Optional Readings for Crash Course in Jewish History

Crash Course in Jewish History 

(for very intelligent people)

Extra Credit Readings for First Class: Wednesday, September 4, 2019

(privileges will be revoked for anyone who asks hard questions)

Ancient History

Wednesday, September 4, 2019

1. What is Jewish History?

Peter Steinfels, “Salo Baron, 94, Scholar of Jewish History, Dies,” New York Times, November 26, 1989.

2. La Longue Durée

THE LAND: Geography and Climate, Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

3. The Archaeological Record

National Treasures: Selected Articles from the Shelby White and Leon Levy Center for National Treasures, Israel Antiquities Authority.

4. The Encounter with Hellenism

The Book of Maccabees I, Sefaria.

5. The Roman-Jewish Wars

Josephus, The Jewish War, Book 5.

6. Portable Judaism

Moses Maimonides, Introduction to the Mishnah.

Medieval Jewish History

Optional Readings

1. The Talmud

Studying the Talmud: 400 Repetitions and the Divine Voice, Thought and Action: The National Education Association Journal.

2.  The Kehillah

Charter of the Kehillah (Jewish Community) of the New York City, April 5, 1914

3. Under Crescent

Norman Stillman, “The Judeo-Arabic Heritage”

4. Under Cross

The Crusades, Jewish Virtual Library

5. The Glory of Spanish Jewry

Selected Poems of Yehuda Halevi (trans. Hillel Halkin), Nextbook

Modern Jewish History

7:30-8:30 pm

Young Israel of Lawrence-Cedarhurst

Wednesday, September 18, 2019

1. The Iberian Diaspora

Ushi Derman, “Uriel da Costa: the Story of a Nonbeliever,” Bet Hatefutsot, December 18, 2018.

2. The Safed Circle

The Kabbalah of Forgiveness

3. The People of the Book

Meet the Non-Jew Who Made Daf Yomi Possible, OU Torah, July 17, 2019.

4. Messianic Hopes

Matt Plen, “Who Was Shabbetai Tzvi?” My Jewish Learning

5. The Hasidic Revolution

Orthodox Judaism: Hasidim and Mitnagdim, Jewish Virtual LIbrary

6. Napoleon’s Sanhedrin

Napoleon’s Sanhedrin, Jewish History Blog

7. Five Strategies for Modernity

The End of Initimate Insularity: New Narratives of Jewish History in the Post-Soviet Era

For more information regarding the series please click here.