Humanities 387
Western Religions
Fall 2003
Professor David A. Salomon
Judaism Essay

Choose ONE and only one of the following questions. Some are more difficult than others; choose a question that you feel comfortable with and one that you feel you can discuss competently, completely, and interestingly. Answer it in a complete and thoughtful essay. Your essay should be a well-developed, clear, logical and complete idea developed from a definite thesis statement. Use texts where appropriate to support your answer, but not merely summarize your reading or the lectures. Secondary sources will be necessary; begin with your course text. Any sources you use in your paper must be properly cited according to the conventions of MLA style. Unless otherwise noted, do not use Internet sources. Use the conventions of good essay writing; if you have doubts as to what those are, see either the instructor and/or visit the Writing Center.

Essays should be typed (double-spaced) and approximately 4-6 pages in length–no fewer than 4 full pages will suffice for this assignment, and longer than that is undoubtedly necessary to answer any of these questions in any kind of depth. This paper is due on Tuesday, October 21. Papers must be submitted on time. Papers handed in late will receive a one grade deduction for each class late. I will be happy to look at drafts ahead of time; in fact, I encourage it! Papers must be stapled; unstapled papers will be returned unread.

You must, by noon of the day the paper is due, upload a copy of the paper to turnitin.com, following the proper procedure. Our class account ID is 1076589, and the password is jacket1. You have not completed the assignment until you have handed in a hard copy in class and uploaded a digital copy of your paper to turnitin.com.

Read the questions carefully. Proofread your work.

1) Write an essay that explicates a single Dead Sea Scroll text in light of its Hebrew Bible counterpart. (This is the most difficult question and is probably more appropriate as a longer paper topic.)

2) Discuss how contemporary Jewish ritual (select no more than five specific practices) continues traditions of the faith?

3) Why are Jews so hung up on dietary laws? Write an essay that examines certain aspects of Jewish dietary laws and their biblical counterparts. Consult http://www.kashrut.com/ as a helpful source.

4) Discuss the Shema prayer and the specific ways in which it reflects the tenets of Jewish doctrine in the contemporary world.

5) Discuss the major differences between the three major contemporary "factions" of Judaism (Reformed, Conservative, Orthodox), and argue that (and why) one or the other is more faithful to Judaic history, doctrine, and ritual.

Most of these prompts can be expanded to become a longer paper topic. Other possible longer paper topics (merely suggestions):

1) Discuss the relationship between the Talmud and the Hebrew Bible
2) The significance of the Torah in the establishment of the Second Temple
3) The historical significance of Ezra bringing the Torah from Babylon to the Second Temple
4) The role of the Dead Sea Scrolls in Second Temple or Rabbinic Judaism
5) The importance of Philo of Alexandria in Second Temple Judaism
6) An examination of the Babylonian Talmud
7) The importance of the state of Israel in Modern Judaism
8) A discussion of the movement from the priest to the rabbi
9) An exploration of Jewish mysticism (the Kabbalah, particularly) to Medieval and
Modern Judaism
10) The importance of architecture (and, perhaps, architectonics) in the synagogue, ancient and modern
11) The role of music in Jewish liturgy
12) An examination of the role of Yiddish as a language for modern Jews
13) The role of Jewish faith in Holocaust narratives (see, especially, Elie Wiesel’s Trial of God)
14) Hebrew as a still relevant language in modern Judaism