REL 1200 - Introduction to Judaism (4)

Tuesday,Thursday

01:00 PM - 02:47 PM

Main Campus Campus | Human Health Building | Room 1005

Religious beliefs, practices and philosophies embedded within the major historical experiences (Biblical and Diasporic) of Jewish people including main institutional branches of Judaism, central characteristics of Jewish culture, and their relationship with non-Jewish groups and societies. Satisfies the university general education requirement in the global perspective knowledge exploration area. Satisfies the university general education requirement for a writing intensive course in general education. Prerequisite for writing intensive: completion of the
university writing foundation requirement. 4.000 Credits (Formerly REL 102) 
 

This course satisfies the University General Education requirement for the Global Perspective Knowledge Exploration area and the Writing Intensive requirement in General Education. 

rabbi@rabbiklein.com 

cell: 248-408-0216

• Distinguish between and understand America’s major Jewish Movements. 
• Appreciate the challenge of Theodicy and God’s Omnipresence, and the development of the theological concepts of sin, atonement, redemption, salvation, afterlife and messiah.
• Connect the narrative of Biblical and post-Biblical Jewish history through the 1st C CE.
• Appreciate the Jewish perspective of the “Parting of the Ways” (separation of the Early Christian Church and Rabbinic Judaism.)
• Be familiar with the texts and development of Rabbinic Judaism from the 1st - 6th C. CE
• Understand the Jewish calendar, the history and current practice of the Jewish Festivals.
• Be familiar with traditional/modern Jewish rites, rituals, birth to death life-cycle events.

General Education Learning Outcomes:
1. Knowledge of the societies and religions of one or more regions outside the United State and awareness of the transnational flow of ideas and values.
2. Knowledge of the role that different cultural heritages, past and present, play in forming values in another part of the world, enabling the student to function within a more global context.
 
Cross-Cutting Capacities:
1. Effective Communication is promoted through a variety of writing exercises and oral
discussions.
2. Critical Thinking is developed through text analysis and various interpretations.
3. Social Awareness in this course is elevated by examining core concepts as they developed over time within the tradition of Judaism. Students are exposed to social and cultural norms of Jews and Judaism that have historical and contemporary relevance for modern problems, matters of difference in the workplace and society, and religious literacy.

Papers:
There will be three papers (minimum 1500 words) assigned in the areas of Theology and Philosophy; History; Customs and Ceremonies.
 

There will be a longer research essay fulfilling the Writing Intensive requirement in General Education. (minimum 2000 words) from suggested topics or student choice, to be turned in for an ungraded initial evaluation of style, grammar and content. The draft will be returned with comments. After revisions it will be resubmitted for final grading. 
 

There will be announced, ungraded, in-class quizzes at the completion of each unit.

Grading:
Your final grade will be determined as follows: 
20% Mid-Term exam
30% Papers (10% each)
20% Research paper 
30% Final exam