This course will introduce students to various genres of post-biblical Hebrew literature from the Second Temple period to the early modern era. These may include but are not exclusive to: selections from the Dead Sea Scrolls, the Mishnah, Karaite literature, responsa, polemic, biblical commentaries, fables, moral tales, poetry and chronicles. Students will read the sources in Hebrew, plus introductory material for each source. The course is designed to help students transition from reading vocalized texts to unvocalized ones, to build vocabulary, and to familiarize students with the range of Hebrew sources available for study and the issues related to studying them. Some grammar review will be available as necessary, but students should come to the course with the ability to read a Hebrew text with a dictionary. Students will be required to pick one Hebrew text or set of related texts and write a 10 page analysis of said text, that demonstrates the student’s familiarity with the scholarly literature related to said text, and ability to understand and analyze a text in Hebrew.
Taught in English or German or both, depending on the needs of the students. Work may be written in English, German, or another language with permission of the instructor.
- Kursleiter/in: Alexandra Cuffel