JS 410 #14419/ PHIL #14968
 KABBALAH & JEWISH MYSTICISM
T/Th 11:00-12:50
HUM 288

Professor:
Program:
Kitty Millet Jewish Studies Office: 415
Web  and Email: kmillet1@sfsu.edu  / Phone: 415-338-3154 Jewish Studies Phone: 415-338-6075
Office: HUM 426  Jewish Studies Email: jewish@sfsu.edu
Office Hours: T 2-330; TH 11-12
Course Description
     A survey of Jewish mystical literatures, students will examine representative samples of Jewish texts ranging from the Hekhalot period to late Hasidic folk narratives of the modern era.  We will pay special attention to foundational tropes and narratives of Jewish mysticism such as "the descent to the Merkavah," "the sefirot," "the collection of the sparks," and "tzimtzum." In this way, students will note how these narratives are constantly being reimagined both by mystical and secular Jewish writers. In time, students will discover how such foundational narratives have punctuated Jewish experience by providing insights into the questions and concerns of the Jews historically.  Consequently, the Kabbalah will prove especially critical to our investigations so that we will spend one entire unit on the Zohar and its reanimation in Lurianic Kabbalism.  Thus while we will start primarily with short excerpts and narrative tales, we will begin to add pertinent secondary texts, longer tractates, and supplemental essays to our readings, with a view to mapping the development of Jewish mysticism in several different genres, countries, and religious persepectives. 


Course Objectives and Learning Outcomes
   By the end of the semester, students should be able to do the following:
  • identify the key texts and writers associated with different periods of Jewish mysticism
  • contrast the philosophical underpinnings of several Jewish mystic movements
  • describe the folk customs and beliefs of two Jewish mystic movements
  • identify the philosophical orientation of scholarship on Jewish mysticism
  • identify the major differences between two or more Jewish mystical projects
  • identify the historical events that have shaped Jewish as well as non-Jewish mystical movements
  • analyze familiar tropes and motifs of Hasidic narratives
  • explore how the foundational narratives of Judaism have been reworked or reimagined by one Jewish mystic
  • identify the use of mystical tropes in secular Jewish literatures
  • identify those concepts that Jewish and non-Jewish mystics hold in common
Segment III Information
This course is part of three GE Segment III Clusters: 1) Jewish Experience; 2) Folklore; and 3) Religious Studies. Therefore, students can elect to take this class to meet one part of their Segment III requirement within one of these specific clusters. However, to receive Segment III credit, students must complete cluster requirements as they have been described in the Class Bulletin.  
Required Texts:
Joseph Dan. The Heart and the Fountain. (Bay Area bookstores, like Moe's and Green Apple, might sell the remaindered hardcover at a considerably reduced price, under 8.00--a substantial savings from the Bookstore's paperback price.)
Dan Matt. The Zohar Vol. 1
Gershom Scholem. Major Trends in Jewish Mysticism.
Joseph Dan. Early Kabbalah.
Optional Texts
Any version of the Hebrew Bible (see optional texts).
Arthur Green. Guide to the Zohar
*SFSU Bookstore might have a discounted hardcover version upstairs in the Trade Books section.
Assignments: 
 Percentage of Grade
All dates are provisional. We may reschedule events if we move through material more slowly or speedily.
1 Short Paper (2-3 pages) must be submitted by 3/29 10%
4 Exams (@20% each; drop the lowest score) 60%
Final Paper (3-5 pages) due: 5/08
 15%
Homework, unannounced and announced quizzes, Annotated Bibliography, class participation. 15%

Information on Assignments and Attendance
Assignments:
Assignments come from required texts, handouts distributed in class, and occasional readings from e-texts available either through the online syllabus or at eres.  Be sure to have assignments completed before coming to class and to format these assignments according to MLA. Handwritten assignments are unacceptable for any reason.

I neither accept late papers nor give make-up exams; furthermore, I don't offer extra credit.  From time to time, I'll also give pop quizzes and writing responses; points from these kinds of impromptu assignments will be tabulated separately from the rest of your grades. In the event that you are borderline--between grades--, I will use these point totals to determine your grade, applying the points to your lowest category. However, if you miss any assignments, you’ll take it as a loss.  I won’t waive this policy except for extreme circumstances with proper documentation.

Note that writing responses are low stakes assignments that will either be assigned for the next class or completed in class. Each assignment is worth 1-2 points. They will be graded as to completion and accuracy in concept.  If you miss class and you miss one of these assignments, you can't make it up.  The points you earn will buffer your grade. If you’re having difficulties with any of the assignments or readings, come to see me asap.  Don’t debate about it; come to my office hours.

I wish to make this course as accessible as possible to students with disabilities or medical conditions that may affect any aspect of course assignments or participation. You are invited to communicate with me at the beginning of the course or at your discretion about any accomodations that will improve your experience of or access to the course.  You can and should also contact the Disability Resource Center at 338-2472 (Voice/TDD). 

Borderline grades are resolved on the basis of “effort,” e.g. preparation for and participation in discussion; care and thoughtfulness in preparation and presentation of assignments.
Plagiarism:
Any student who uses the words or ideas of another person, be it author, critic, or another student, without attributing those ideas according to MLA standards, will receive a No Credit for that paper and will not be allowed to revise; a student who turns in a paper that is substantially or completely written by someone else will receive No Credit for the course. In either case the student will be reported to the SFSU Student Discipline Officer, who may take further action. Students should also consult the teacher about the rules of proper attribution.
Attendance Policy:
Since class meets twice a week and I cancel class for Jewish holidays, course attendance is particularly important.  If you miss more than three classes, I will lower your final course grade by 1/4 step for each additional absence.  Thus if you earned an“A,” and you missed four classes, your final grade would be “B+.”

Attendance for the entire class period is also required; if you leave early or arrive late chronically, I will mark you as absent for those class sessions.

Schedule:

Note: HW readings are assigned in good faith. However, over the course of the semester, we might need to change the pace of the readings. Thus you should check the online syllabus weekly to make sure that we're on the same schedule.

Date
Lecture and Readings
Resources and Assignments
1/24 Introduction to Sources and Context.  
1/26 Dan, Heart and the Fountain: Introduction 1-23. Study Questions for Dan #1
1/31 What is Jewish Mysticism? Scholem 1-39. Study Questions for Scholem #1
2/02 Scholem continued.
2/07 Merkavah Mysticism. Dan (Heart), 49-73. Pardes #1 and #2(32).

Study Questions for Scholem #2
2/09 Scholem 40-79. Sefer Yetsirah #1@ eres. Sefer Yetsirah #2. Focus on Chapter 6 of #2 and read the commentary on it from ilearn e-res.
2/14 finish Merkavah and begin Rhineland Mystics.
Extra Lecture before exam!
2/16 Rhineland Mystics. Scholem, 80-118.
Ashkenaz Hasids. Dan (Heart), 25-30; 95-120.
2/21 Exam 1  
2/23 Finish Rhineland Mystics. Scholem, 80-118.
Dan, Early Kabbalah (EK): "Early Kabbalah" introduction (1-41).
2/28 Iyyun and Bahir #1 (EK: 43-69). Bahir #2 is found at ERES (Inside the Kabbalah folder). Bring Hebrew Bibles to class from now on; read biblical refs mentioned in texts.
3/01 Dan (EK): Rabbi Isaac the Blind; Rabbi Azriel (71-96). Video lectures "Isaac the Blind"; "Kohens" ; "Azriel"
3/06 Dan (EK): Kohens (151-182).
Exam 2 due in class.
Hebrew Alphabet
3/08 Abulafia and Prayer. Dan, Heart, 121-138; Scholem, 119-155.
3/13 Scholem, 205-243.
3/15 Zohar begins, 1-84. Zohar Study Questions
 
3/20 Spring Break
3/22 Spring Break.
3/27 Zohar continues, 84-124.
3/29 Short Paper due.
4/03 Zohar continues, 107-137.

4/05 Zohar continues, 215-249
4/10 Class cancelled. Annotated Bibliography (AB) assigned.
4/12 Exam 3 due.
4/17 16th century movements. Dan, Heart: 175-201.
4/19 Luriannic Kabbalah.  Dan, Heart: 202-221.
4/24 Scholem, 245-286.
4/26 17th century and Mystical Heresy. Scholem, 287-324.
5/01 Scholem, 287-324 finishes. Annotated Bibliography due.
5/03 18th-19th c Hasidism. Scholem 325-350
5/08 Madonna and Kabbalah. Video for final exam shown too. Final Paper due.
5/10 Exam 4. 
5/15 Finals Week.