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Graduate Program
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Graduate BrochureThe Rabbi Donald A. Tam Institute for Jewish Studies Graduate Program in Jewish Studies
Jewish Studies Course Offerings
The Rabbi Donald A. Tam Institute for Jewish StudiesThe establishment of Emory’s Institute for Jewish Studies in February 1999 gave institutional recognition to the university’s strength in the study of Jewish life and culture and signaled Emory’s intention to become the premier site for Jewish Studies in the southeastern United States. Dedicated to fostering the continued development of Jewish Studies on Emory’s campus, the Institute for Jewish Studies is the natural outgrowth of carefully laid groundwork. In recent years Jewish Studies has flourished, as evidenced by new faculty appointments, including endowed chairs, new graduate and undergraduate degree programs, endowed lecture series, and enrichment funds to support student travel and study in Israel. The receipt of a $5,000,000 challenge gift to establish The Rabbi Donald A. Tam Institute for Jewish Studies from the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation in December 2001 enabled us to name the Institute and to give it professional and intellectual focus. The Institute consolidates these gains and continues to guide the future growth of Jewish Studies at Emory. The Institute’s programs explore the rich and textured complexities of Jewish civilization and culture, combining textual analysis with ritual studies, sociology, art, literature, language, linguistics, history, politics, and philosophy to create a whole image of Jewish civilization and culture. The Institute’s academic programs include graduate studies and an undergraduate major and minor. In addition, the Institute for the Study of Modern Israel offers a broad range of courses and programs. Forging links to many university departments and schools, the Institute creates a center for investigation of the Jewish experience. Emory’s Jewish Studies faculty demonstrate particular strength in American Jewish studies, the diaspora and the Holocaust, law and religion, Jewish identity, rabbinic tradition, the study of Israel and Jewish languages, linguistics and literature, with particular emphasis on Hebrew. By encouraging teaching and scholarship across disciplines, the Institute raises questions that are essential to understanding Jews and Judaism. Our goal is to support the development of a multifaceted intellectual and cultural appreciation of Jewish life and, by extension, to inform deeply our understanding of all humanity. The Graduate Program in Jewish StudiesEmory University’s commitment to teach Jewish Studies on the graduate level embodies the finest traditions in the liberal arts; it is part of our commitment to understanding human existence as reflected in one civilization. In addition, the study of Jewish civilization as a minority culture within western and other cultures forms part of the university’s broad and firm pledge to cultivate multicultural studies. Moreover, this program reflects the rapid growth of the study of Jewish civilization on the international academic scene. Mission of Jewish Studies at EmoryFrom its inception, Jewish Studies at Emory was conceived as the effort to understand the multiple dimensions and complexities of Jewish civilization wherever it existed. As such, the field has availed itself of an extremely wide range of disciplines, including languages, linguistics, literature, textual analysis, ritual studies, sociology, art, and philosophy, among others. This diversity of methods fosters appreciation for the depth and richness of Jewish civilization by Jews and non-Jews alike. It constructs natural bridges for students across the university to enter into dialogue with Jewish culture and, through such conversations, to reflect on their own disciplines and traditions. Thus, Jewish Studies has historically attracted both students who are exploring their own identities and those who are seeking to learn more about others. Research FacilitiesEmory University’s Robert W. Woodruff Library and Pitts Theology Library have strong holdings in Jewish Studies. Woodruff Library’s Special Collections include the papers of a number of individuals and families active in Atlanta’s Jewish community and Pitts Library maintains one of the most extensive collections of texts related to Biblical Hebrew in the nation. The Schatten Gallery in the Woodruff Library has long been a venue for important exhibits of Jewish culture, including “ Danzig 1939: Treasures of a Destroyed Community,” “Anne Frank in the World, 1929-1945,” “Weaving the Spirit: The Art of Laurie Gross,” “Rescuers of the Holocaust,” and “The Jews of the South: A Photographic Exhibit by Bill Aron.” Students may also draw upon the library and manuscript resources of the Georgia Department of Archives and History, the National Archives and Records Service, Southeast Branch, the Atlanta History Center, and other colleges and universities. The Atlanta Jewish CommunityAtlanta has a broad array of Jewish organizations, educational institutes and publications, which provide opportunities for student internships and research. Of special interest, the Atlanta Jewish Federation houses the William Breman Jewish Heritage Museum, the Cuba Archives and Genealogy Center, and other cultural resources. M.A. in Jewish StudiesThe master’s program in Jewish Studies at Emory University offers rigorous intellectual training in the rich field of Jewish civilization. Courses cover the history, sacred texts, art, literature, archaeology, politics, languages and linguistics, law, economic activities, and social institutions of the Jewish people. Broadly based and multidisciplinary, the program provides an excellent foundation for a variety of academic and professional careers. After completing the M.A. in Jewish Studies, students who wish to continue their graduate training may apply to one of Emory’s excellent doctoral programs or elsewhere. Students who are either preparing for or are currently engaged in Jewish community service will gain professional enhancement by earning the terminal master’s degree. AdmissionApplicants must satisfy general admission requirements described in the Emory University Graduate School of Arts and Sciences application packet, including the submission of scores from the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) and, if applicable, the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). In addition, the program requires knowledge of Hebrew (usually equivalent to two years of college Hebrew), experience with traditional Jewish texts, and familiarity with Jewish civilization. Students are encouraged to fulfill their Hebrew prerequisite during the summer before starting the program by participating in the Intensive Hebrew and Text Program (see below), and/or during their first year at Emory. Merit AwardsFull-tuition scholarships and stipends are available to students in the program through the Graduate School. Stipends carry research and/or teaching responsibilities, and students will need to participate in the Teaching Assistant Training and Teaching Opportunity (TATTO) Program as part of their course of study. The TATTO program includes a seminar in the summer (immediately prior to the first semester) and Teaching Assistantships. Grants are available to support participation in the Intensive Hebrew and Text Program (see below). Additional funds may be available for students to attend conferences, engage in research, or participate in other non-Emory study programs. Intensive Hebrew and Text ProgramThe Graduate Program in Jewish Studies encourages students to spend a summer engaging in intensive study of Hebrew and/or classical Jewish texts, either in the summer immediately prior to their studies at Emory or in the summer between their first and second years in the Jewish Studies program. The purpose of this summer study is to improve Hebrew language skills and facility with Hebrew texts through an intensive Ulpan or an intensive program for reading classical texts. Programs are available both in the United States and in Israel, and some scholarships and travel grants are available through the M.A. in Jewish Studies Enrichment Fund and the Dorot Travel Grants Program. Program RequirementsThe JSMA program is structured so that students should achieve three goals. First, all JSMA students must choose a discipline or area of specialization and make themselves as proficient as they can in that area. Second, regardless of specialization, JSMA students must orient themselves in other disciplines and in periods other than that of their specialization. Third, JSMA students must acquire some experience in teaching. To accomplish these goals, the following requirements are set: (1) Students must take the following two courses: a – JS 560 Jews and Judaism: History, Religion, and Society b – JS 561 Methods in Jewish Studies (2) Students must take two courses in each of the following categories: a – Languages and Literatures – two courses b - Religion – two courses, one of which must be in classical texts c - History and Social Sciences – two courses Instructors will designate which area requirements are satisfied by the classes they teach. (3) Students must pick an area of specialization. Three elective courses have been set for specialization courses though it is expected that some required courses will also fill the specialization needs of the student. (4) Students must complete the Hebrew language requirements. (5) Students must participate in the TATTO (teaching assistantship) program. (6) Students must either take three comprehensive examinations or write a thesis to complete the degree. All Graduate School of Arts and Sciences’ regulations and standards with respect to degree programs and academic performance apply. J.D./M.A. in Judaic StudiesThe Joint Juris Doctor/Masters of Judaic Studies (J.D./M.A.) degree program commenced in September 1997. This program allows students to combine training in law with graduate training in Jewish Studies. A student in the program is expected to matriculate concurrently in both the School of Law and the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences and complete the requirements for both degrees in four years. AdmissionProspective students must apply separately for admission to both the School of Law and the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, Masters Program in Jewish Studies. Each school maintains its own standards and procedures; admission to one school does not guarantee admission to the other. Scholarship applications must be filed separately as well, and awards may be used only while the student is in residence at the school that granted the award. Scholarships (except Woodruff Fellowships) received from either school may be deferred for one year. Candidates interested in loans or grants should contact the financial aid directors of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, the School of Law, and the Emory University Office of Financial Aid. Program RequirementsJoint degree students will matriculate in the Law School for five semesters, and in the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences for three semesters. To complete the J.D. degree, 77 credits are required. In addition,
To complete the M.A. degree, 48 credits are required, distributed as follows:
2. Six courses (24 credit hours) in the following categories:
3. Twelve credit hours achieved from courses in the Law and Religion Program (these credits will apply towards both fulfillment of the Law School’s required 77 credit hours and the M.A.’s required 48 credit hours); and 4. Four credit hours of directed study in preparation for comprehensive exams or, in exceptional cases, a thesis; In addition to coursework, JD/MA students are required participate in the TATTO (teaching assistantship) program as described above and serve as teaching assistant for two courses, usually in the second and third semesters of the program. Students will take three comprehensive examinations or, in special circumstances, write a thesis, and must pass an exit examination in academic Hebrew reading comprehension. All Graduate School of Arts and Sciences’ regulations and standards with respect to degree programs and academic performance apply. It is expected that one summer will be devoted to M.A. preparation (ideally, this would entail intensive Hebrew preparation in order to meet the language proficiency requirement of the M.A. program), while another summer would be spent in a law firm (as is the professional custom of those anticipating careers in the law). Jewish Studies Course OfferingsJS 521 Graduate Seminar in Hebrew Readings in modern Hebrew articles and books pertaining to Jewish Studies. In addition, readings in Hebrew texts from Biblical, Rabbinic, Medieval, and Modern periods. JS 530 Hebrew Bible Readings in original biblical texts. JS 540 Rabbinic Judaism Intensive study of Rabbinic texts. This course closely examines the genres (such as Mishnah, Midrash, and Liturgy), as well as specific texts in the original. JS 541 Medieval Jewish Thought Intensive study of a major work on an important theme in medieval Jewish thought, such as Maimonides’ Guide, Saadia’s Beliefs, Jewish mystical texts, and medieval Jewish exegesis of the Bible. JS 545 Women in Judaism An exploration of the roles, images, and status of women in Jewish life from the biblical period through the present, using historical and religious documents, fiction, and film. JS 560 Approaches to Jewish History This course surveys a variety of approaches to the study of Jewish history and attempts to isolate the major issues and controversies which have perplexed and challenged students of Jewish history. JS 561 Methods in Jewish Studies This course demonstrates the various methods employed in Jewish studies: historical, philological-linguistic, ethnographic-archaeological, legal, literary, feminist, and theological. JS 565 Jews, Christians, and Muslims in Early Islam Institutional history from the rise of Islam to the Crusades with special attention to the formation of communal identity within shifting political, social, and religious environments. JS 569 Topics in the Modern Near East Treats issues including Egypt under British occupation, Nasser and Sadat; evolution of the Levantine states; Islam and Arab national identity; inter-Arab political history; origins and development of the Arab-Israeli conflict; intervention of the Great Powers; Iran; oil; and the Arabian peninsula states. JS 597R Directed Study Individual work with faculty. JS 598R Thesis/Exam Preparation This course will be used for preparation for the comprehensive examination or the thesis. JS 599 Thesis This course provides additional preparation for the thesis and the defense of the thesis. JS 730R Topics in Jewish Studies Seminars on Jewish Folklore, Judaic Languages, Archaeology of Jerusalem, Holocaust, Historiography of the Arab-Israeli Conflict, Contemporary Biblical Interpretation, German Jewish Literature, Jews in Russian Culture and Latin American Jewish Literature. Recent offerings have included: Comparative Sacred Texts: Exegesis and Contemporary Politics of India and Israel, Classical Jewish Biblical Interpretation, Jewish Cultural Studies, Jewish Thought and Western Rationality, Genocide and its Meanings: Rwanda and Nazi Germany, Feminist Readings of Rabbinic Texts, Issues in Jewish Linguistics, and Jewish Feminist Thought.
The following upper-level undergraduate courses will also be offered for graduate credit for up to twelve credit hours, as provided by Graduate School rules. M.A. students will participate in the undergraduate courses within the context of rigorous expectations for M.A. students, including additional reading and written work and close advising: JS 343 Modern Jewish Thought Intensive study of a major work, author, or movement or of an important theme in modern Jewish thought, such as Heschel, Buber, reform, religious anthropology. JS 354 The Ethics of Judaism Analysis of methods and/or texts pertaining to ethical decision making in one or more periods of Judaism. JS 360 History of Modern Israel Evolution and growth of Israel. Equal emphasis on Ottoman Palestine and on the Mandatory and Israeli statehood periods. Topics include Zionism, Arab-Jewish relations, the British colonial presence, Israeli domestic issues, and foreign policy. HEBR 430R Modern Hebrew Literature Readings in modern Hebrew prose, poetry, and drama in the original with emphasis on literary and social issues. HEBR 435R Hebrew of the Israeli Media Advanced study of the language used in the Israeli media; includes selections from newspapers, radio, and television broadcasts. HEBR 497R Supervised Reading Can be used for directed study of Hebrew literature in the original or for other interdisciplinary research in Hebrew. HIST 369 History of the Near East: 1914-present Topics include the fall of the Ottoman Empire; British presence in and departure from Egypt; World War I diplomacy; the rise and development of Arab nationalism; the emergence of the states of Turkey, Iran, Israel, and the Arabian peninsula countries; Islamic resurgence; inter-Arab political history; oil; and the Arab-Israeli conflict.
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