NEW COURSE
JEWISHST 208 – Invention and Development of Jewish Law (halakhah)
Semester: Fall
Offered: 2024
Instructor: Shaye Cohen
Meeting Time: W 9:00am – 11:45am
This course traces the rise and development of Halakha, usually translated “Jewish law,” sometimes spelled “Halachah.” The course combines historical, textual and conceptual perspectives. When does Halakha begin? What exactly is it? Law? Interpretation? normative practice? The “Oral Law”? What is Halakhah’s relationship to varied social groups in antiquity such as priests, scribes, sects, apocalyptic seers, “common Judaism”, Pharisees, Christians?
No prerequisites; all texts read in translation. If the course attracts a large enough enrollment of Hebrew readers, we may try to have an additional Hebrew session from time to time.
For more details please visit the Harvard Course Catalog.