Course Descriptions

MECR 5/345 Jewish Thought and Practice - Credit Hours: 3

Semester normally offered: Spring

Course Description

The course will describe the nature of present-day Jewish religious beliefs, books, and practices with an emphasis on their development throughout the ages.

Course Equivalencies

This course fills equivalencies in the following areas:  

• Judaism
• Comparative Religions

Course Objectives

By the end of the course, the student should be able to:

• identify the basic sacred texts of Judaism;
• list the life cycle events and describe how they are celebrated in Judaism;
• discuss how Judaism has developed through history including recent developments in the last century with the establishments of the State of Israel;
• contrast and compare basic concepts of Christianity with Judaism; and
• develop a conceptual structure for understanding the basic theological issues within classical and modern Judaism.

Field Study

A visit to a synagogue including a reading of the Torah scrolls. A Shabbat service and meal.