Professor Marc Saperstein

This course is being offered in conjunction with Prometheus. Every student registered for the course will receive a password to access the course on the web. More detailed information about individual sessions, links for additional resources, and a chat room for discussing issues pertaining to the course, will be available. Most important: assigned readings of primary sources in addition to the three required books will be accessible through Prometheus in the Gelman electronic reserve, enabling you to access them from your own computer. In addition some sources are available through links on Prometheus.

REQUIRED BOOKS:

Bernard Lewis, The Jews of Islam (bookstore)

Norman Stillman, The Jews of Arab Lands (bookstore)

S. D. Goitein, A Mediterranean Society: An Abridgment in One Volume (this is available through "Amazon.com" at a 30% discount from the list price; by ordering multiple copies, there will be considerable savings on the mailing fee. First assignment: Jan 30)

Sources accessible through Prometheus link under the appropriate session; please print out and bring to class.

Recommended: S.D. Goitein, Jews and Arabs: Their Contacts Through the Ages (this book has been used as a text in the past, but is currently out of print. A copy is on reserve in Gelman. Relevant readings as listed will be considered optional, except for those in bold type, which should be read by all.)

COURSE OUTLINE:

(Listings under "Texts" should be brought to class.)

Jan 14: Introduction to the Course

Jan 16: The Jews in Antiquity

Texts:

"Jews and Later Roman Law" (e-reserve)

Secondary Readings:

Goitein, Jews and Arabs, 19-32

Jan 21: Muhammad and the Jews of Arabia

Texts:

Stillman, pp. 113-149

Secondary Readings:

Lewis, pp. 74-75

Recommended Readings:

Goitein, "Jews and Arabs," pp. 46-50

Jan 23: Muhammad, The Qur’an, and the new religion

Texts:

Stillman, pp. 149-51

Lewis, pp. 67-74.

Secondary Readings:

Lewis, 3-16, 67-74

Stillman, 3-21

Recommended Readings:

Goitein, 33-61

Jan 28: The Muslim Conquest and the Jewish Response

Texts:

Stillman, 152-58

"Bustanai," from Mimekor Yisrael, pp. 392-98 (e-reserve)

Secondary Readings:

Moshe Gil, A History of Palestine, 634-1099, pp. 51-74 (e-reserve)

Lewis, pp. 76-78, 93-94

Jan 30: The Legal Status of the Tolerated Minority (Dhimmis)

Texts:

Stillman, 159-62, 167-70, 180

Secondary Readings:

Lewis, 16-66, 85-86

Goitein, "A Mediterranean Society," pp. 162-96, 290-305

Feb 4: The Abbasid Caliphate; Institutions of Jewish Leadership

Texts:

Stillman, 171-79, 252-54

Secondary Readings:

Stillman, 29-39

Goitein, "A Mediterranean Society," pp. 71-92, 193-95, 264-71

Feb 6: Intra-Rabbanite Jewish Conflicts

Texts:

"Saadia," from The Jew in the Medieval World, pp. 323-28 (e-reserve).

Secondary Readings:

"Saadia and the Calendar Controversy" (link in Prometheus)

DUE AT CLASS on Feb 6: 3-4 page analysis of the conflict between Saadia Gaon and David ben Zakkai, as recounted in the text "Saadia." THIS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED LATE.

Feb 11: "Sectarian" Movements: Messianism

Texts:

Abu Isa of Isfahan and Yudhgan, from HUCA 7 (1930) (to be distributed by instructor)

Secondary Readings:

Friedlander, "Shiite Influences on Jewish Sectarianism," in M. Saperstein, Essential Papers on Messianic Movements and Personalities in Jewish History, pp. 113-44 (e-reserve).

Feb 13: "Sectarian" Movements: Karaism

Texts:

Karaite sources from The Karaite Anthology, ed. Leon Nemoy (e-reserve) [Daniel al Kumisi, Kirkisani; add Sahl next time 111-22]

Stillman, 198-99

Secondary Readings:

Robert Brody, The Geonim of Babylonia, pp. 83-99 (e-reserve)

Stillman, pp. 32-33

Feb 18: Jews in Fatimid Egypt; Introduction to the Genizah

Texts:

"Paltiel," from The Chronicle of Ahimaaz (e-reserve)

Stillman, 200-204

Secondary Readings:

Stillman, 40-48

Goitein, Mediterranean Society, pp. 9-68

Lewis, 97 bottom - 98

Feb 20: The Jewish Community and Its Institutions

Texts:

Stillman, pp. 192-97

Secondary Readings:

Stillman, 48-53

Goitein, Mediterranean Society, 93-162

Feb 25: Social History: Work

Secondary Readings:

Goitein, Mediterranean Society, 197-264, 275-89.

Lewis, 90-92

Feb 27: Social History: Family, Women

Secondary Readings:

Goitein, Mediterranean Society, 333-462

Mar 4: MID-TERM EXAM

Mar 6: "Golden Age" in Spain: The Political Foundations

Texts:

Hasdai ibn Shaprut’s Letter to the King of the Khazars – Prometheus link

Stillman, 210-25

Secondary Readings:

Stillman, 53-61

Lewis, 87-89

Mar 11: "Golden Age" Culture: Poetry (Dunash, Samuel ha-Nagid, ibn Gabirol)

Texts:

Poems by Dunash ibn Labrat, Samuel ha-Nagid, ibn Gabirol (to be distributed by instructor)

Secondary Readings:

Lewis, 81

Goitein, Jews and Arabs, 155-67 (Gelman reserve)

Mar 13: "Golden Age" Culture: Poetry (Moses ibn Ezra, Judah Halevi)

Texts:

Poems by Moses ibn Ezra and Judah Halevi (to be distributed by instructor)

Mar 15- Mar 23: Spring Break

Mar 25: Culture Under Islam: Philosophy (Saadia, Halevi, Maimonides)

Texts:

Saadia Gaon (from Book of Beliefs and Opinions, Introduction) (E-reserve)

Judah Halevi (from Kuzari, Introduction) (E-reserve)

Maimonides, Guide for the Perplexed, Book I, chap. 71 (E-reserve)

Stillman, 226-28

Secondary Readings:

Goitein, Jews and Arabs, 140-48 (reserve)

Lewis, 80-81

Mar 27: Jewish Law: Scholarship and Jurisprudence

Texts:

Passage from Maimonides’ Code (Mishneh Torah) to be distributed by instructor

Secondary Readings:

Goitein, Mediterranean Society, pp. 271-75, 306-27, 188-93.

Lewis, 79-80

Tu, Apr 1: Ethical and Pietist Literature

Texts:

Bahya ibn Pakuda, Duties of the Heart, introduction (e-reserve)

Secondary Readings:

Goitein, Jews and Arabs, 148-54 (reserve)

Apr 3: Persecution and Reassurance

Texts:

Stillman, pp. 233-51.

Secondary Readings:

Stillman, 64-75

Lewis, 82-84, 92-93

DUE AT CLASS on April 3: 3-4 page analysis of Maimonides’ "Epistle to the Jews of Yemen" (Stillman, 2 33-46), focusing on his presentation of Islam and the Arabs. THIS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED LATE.

Apr 8: Resurgence in the Ottoman Empire, Safed and Tiberias

Texts:

Stillman, 279-80, 290-303

"Turkish Jewry 1553-55" from Marcus, Jew in the Medieval World (e-reserve)

Secondary Readings:

Lewis, 107-53

Stillman, 76-91

Apr 10: The Messianic Movement of Sabbatai Sevi in the East

Texts:

"Sabbatai Sevi" (from Marcus, Jew in the Medieval World) (e-reserve)

Secondary Readings:

Gershom Scholem, Sabbatai Sevi, pp. 1-15, 668-86 (e-reserve)

DUE AT THIS SESSION: a brief written statement of the final paper topic (suggested possibilities will be distributed earlier). Make sure you have the book you plan to write about. (Paper is due by Tuesday, April 29, 5:00 PM, in 2142 G Street.)

Apr 15: Between Judaism and Islam: The Doenmeh

Secondary Readings:

Gershom Scholem, "The Crypto-Jewish Sect of the Doenmeh," from The Messianic Idea in Judaism, pp. 142-66 (e-reserve)

Apr 17: No Meeting: First Day of Pesach

Apr 22: Modernity: Its Positive Impact

Texts:

Stillman, 349-52, 357-61

Secondary Readings:

Stillman, 91-101

Lewis, 166-85

Apr 24: Modernity: New and Continued Persecution

Texts:

Stillman, 322-23, 393-405

Secondary Readings:

Stillman, 101-107

Lewis, 154-66

Apr 29: Zionism, Israel and the Islamic World

Secondary Readings:

Lewis, 185-91

Contemporary antisemitic cartoons (link on Prometheus)

Recommended Readings:

Lewis, Semites and Anti-Semites, 192-235 (Gelman reserve)

David Shipler, Arab and Jew, 222-49 (Gelman reserve)

PAPERS DUE on TUESDAY, April 29 by 5:00 P.M., 2142 G Street (see below)

ALL STUDENTS MUST TAKE THE FINAL EXAM

REQUIREMENTS:

In addition to faithful reading, regular attendance, and thoughtful participation in class discussions, requirements for the course are as follows:

1. a brief written exercise (3-4 pages) analyzing the passage "Saadia" due in class on Thursday, Feb 6 (10% of final grade)

2. a mid-term exam, scheduled for Tuesday, March 4 (15%)

3. a brief written exercise (3-4 pages) analyzing Maimonides’ "Epistle to the Jews in Yemen," focusing on the presentation of Islam and the Arabs, due in class on Thursday, April 3 (10%)

4. a short paper (10-12 pages) analyzing one primary text or an issue of dispute among historians, the topic to be chosen by the student from a list to be distributed or in consultation with the instructor. A statement of the paper topic should be submitted to the instructor by Thursday, April 10 in class, and is due on Tuesday, April 29 by 5:00 in 2142 G Street (30%)

5. a final exam, which must be taken by all students (30%). This exam will be cumulative (especially in the essay questions), but will emphasize material in the second half of the course.

6. participation in class discussions, 5% of the final grade, will be used to determine a grade in borderline cases

Instructor’s Office Hours are Wednesdays from 2:00-3:30, and Thursdays from 3:30-5:00 in 2142 G Street, second floor (Judaic Studies Building), except when otherwise announced.Students are welcome and encouraged to come and discuss any issues arising from the material of the course.

In order to receive accommodations on the basis of disability, students with special needs must give notice and provide proper documentation to the Office of Disability Support Services, Marvin Center 436, 994-8250.

(This brief list, intended for background and further reading and research, follows the progression of themes addressed in the course. Only books available in English are listed; most of them contain bibliographical references to articles. Studies of individual figures and individual countries are not included. Not all are in the Gelman collection, but those that are not are easily obtainable through interlibrary loan.)

Mark Cohen, "The Jews Under Islam: From the Rise of Islam to Sabbatai Sevi," in Bibliographical Essays in Medieval Jewish Studies, vol. 2.

S. W. Baron, A Social and Religious History of the Jews

vol. 3 (Early Islam); vol. 5 (Sectarian Movements); vol. 7 (Literature)

vol. 8 (Philosophy); vol. 18 (Ottoman Empire)

Mark Cohen, Under Crescent and Cross (a comparison of the medieval Jewish experience under Islam and Christianity)

A. I. Katsch, Judaism in Islam (Jewish influences on early Islam)

Steven Wasserstrom, Between Muslim and Jew: The Problem of Symbiosis Under Early Islam

Walter Fischel, Jews in the Economic and Political Life of Medieval Islam

Olivia Remie Constable, ed., Medieval Iberia: Readings from Christian, Muslim, and Jewish Sources

Eliyahu Ashtor, The Jews of Moslem Spain, 3 vols.

Mariá Rosa Menocal, The Ornament of the World: How Muslims, Jews, and Christians Created a Culture of Tolerance in Medieval Spain

Israel Zinberg, A History of Jewish Literature

vol 1.: The Arabic-Spanish Period

vol. 2: The Jewish Center of Culture in the Ottoman Empire

Ross Brann, The Compunctious Poet (poetry of the "golden age")

Harry Wolfson, Repercussions of the Kalam in Jewish Philosophy

Benjamin Braude and Bernard Lewis, eds., Christians and Jews in the Ottoman Empire, 2 vols.

Jonathan Frankel, The Damascus Affair: "Ritual Murder," Politics, and the Jews in 1840

Recommended for further background in Islamic history and culture:

F. E. Peters, Allah’s Commonwealth