22 courses in Waterloo’s course catalog for 2020–21 (Fall 2020, Winter 2021, Spring 2021), from UW Open Data. ucalendar asks programs not to read that year’s calendar, so this stands in for it. Original: ucalendar.uwaterloo.ca/2021/COURSE/course-JS.html
Biblical Hebrew for beginners. A study of the alphabet, and some of the basic vocabulary and grammar of the language. [Note: This course fulfils an Area 1 or Area 2 requirement for Religious Studies majors but not both.]
LEC · Course ID 008290On ucalendarJS 105A today
A continuation of RS 131/JS 105A. Most of the rules of grammar will be covered in this course and students will begin to read texts in the original language. [Note: This course fulfils an Area 1 or Area 2 requirement for Religious Studies majors but not both.]
LEC · Course ID 008291On ucalendarJS 105B today
This course examines the central elements that make up contemporary Jewish identity/identities, traditional and otherwise, with particular focus on the North American Jewish experience and the nature of Jewish modernity. It explores historical, literary, religious, and social issues that have contributed to the formation of these identities.
LEC · Course ID 014871On ucalendarJS 114 today
Students will be introduced to the Hebrew Bible by way of selected readings which deal with a particular aspect of the human predicament. The focus will be on exploring relationships via narrative passages in the Old Testament and particularly in the Book of Genesis. The following relationships will be discussed: spousal; human/God; parent/child; siblings; gender issues in narratives of rape, incest, seduction, and dominance. [Note: Knowledge of Hebrew is not required. This course fulfils an Area 1 or Area 2 requirement for Religious Studies majors but not both.]
LEC · Course ID 010108On ucalendarJS 120 today
This course will trace the development of biblical exegesis in the Jewish tradition. Interpretive methods and approaches to problems in the text such as redundancy, contradiction, and gaps will be surveyed, commencing with the Bible itself, through the classical period of the Talmud and concentrating on major medieval commentators. (The biblical episode of the Binding of Isaac will be used as a paradigm to illustrate various approaches to the text.) [Note: Knowledge of Hebrew is not required. This course fulfils an Area 1 requirement for Religious Studies majors.]
LEC · Course ID 010110On ucalendarJS 125 today
This course will deal with the period of the prophets, e.g., Joshua, Kings, and Samuel. It will examine the uses and abuses of power analyzing the historical narratives and study the conflict between Saul and David, the political as well as the moral rise and fall of David. [Note: Knowledge of Hebrew is not required. This course fulfils an Area 1 or Area 2 requirement for Religious Studies majors but not both.]
LEC · Course ID 010109On ucalendarJS 130 today
The Bible is the most translated and most read document in human history. This course explores central biblical ideas, from creation to the end of time, violence to redemption, and political intrigue to family ties, and examines their impact on Judaism, Christianity, and Western Culture. [Note: This course fulfils an Area 2 requirement for Religious Studies majors.]
LEC · Course ID 012721On ucalendarJS 131 today
The catastrophe and devastation of the Holocaust and the radical nature of its evil demanded responses within contemporary Jewish thought, identity, and experience. This course will explore philosophical, theological (Jewish law, rabbinic), literary (novels, poetry, memoirs, plays), and artistic (museums, memorials) attempts to deal with the issues the Holocaust raises. [Note: This course fulfils an Area 1 requirement for Religious Studies majors.]
LEC · Course ID 011635On ucalendarJS 203 today
A study of the biblical prophets with special attention to their religious experience, social critique, visions of the future, and the writings that bear their names. [Note: This course fulfils an Area 1 or Area 2 requirement for Religious Studies majors but not both.]
LEC · Course ID 008297On ucalendarJS 205 today
The course will explore the thought of various Jewish scholars throughout history on issues that were vital to their faith. The texts studied will be representative of the philosophical and rabbinic traditions on such matters as the nature of God, the problem of evil, creation, miracles, prophecy, and providence. [Note: Knowledge of Hebrew is not required. This course fulfils an Area 1 requirement for Religious Studies majors.]
LEC · Course ID 010111On ucalendarJS 210 today
This course will survey the roots, history, and symbolism of the Jewish mystical tradition known as Kabbalah. Students will be introduced to the major texts, charismatic mystical masters, and schools of Kabbalah, beginning with the ancient Rabbis through to contemporary exponents such as Hasidim and messianic groups. Particular attention will be focused on the Zohar (Book of Splendour) and popular appeals to the mystical tradition. [Note: Knowledge of Hebrew is not required. This course fulfils an Area 1 requirement for Religious Studies majors.]
LEC · Course ID 012171On ucalendarJS 211 today
This course surveys the significance of the land of Israel in Judaism from historical, textual, and religious perspectives. Topics covered include the politics of Ancient Israel; the concept of Israel in prayer and the rabbinic and medieval Jewish imagination; portrayals of Israel in Christian and Muslim texts; and the origins, visions, and challenges of Zionism and the modern State of Israel. [Note: This course fulfils an Area 1 requirement for Religious Studies majors.]
LEC · Course ID 014248On ucalendarJS 215 today
An introduction to the religious tradition of the Jews in terms of beliefs, practices, ideals, and institutions from the beginning to the present time. [Note: This course fulfils an Area 1 requirement for Religious Studies majors.]
LEC · Course ID 008308On ucalendarJS 217 today
An examination of the Holocaust as portrayed in feature films and documentaries. Do cinematic attempts capture the horror of the Holocaust faithfully, or trivialize it? The background to anti-semitism, use of religious imagery in propaganda films, and what counts as success or failure in cinematic representations are discussed. [Note: This course fulfils an Area 3 requirement for Religious Studies majors.]
LEC · Course ID 011636On ucalendarJS 233 today
The career and thought of the apostle Paul, at once a Jew, a Graeco-Roman, and a Christ believer, living within the Roman Empire. Attention is given to issues such as spirit, Jewish Law, grace, freedom and slavery, Christ, church, politics, gender, and sexuality. [Note: This course fulfils an Area 2 requirement for Religious Studies majors.]
LEC · Course ID 008301On ucalendarJS 236 today
This course explores the tension between insiders and outsiders in the Bible, examining the rationale for and implications of issues such as purity, holy war, the chosen people, and the Gentiles. [Note: This course fulfils an Area 2 requirement for Religious Studies majors.]
LEC · Course ID 012724On ucalendarJS 237 today
One or more special courses will be offered at different times. Consult the department for current offerings. [Note: This is a repeatable course, subject to different content; it may be completed a total of three times.]
LEC · Course ID 011983On ucalendarJS 250 today
An analysis of the response to the Holocaust, from 1933 to 1945, and the legacy of the event since the war in Canadian society.
LEC · Course ID 011155On ucalendarJS 301 today
This course explores the theme of wisdom in the Bible and related literature in the period from ancient Israel to the first century CE. It examines the varied cultural influences on biblical wisdom traditions. [Note: This course fulfils an Area 2 requirement for Religious Studies majors.]
LEC · Course ID 012720On ucalendarJS 338 today
One or more special courses will be offered at different times. Consult the department for current offerings. [Note: This is a repeatable course, subject to different content; it may be completed a total of two times.]
SEM · Course ID 011187On ucalendarJS 350 today
Jewish comedians have dominated humour in North America from Groucho Marx to Jerry Seinfeld, Sarah Silverman, Amy Schumer, and Seth Rogen. Studying Jewish humour is critical for understanding the development of Judaism, Jewish identity, immigrant experience, and response to persecution. [Note: This course fulfils an Area 3 requirement for Religious Studies majors.]
Prereq: Level at least 2A
LEC · Course ID 015869On ucalendarJS 364 today
One or more special courses will be offered at different times. Consult the department for current offerings. [Note: This is a repeatable course, subject to different content; it may be completed a total of two times.]
SEM · Course ID 011188On ucalendarJS 450 today