Transcript PowerPoint: Jewish Studies - Part 2

Review Questions
What is Wissenschaft des Judentums?
Where was this phrase coined?
 What was the Society for the Culture and
Science of the Jews?
 What were the Society’s main concerns?
 What were it’s goals?

Modern Jewish Studies II
Why and How to Study Judaism
as an Academic Discipline
Purpose: Emancipation
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Concerned with political issues and
integration
“A Society to Further Jewish
Integration by Eduard Gans”
(1822)
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Jews once developed a united,
separate community
Today must become integrated (ex.
Like the river in the ocean.)
Scientific study of Judaism will pull
down barriers between Christians
and Jews.
Purpose: Study
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Leopold Zunz (1794-1886)
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Academic scholar
Many positions
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Newspaper editor
Preacher – Reform Temple
Elementary school director
On Rabbinic Literature (1818)
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“Contribute to human knowledge, the
only worthwhile goal of all research.”
Need to scientifically study all Jewish
texts
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Religious Law
Liturgy
Hebrew
Purpose: Religion

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Concerned with adaptation
and evolution of Judaism
“Jewish Scholarship and
Religious Reform” by
Abraham Geiger (1836)
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Reform rooted in Scholarship
Jewish literature is not divine
Disservice to our children when
teach Bible stories as history
Orthodox Response
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Not all Jews embraced
Wissenschaft des
Judentums
A Sermon on the Science
of Judaism by Samson
Raphael Hirsch (1855)
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Scientific study too
cold/rational
Live Judaism, don’t study it
“Learning Based on Faith”
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Primary Source Study (p. 236, From “The
Wisdom of Israel” – end)
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Excerpt from article by Samuel David Luzzatto
Tanaim and Amoraim – ancient rabbis and teachers
whose teachings are found in the Talmud.
Additional Questions
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Why does Luzzatto think Judaism should be studied
scientifically?
With which group we’ve studied tonight would you put
him? Why?
Why do you think this document is significant?
Twentieth Century: Change
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Jewish Scholarship: New
Perspective
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Martin Buber
Study in order to understand
origins, development and
present condition
Documenting Jewish
History in Eastern Europe
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Simon Dubnow
Sociological method
Jewish Studies: Today
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Use tools provided by earlier scholars
Reform & Conservative Judaism - Evolving
Judaism
Why do you think Wissenschaft des Judentums is
significant?
Next Week:
Quiz
 Read pages 249 - 301
 Special attention to documents #1, 5, 12,
16, 18, 19, and 23
 Think about:
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What was Jewish identity like prior to
Emancipation?
How does Jewish identity change after
Emancipation?
Are these changes still apparent today?