Jerusalem University College

Course Descriptions

HIST 6/452 Text Studies in Midrash, Mishnah, and Gemara: The Shared Heritage of Rabbinic Judaism and Early Christianity - Credit Hours: 3

Semester normally offered: Fall

Course Description

A comparative study of the Mishnah and Taanaitic literature in Rabbinic Judaism and Early Christianity, with an emphasis on formative thought in both peoples of the Book.

Course Equivalencies

  • History
  • Bible Backgrounds
  • Jewish Studies
  • Early Christianity
  • Biblical and Intertestamental Literature

Course Objectives

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

  • identify basic texts, personalities and concepts found in classical rabbinic literature;
  • exhibit familiarity with the secondary literature (anthologies and translations) dealing with classical rabbinic literature;
  • relate, compare and contrast classical rabbinic literature with the New Testament and early Patristic literature;
  • understand classical rabbinic literature in the context of Second Temple and post-Second Temple Judaism and Christianity.

Field Study

In-Residence Only: Two interactive half-day field studies to the Israel Museum model of Jerusalem and the Western Wall Tunnels.