The Jewish Theological Seminary
Academics
Talmud and Rabbinics
Professors
Neil Danzig
Shamma Friedman
Judith Hauptman
Richard Kalmin
David C. Kraemer
Joel Roth
Burton L. Visotzky
Associate Professors
Eliezer Diamond
Marjorie Lehman, on sabbatical, Spring, 2013
Mayer E. Rabinowitz, Emeritus
Assistant Professors
David Hoffman
Jonathan Milgram
Adjunct Assistant Professors
Michael Pitkowsky
Adjunct Instructors
Mordecai Schwartz
Degrees
Admission Requirements
View the List College admissions webpage.
Degree Requirements
From the List College Core Curriculum:
One 1000-level Talmud/Rabbinics course
One 3000-level or higher Talmud/Rabbinics course
For Talmud Majors
30 credits (generally 10 courses, with one course from the core counting towards the major) chosen in consultation with the BA adviser, distributed as follows:
12 credits of Talmud text courses
3 credits (one course) in Midrash
3 credits (one course) in Mishnah
3 credits (one course) in Codes
3 credits (one course) of elective in Talmud, Rabbinics, or Aramaic, choen in consultation with the adviser
3 credits (one course) in the cognate literature or history of the period
One 3-credit capstone/senior seminar course.
Admission Requirements
See The Graduate School admissions website. Additionally, potential graduate candidates are advised that advanced study of rabbinic texts requires extensive preparation in related fields, including Bible; Aramaic; history and religion of Judaism in antiquity; and history and religion of the Greco-Roman and Iranian world. Accordingly, students seeking admission to the graduate programs in this department are encouraged to prepare themselves, to the extent possible, with university courses in these areas.
Degree Requirements
Languages
Students entering the program will be required to demonstrate a proficiency in Gemara, Rashi, and Tosafot, equivalent to Advanced Talmud (Rishonim and Modern Scholarship, TAL 6151).
Courses
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:
- 21 credits in Talmud and Rabbinics beyond the level of Advanced Talmud (TAL 6151), chosen in consultation with the adviser
- 9 credits in related fields, chosen in consultation with the adviser, including HIS 6117 or the equivalent
Comprehensive Examination
For the reading list and textual requirements, consult The Graduate School Office at (212) 678-8024.
Admission Requirements
See The Graduate School admissions website. Additionally, students specializing in talmudic literature must demonstrate the following through examination:
- Comprehension of a previously unprepared sugya selected from any tractate of the Babylonian Talmud
- General knowledge of rabbinic institutions and literature
- Proficiency in Aramaic
- Knowledge of 50 folios of Talmud
Candidates specializing in aggadic literature must demonstrate the following through examination:
- Proficiency in Aramaic
- The ability to translate and explicate a midrashic text on sight
- Knowledge of 25 parashiyot of Midrash
Additionally, students must have an undergraduate degree in the humanities or social sciences from an accredited college or university and a master's degree in Talmud and Rabbinics or the equivalent.
Degree Requirements
Courses
In addition to courses required of all students in The Graduate School, 30 graduate credits beyond the MA are required as follows:
- 21 credits in the field of specialization, of which 15 must be in doctoral seminars (8000 level or higher)
- 9 credits in a related field
All courses must be chosen in consultation with the adviser.
Comprehensive Examination
Upon satisfactory completion of all course work, students must pass a series of examinations on predetermined selections of rabbinic texts and secondary literature.
Dissertation
A competent piece of research that constitutes a contribution to the field.
Admission Requirements
See The Graduate School admissions website. Additionally, students must have an undergraduate degree in the humanities or social sciences from an accredited college or university and a master's degree in Talmud and Rabbinics or the equivalent.
Degree Requirements
Languages
In addition to languages required of all students in The Graduate School, students must demonstrate a reading knowledge of French and German, Greek or Syriac, or such other ancient languages as a specialization requires, as determined by the adviser.
Courses
Students entering the program will be required to take either MID 6101, MID 6102, or the equivalent, if they have not had the equivalent previously. Students will be matriculated upon satisfactory completion of this prerequisite and are permitted to register for courses counting toward the degree while fulfilling this prerequisite.
In addition to courses required of all students in The Graduate School, 30 graduate credits beyond the MA are required as follows:
- 21 credits in the field of specialization, of which 15 must be in doctoral seminars (8000 level or higher)
- 9 credits in a related field
All courses are to be chosen in consultation with the adviser.
Comprehensive Examination
Upon satisfactory completion of all course work and prior to beginning dissertation research, all candidates must pass a series of examinations on a predetermined quantity of rabbinic texts. Candidates will be examined orally on a reading list of critical scholarly literature to be compiled in consultation with the prospective thesis adviser.
Dissertation
Each student must complete an original piece of research that advances knowledge in the field of specialization. Upon completion of the doctoral dissertation, the candidate will defend the dissertation before a panel of Talmud and Rabbinics faculty and faculty from other departments and institutions.