Judaic Studies Department - SUNY/Binghamton University

The Judaic Studies Department offers two BA degrees and two minor concentrations: a major and minor in the history and culture of the Jewish people as interpreted in modern scholarship and a major and minor in Hebrew language and literature. Because of the interdisciplinary nature of Judaic studies, the department draws on faculty from other departments, including the departments of history, sociology, political science, philosophy and romance languages, in order to offer a wide variety of courses in all periods of Jewish civilization. Internships for credit in local Jewish agencies are also possible.

Welcome Professor Sarah Shectman

Professor Shectman will be teaching courses in Israelite History and Bible. She recently completed her Ph.D. from Brandeis University and has taught courses in Hebrew Bible, Women in Biblical Literature, and Biblical Hebrew.

Two New Courses:

JUST 241: Biblical History: Hebrew Origins to the Exile
A contextual approach to study of ancient Israel from Abraham to Deutero-Isaiah. Introduction to biblical criticism and archaeology. Theoretical reconstructions of early Hebrew story to Exodus. Conquest of Canaan. Tribal League and its institutions, kings, prophets and priests. Kingdom of Judah and Deuteronomic reformation. Babylonian exile and reinterpretation of Israel's faith. Original source material in translation. May be used to fulfill Harpur Distribution requirement as social science course.

JUST 380: Contexts of Creation: Genesis and Ancient Near Eastern Myths
The stories of the first book of the Hebrew Bible recount the origins of the world and its peoples, culminating in the formation of the Israelite people. These stories have numerous parallels in myths from the surrounding cultures of the ancient Near East. In this course, we will read and compare biblical and other Near Eastern texts, exploring ancient understandings of creation, national origins, and the role of the gods in human affairs.

Fall 2008 Events:

Check here (soon) for details of the semester's activities.