Hebrew Bible and Its Interpretation

Professors

Alan M. Cooper

Stephen A. Geller (on sabbatical spring 2013)

David Marcus

Benjamin D. Sommer (on sabbatical 2012–13)

Burton L. Visotzky

Associate Professor

Robert A. Harris

Assistant Professors

Stephen P. Garfinkel

Walter Herzberg

Amy Kalmanofsky

Adjunct Assistant Professors

Ronald Androphy
Job Jindo
Joel Duman
Barat Ellman

Adjunct Instructor

Christopher Dost

Degrees

Bachelor of Arts
Master of Arts
Doctor of Hebrew Literature
Doctor of Philosophy

Bachelor of Arts

Admission Requirements:

See List College Admissions requirements.

Degree Requirements

For Bible Majors

30 credits (generally 10 courses), beyond the core-curriculum requirements, chosen in consultation with the major advisor, distributed as follows:

Bible

  • 3 credits covering all or part of the Torah and appropriate secondary literature
  • 3 credits covering all or part of the Nevi'im and appropriate secondary literature
  • 3 credits covering all or part of the Ketuvim and appropriate secondary literature
  • 3 credits BIB 3009, covering critical methodologies on an advanced level
  • 3 credits BIB 5560: Biblical Grammar
  • 3 credits on Rabbinic Exegesis / Parshanut (e.g., Miqraot Gedolot, Pentateuch with Rashi, etc.)
  • 9 credits of Bible electives chosen in consultation with the major advisor
  • 3 credits senior capstone seminar

For Medieval Biblical Exegesis Majors

30 credits (generally 10 courses), beyond the core-curriculum requirements, chosen in consultation with the major advisor, distributed as follows:

  • Bible 5013: Introduction to Rashi's Torah Commentary (or equivalent)
  • Bible 3307 or 5826: Introduction to Classical Medieval Exegesis (or equivalent)
  • 9 additional credits in Medieval Biblical Exegesis
  • HIS 1011 (or equivalent)
  • MID 3944 or MID 5022: Midrash for Majors (3 credits)
  • One Midrash course beyond the beginner's level
  • One course in the cognate literature of the period (e.g., Karaite, Christian, or Islamic exegetical literature) or in the social history of the period (taken at JTS, Columbia University, Barnard College, or Union Theological Seminary)
  • One senior capstone seminar (3 credits)

 

Master of Arts

Admission Requirements:

View The Graduate School Admissions page.

Degree Requirements

Hebrew Bible and Its Interpretation requirements are determined on the basis of an evaluation of the undergraduate transcript. Students entering the program may be required to take certain prerequisite courses during the first year of graduate study if they have not had the equivalent previously, as described below.

MA in Bible in its Ancient Near Eastern Context

Courses

Students entering the program will be required to take the following courses during the first year of graduate study if they have not had the equivalent previously:

  • One semester of biblical Hebrew grammar
  • Two semesters of Hebrew Bible texts

Students are permitted to register for courses counting toward the degree while fulfilling these prerequisites.

In addition to courses required of all students in The Graduate School, 30 graduate credits are required as follows:

  • First Year Seminar
  • 21 credits in Bible, including one seminar
  • 6 credits of electives (students who intend to pursue a doctorate in Bible should take most of the electives in Bible or related courses)

Comprehensive Examination
Students must satisfactorily complete a comprehensive examination. For the reading list and text requirements, contact The Graduate School Office.

MA in Medieval Biblical Exegesis

Courses
Students entering the program will be required to take the following courses, or their equivalent, if they have not had the equivalent previously:

  • TAL 6113: Survey of Mishnah
  • MID 5022: Midrash for Beginners
  • BIB 5013: Pentateuch With Rashi

Students are permitted to register for courses counting toward the degree while fulfilling these prerequisites.

In addition to courses required of all students in The Graduate School, 30 graduate credits are required as follows:

  • MID/MDS 6101: Introduction to Exegesis I (3 credits)
  • BIB 5826/6307: Miqraot Gedolot (3 credits) or the equivalent
  • Two courses in advanced medieval biblical exegesis (6 credits)
  • HIS 6313: Medieval Jewish History (3 credits)
  • 6 credits of electives in Midrash, Talmud, Bible, or medieval Bible exegesis at the 6000 level or above
  • 9 credits chosen in consultation with the advisor, at least one course of which focuses on biblical narrative

Comprehensive Examinations:

Oral:

Student is responsible for reading and translating with fluency any comments of Rashi, Rashbam, Ibn Ezra on two parashiyot, one narrative and one legal, to be determined. This exam will be "open book and closed notes." Student is responsible for a predetermined selection from Ramban's Torah commentary.

Written:

The student and faculty advisory committee will determine a bibliography for the purpose of conducting a written comprehensive examination.

 

Doctor of Hebrew Literature

Admission Requirements

View The Graduate School Admissions page. Additionally, students must have a master's degree in Bible or Judaica. Further coursework may be required in the case of students who have an MA in Judaica. Students must pass an examination in biblical Hebrew grammar.

The Bible in its Ancient Near Eastern Context

Degree Requirements
Courses
In addition to courses required of all students in The Graduate School, 30 graduate credits beyond the MA are required, to be selected from the following list:

  • Two advanced text courses
  • Two courses in biblical law, religion, and history
  • One course in medieval exegesis
  • One course in a Semitic language other than Hebrew
  • Two courses in electives in the area of specialization
  • Two additional courses, to be selected in consultation with the advisor.

Note: Two of the above courses must be research seminars with major papers.

Students may be asked to audit courses and must display a basic familiarity with the particulars of biblical literature of the type implied by the traditional term bekiut (expertise), to be established by examination.

Paper
Shortly before the oral comprehensive examination, each candidate is required to write one 10-page paper in history, religion, canon, or text criticism. The candidate is asked to identify a major problem in one of these areas and discuss it, paying special attention to the history of the problem and how critical scholars today might approach a solution.

Comprehensive Examinations
The examinations proceed in two stages. First, a set of four orals on Bible text, language, and content (beqi'ut): Torah, Former Prophets, Latter Prophets, Writings. Each one is administered by a single faculty member.

For the remainder of the examinations, students must compose three essays on topics of their choosing, normally in the areas of biblical text criticism, history of Israel, and religion of Israel, respectively (the three areas are negotiable depending on the student's specific interests). Following submission of these essays and assuming that they are deemed acceptable, there is a follow-up oral examination in which all faculty may participate. The oral can include discussion/critique of the essays or range into other topics of the examiners' choosing to test for general knowledge, probe potential areas of specialization, etc.

Dissertation:
A competent piece of research which constitutes a contribution to the field. The topic will be selected in consultation with the faculty advisory committee.

Medieval Biblical Exegesis

Degree Requirements
Courses
In addition to courses required of all students in The Graduate School, 30 graduate credits beyond the MA are required, to be selected from the following list:

  • Five courses in medieval biblical exegesis
  • Two courses in midrash
  • One course in Targum or Targumic Aramaic
  • One course in Medieval Jewish History
  • One course in the cognate literature of the period (e.g., Karaite, Christian, or Islamic exegetical literature) taken either at JTS or in one of the consortium institutions

Note: Two of the above courses must be research seminars with major papers.

Dissertation

A competent piece of research that constitutes a contribution to the field. The topic will be selected in consultation with the faculty advisory committee.

 

Doctor of Philosophy

Admission Requirements:

View The Graduate School Admissions page. Additionally, students must have a master's degree in Bible or Judaica. Further coursework may be required in the case of students with an MA in Judaica. All students must pass examinations in German and French for reading knowledge.

The Area of Hebrew Bible and Its Interpretation can fashion a PhD program that matches the strengths of its faculty and the interests of the prospective students. What follows reflects past programs and should not be seen as a definitive outline or limitation of additional courses of study.

The Bible in its Ancient Near Eastern Context

Degree Requirements
The course of study is organized around two methodological approaches: Hebrew philology and another approach chosen by the student. As early as possible, a specialization will be selected from the following (with the guidance of a departmental advisor): anthropology, comparative law, comparative literature, hermeneutics (including traditional Jewish exegesis), historiography, linguistics (Hebrew/Semitic), literary criticism, religion/theology, Semitic philology, sociology, and textual criticism.

Courses
In addition to courses required of all students in The Graduate School, two semesters of Greek or Latin (with the advisor's permission); and a minimum of 42 credits beyond the MA (see above); the precise number of courses will be assessed upon admission. Up to 9 credits (three courses) taken on the graduate level at another university may be counted towards this total. Required courses include:

  • Five courses in biblical texts
  • Two courses in biblical history, religion, or law
  • Two courses in biblical Hebrew or comparative Semitics
  • Two courses in Akkadian
  • One course in Aramaic
  • One course in Ugaritic
  • One course in inscriptions

Note: Two of the above courses must be research seminars with major papers.

Comprehensive Examinations
The examinations proceed in two stages. First, a set of four orals on Bible text, language, and content (beqi'ut): Torah, Former Prophets, Latter Prophets, Writings. Each one is administered by a single faculty member.

For the remainder of the examinations, students must compose three essays on topics of their choosing, normally in the areas of biblical text criticism, history of Israel, and religion of Israel, respectively (the three areas are negotiable depending on the student's specific interests). Following submission of these essays and assuming that they are deemed acceptable, there is a follow-up oral examination in which all faculty may participate. The oral can include discussion/critique of the essays or range into other topics of the examiners' choosing to test for general knowledge, probe potential areas of specialization, etc.

Dissertation
An original contribution to the study of Bible that applies the student's selected discipline and any pertinent methodologies.

Medieval Biblical Exegesis

Courses
In addition to courses required of all students in The Graduate School, language requirements in Greek, Latin, Syriac, Arabic and/or Old French, selected according to the student's interests and in consultation with the faculty advisory committee. Additionally, a minimum of 42 credits beyond the MA are required; the precise number of courses will be assessed upon admission. Up to 9 credits (three courses) taken on the graduate level at another university may be counted toward this total. Required courses include:

  • Five courses in medieval biblical exegesis
  • Two courses in midrash
  • One course in Targum or Targumic Aramaic
  • Two courses in medieval Jewish literature (e.g., piyyut)
  • Two courses in medieval Jewish history
  • One course in the social history of the period (taken either at JTS or in one of the consortium institutions)
  • One course in the cognate literature of the period (e.g., Karaite, Christian, or Islamic exegetical literature) taken either at JTS or in one of the consortium institutions

Note: Two of the above courses must be research seminars with major papers.

The Davidson School MA in Jewish Education: Core Courses in Hebrew Bible and Its Interpretation

All students in The Davidson School are required to take the following three courses or their equivalent, in consultation with the dean:

  • Bible 5011: Introduction to Historical-Critical Study of the Bible
  • Bible 5012: Introduction to the Pentateuch
  • Bible 5013: Introduction to the Study of the Bible with Rashi's Commentary; or Bible 5826: Introduction to Medieval Biblical Exegesis; or MID 5022: Midrash for Beginners

The Rabbinical School: Core Courses in Hebrew Bible and Its Interpretation

The following courses are required of all rabbinical students; substitutions may be made in consultation with the dean and the area coordinator for Hebrew Bible and Its Interpretation:

Note: HEB 2201 and HEB 5201: Intermediate Hebrew; and HEB 5009: Grammar must be taken prior to or in conjunction with these courses, in consultation with the dean and the area coordinator for Hebrew Bible and Its Interpretation.

  • Skill Level 1—BIB 6060: Biblical Hebrew; BIB 6070: Introduction to Medieval Biblical Exegesis
  • Skill Level 2—BIB 6106: Biblical Survey I and BIB 6107: Bible Survey II

Iyun program includes three mandatory Bible courses, one of which is Medieval Biblical Exegesis; and Midrash.

Search the Course Catalog for BIB courses.