Course Descriptions

Semester Course Schedule Long-Term Program Dates Short-Term Program Dates Entrance Requirements Course Descriptions

HIST 6/452 Text Studies in Midrash, Mishnah, and Gemara: The Shared Heritage of Rabbinic Judaism and Early Christianity - Credit Hours: 3

Semester normally offered: Fall

Course Description

A comparative study of the Mishnah and Taanaitic literature in Rabbinic Judaism and Early Christianity, with an emphasis on formative thought in both peoples of the Book.

Course Equivalencies

This course fills equivalencies in the following areas:

  • History
  • Bible Backgrounds
  • Jewish Studies
  • Early Christianity
  • Biblical and Intertestamental Literature

Course Objectives

By the end of the course, the student should be able to:

  • identify basic texts, personalities and concepts found in classical rabbinic literature;
  • exhibit familiarity with the secondary literature (anthologies and translations) dealing with classical rabbinic literature;
  • relate, compare and contrast classical rabbinic literature with the New Testament and early Patristic literature;
  • understand classical rabbinic literature in the context of Second Temple and post-Second Temple Judaism and Christianity.

Field Study

Two interactive half-day field studies to the Israel Museum model of Jerusalem and the Western Wall Tunnels.