of modern biblical scholarship, particularly literary criticism and form criticism.

H783 Honors Research U 3-5
Offers students with special aptitudes a greater opportunity to do independent study than is possible in the ordinary course; work in conference, library, or phonetics laboratory.

Prereq: 4th yr standing with a grade of A in at least half of the Hebrew courses and an average of B in the remainder; permission of instructor under whose supervision the work is to be completed and the Arts and Sciences Honors Committee. Repeatable to a maximum of 15 cr hrs.

801 Teaching Hebrew at the College Level G 5
Methods and techniques for teaching Hebrew at the college level.Au Qtr. 2 wk intensive workshop followed by 1 2-hr wkly cl. Prereq: Teaching assoc in NELC or permission of instructor. For students enrolled in this course, the minimum number of hrs required for graduation is increased by 5 cr hrs. Required for GTAs in Hebrew language courses, this course consists of a two-week intensive workshop in September before classes begin and a regular seminar during the quarter.

The areas to be addressed are theories of language learning, instructional methods and techniques, and teaching the four skills, including testing oral proficiency, as well as topics specific to the teaching of Hebrew.

811 Seminar in Hebrew Studies G 5
Intensive investigation of a selected topic or problem in Hebrew linguistics, philology, literature, or literary culture.

Prereq: Permission of instructor. Repeatable to a maximum of 20 cr hrs.

This course will give graduate students an opportunity to explore thoroughly a major issue or phenomenon in the larger context of Hebrew and Judaic literary culture or linguistics and to examine its ramifications and implications. The objective is to provide a well-defined area of concentrated literary/cultural or linguistic study and invite the investigation of a specific scholarly problem through the application of appropriate research skills and methodological approaches.

998 Research in Hebrew G 1-25
Research for thesis purposes only.

Repeatable to a maximum of 25 credit hours.

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