Rabbinic Literatures and Cultures

The area of Rabbinic Literatures and Cultures (RLC) offers one of the most comprehensive programs in rabbinics in North America. We train undergraduate, rabbinical, cantorial, and graduate students in how to decode and critically analyze rabbinic sources using both philological methodologies and contemporary theories of analysis. Students consider the historical, social, and religious contexts that influenced the development of these sources and uncover contemporary meaning and explore their present-day impact. Our programs are designed to prepare students to be critical thinkers, engaged in the serious study of texts and the evaluation of sources and meaning-making practices. Graduates are well-prepared for academic careers, as well as careers in the rabbinate and cantorate, and Jewish education. RLC students are also often life-long learners who are active in or retired from careers in the Jewish communal world or other areas. The area’s internationally renowned faculty includes specialists in Talmud and rabbinics, midrash, ancient Judaism, the development of halakhah, manuscript and book history, paleography, and pedagogy. 

RLC offers an undergraduate major, a master’s program, and two doctoral programs, the PhD and DHL degrees. RLC courses are also part of the core curriculum in most JTS programs and schools, and RLC faculty serve as mentors and instructors for students enrolled across our various schools and programs.

Core Faculty

  • Richard Kalmin, Theodore R. Racoosin Professor of Talmud and Rabbinics
  • David Kraemer, Professor of Talmud and Rabbinics; Joseph J. and Dora Abbell Librarian
  • Marjorie Lehman, Professor of Talmud and Rabbinics
  • Jonathan Milgram, Associate Professor of Talmud and Rabbinics
  • Marcus Mordecai Schwartz, Assistant Professor, Talmud and Rabbinics; Ripps Schnitzer Librarian for Special Collections
  • Sarah Wolf, Assistant Professor of Talmud and Rabbinics
  • Yitz Landes, Assistant Professor of Rabbinic Literatures and Cultures

Associated Instructors

  • Burton L. Visotzky, Nathan and Janet Appleman Emeritus Professor of Midrash and Interreligious Studies; Louis Stein Director of the Finkelstein Institute for Religious and Social

Studies; Director of the Milstein Center for Interreligious Dialogue

  • Luciana Pajecki Lederman, Director of the JTS Beit Midrash; Adjunct Instructor of Rabbinic Literatures and Cultures; Director of Nishma
  • Eva Kiesele, Visiting Assistant Professor of Rabbinic Literatures and Cultures
  • Benjamin Kamine, Adjunct Instructor of Rabbinic Literatures and Cultures; Assistant Director of the Milstein Center for Interreligious Dialogue
  • Aaron Koller, Adjunct Professor of Rabbinic Literatures and Cultures
  • Ronald Androphy, Adjunct Assistant Professor of Talmud and Rabbinics

Bachelor of Arts

Undergraduate Learning Outcomes

  1. Reading and Interpretation: Students will demonstrate proficiency in reading and interpreting primary rabbinic texts, including the Mishnah, the Talmud Bavli and Yerushalmi, and collections of Midrash. This includes the ability to:
    • Deconstruct the structure of rabbinic passages.Analyze the logic and argumentation employed in Talmudic discourse, recognizing and explaining different rabbinic methods of interpretation.
    • Identify and explain key rabbinic terms and concepts.
  2. Critical Analysis: Students will develop critical thinking skills in analyzing rabbinic texts. This includes the ability to:
    • Identify and analyze competing interpretations within the Talmudim and other rabbinic sources
    • Identify and analyze later rabbinic commentaries.
    • Formulate and defend well-reasoned arguments based on evidence from the Talmudic text.
  3. Historical Knowledge: Students will acquire a comprehensive understanding of the historical worlds of the rabbis, including the Second Temple period, the rise of Rabbinic Judaism, and the social, political, and economic realities that shaped rabbinic thought.
  4. Socio-Historical Contextualization: Students will be able to critically analyze rabbinic texts in their historical context. This includes the ability to:
    • Explain how social, political, and economic factors influenced the development of rabbinic law and thought.
    • Identify and analyze the ways in which rabbinic texts reflect or challenge their broader social/historical context.
  5. Hebrew and Aramaic Fluency: Students will develop strong reading and comprehension skills in Hebrew and Aramaic, the primary languages of rabbinic literature. This includes the ability to:
    • With advanced preparation, read and translate unvocalized Hebrew and Aramaic texts with fluency.
    • Utilize grammatical knowledge to analyze the meaning and nuances of rabbinic language.
    • Use Hebrew and Aramaic dictionaries, lexicons, and digital tools for research purposes.

BA Major in RLC Course Requirements

Thirty credits (10 courses), including two RLC courses applied from the List College core, chosen in consultation with the BA advisor, distributed as follows:

  • Four courses (12 credits) in Talmud, which generally include some combination of the following courses: Talmud Text I, Talmud Text II, Intermediate Talmud and Advanced Talmud (as determined by the BA advisor)
  • One course (3 credits) Introduction to Rabbinic Narrative (RLC 5022)
  • One course (3 credits) Mishnah, Tosefta, and Tannaitic Literature (RLC 3323)
  • One course (3 credits) in Ancient Judaism
  • Two courses (6 credits) electives in Talmud, Aramaic, Midrash, Rishonim, or Codes (must not be in translation)
  • One course (3 credits) fulfilled through a Senior Thesis, Senior Seminar, or an upper level RLC elective chosen in consultation with the major advisor

Master of Arts in Rabbinic Literatures and Cultures

The MA program in Rabbinic Literatures and Cultures is interdisciplinary and designed to enable students to develop strong textual skills while exploring the history and culture of the Jews of antiquity (6th century BCE to 6th century CE). It has three components: 

  1. gaining competence in reading and interpreting rabbinic texts, 
  2. studying the political and social history of the Jews of antiquity and the political and social history of the empires that ruled them (Persian, Greek, Roman, Parthian, Sassanian, and early Byzantine), 
  3. studying the intellectual and religious history of ancient Judaism and the other religious and intellectual traditions of late antiquity (Persia, Egypt, Hellenistic and Roman empires, Christianity, gnosticism, philosophy, magic, and law). 

Students will be able to concentrate in any one of the following areas: Judaism in Late Antiquity, Midrash, Talmud, or Halakhah and as such will determine with their advisors the most appropriate combination of courses in Bible, history, and rabbinics.

MA Learning Outcomes

  1. Independent Textual Analysis: Students will demonstrate advanced proficiency in independently analyzing the rabbinic texts representing their area of specialization. This includes the ability to:
    • Fluently navigate and analyze the structure rabbinic passages, including identifying subtle nuances within the text.
    • Analyze the development of legal and philosophical arguments across different layers of rabbinic sources
    • Critically evaluate and apply advanced rabbinic methods of interpretation to complex legal, philosophical, and contemporary issues.
  2. Specialized Historical Knowledge: Students will acquire a deeper understanding of specialized historical topics in their field of interest. This could include specialization in specific periods (e.g., Second Temple period, Late Antiquity), geographical regions (e.g., Babylonian Jewry, Palestinian Jewry), or specific social or cultural aspects (e.g., family law, economic practices).
  3. Advanced Contextualization: Students will demonstrate an advanced ability to critically contextualize rabbinic texts within their historical framework. This includes the ability to:
    • Analyze how specific social, political, and economic factors influenced the development of rabbinic thought.
    • Describe relationships between Ancient Judaism and other religious and intellectual traditions in Late Antiquity Critically evaluate the relationship between rabbinic texts and other primary and secondary historical sources.
    • Analyze the interplay between internal rabbinic debates and their broader historical context, recognizing the evolution of rabbinic thought over time.
  4. Advanced Hebrew and Aramaic: Students will demonstrate advanced proficiency in reading, analyzing, and translating complex Hebrew and Aramaic texts. This includes the ability to:
    • Sight-read unvocalized Hebrew and Aramaic texts with fluency and accuracy.
    • Utilize advanced grammatical and lexical knowledge to analyze the nuances of rabbinic language and identify subtle variations in meaning.
    • Consult and critically evaluate advanced Hebrew and Aramaic lexicons, digital tools, and scholarly resources for research purposes.
  5. Research Skills: Students will develop advanced research and argumentation skills. This includes the ability to:
    • Formulate original research topics for future academic work
    • Analyze primary and secondary sources relevant to their research interests.
    • Construct and present well-reasoned arguments supported by in-depth analysis of Talmudic and other rabbinic texts.

MA Admission Requirements

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.

MA Degree Requirements:

Prerequisites

Facility with rabbinic texts in Hebrew and Aramaic is required for entrance. HEB 5203 and the equivalent to RLC 5453: Babylonian Aramaic.

Courses

The MA degree requires 30 credits not including any courses toward achieving required language competencies. Credits are distributed as follows:

  • 3 credits (1 course) MDS 5102: Classics of the Jewish Tradition or the equivalent
  • 21 credits (7 courses) in a combination of Biblical Exegesis, Ancient Jewish History, Midrash, Talmud, or Halakhah—courses must be taken at the 5000 level or above.
  • 3 credits (1 course) HIS 5117: Jews and Judaism in the Ancient World or equivalent
  • 3 credits (1 course) in religions of the late antique world
  • 3 credits (1 course) elective in related fields at the 5000 level or above

Courses are to be chosen in consultation with the student’s MA advisor and must be approved before registration each semester.

For Rabbinical School students: courses taken in Israel at Schechter/Schocken for credit can count toward the MA. While these are considered JTS courses, students in Israel must complete assessments parallel to those they would complete at JTS in order to receive credit. Such courses must also be approved by the MA advisor. For courses taken at Hebrew University, transfer credit can be awarded. No more than 9 credits total can be transferred from other institutions.

Comprehensive Exams

Students elect to take MA exams in one of the following four concentrations:

  • Judaism in Late Antiquity
  • Midrash
  • Talmud and Rabbinics
  • Halakhah

Each concentration has its own primary and secondary source reading lists available on Canvas. 

In consultation with the MA advisor students should discuss their plan for scheduling their exams. All exams must be completed by April 15th of the final semester of the degree. The primary source component of the exam is administered orally and thus requires proficiency in Hebrew and Aramaic.

For the secondary source component, students will answer four larger questions that will examine their understanding of the methodologies presented in the secondary source material. At least one question will be rooted in primary source material and will ask that students explain how secondary source material aided them in analyzing these sources. 

Language Requirements

By the point of completion of the MA, students must show competency in Aramaic and Hebrew when they take their required comprehensive oral examinations. There is no separate language exam required. Greek is also recommended but not required. Credits in language courses taken will not count toward the 30 credits required for the degree.

Doctor of Hebrew Literature

The DHL program offers a more generalist scope of study for aspiring scholars of rabbinic literatures.

It can be completed on a part-time, low-residency basis and is ideally suited to those with significant academic and/or professional background in rabbinics who wish to obtain advanced knowledge and skills, most especially rabbis and educators. 

Like the MA program, the DHL is interdisciplinary and designed to enable students to develop strong textual skills while exploring the history and culture of the Jews of antiquity (6th century BCE to 6th century CE).

Students choose to concentrate in any one of the following areas: Judaism in Late Antiquity, Midrash, Talmud, or Halakhah and as such will determine with their advisors the most appropriate combination of courses in Bible, history, and rabbinics.

DHL Learning Outcomes

By graduation, students will have mastered the BA and MA outcomes and will also have developed advanced skills in research and critical analysis.

  1. Comparative Analysis and Intertextuality: Students will demonstrate a sophisticated level of analysis that integrates comparative methodologies and intertextual awareness. This includes the ability to:
    • Analyze rabbinic sources in conversation with other primary sources from the rabbinic period, including non-Talmudic legal collections, Midrashic literature, and non-rabbinic Jewish texts.
    • Employ comparative approaches to analyze the development of legal and philosophical concepts across different rabbinic schools of thought and geographical regions.Identify and analyze intertextual references within the Talmud, demonstrating awareness of the broader literary and intellectual context.
    • Critically evaluate the relationship between rabbinic texts and other primary and secondary historical sources.
  2. Research Skills: Students will develop advanced research and argumentation skills. This includes the ability to:
    • Formulate and defend original research topics related to the Talmud and related rabbinic literature.
    • Analyze primary and secondary sources relevant to their research.
    • Construct and present well-reasoned arguments supported by in-depth analysis of primary and secondary sources.
  3. Contribution to the Field: Students will develop an understanding of the broader trends and currents in modern scholarship on rabbinic literatures and cultures. This includes the ability to:
    • Compile literature reviews for specific research topics
    • Synthesize existing scholarship into original critical contributions to the field of rabbinic studies.

DHL Admission Requirements

Students specializing in Talmudic literature must demonstrate facility with rabbinic literatures and cultures, including proficiency in Hebrew and Aramaic.

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.

Doctor of Hebrew Literature Degree Requirements

Prerequisites

Students must hold an MA degree in rabbinic literature or the equivalent (i.e. rabbinic ordination) to begin the DHL degree.

Courses

In addition to courses required of all students in Gershon Kekst Graduate School, 30 graduate credits beyond the MA are required as follows:

  • Seven courses (21 credits) in the field of specialization
  • Three courses (9 credits) in a related field

All courses must be chosen in consultation with the advisor.

Languages

Students must demonstrate proficiency in Hebrew and Aramaic by the time of graduation. Proficiency is demonstrated through the successful completion of comprehensive examinations. Credits from language courses taken will not count toward the 30 credits required for the degree.

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

Students must complete competent research that constitutes a contribution to the field. This may be a single monograph or a series of three scholarly research papers.

Doctor of Philosophy 

Like the MA program, the PhD is interdisciplinary and designed to enable students to develop strong textual skills while exploring the history and culture of the Jews of antiquity (6th century BCE to 6th century CE).

Students choose to concentrate in any one of the following areas: Judaism in Late Antiquity, Midrash, Talmud, or Halakhah and as such will determine with their advisors the most appropriate combination of courses in Bible, history, and rabbinics.

PhD Learning Outcomes

By graduation, students will have mastered the BA and MA outcomes and will also have developed advanced skills in research and critical analysis.

  1. Original Textual Analysis: Students will demonstrate exceptional expertise in independently analyzing the most challenging passages from the Bavli and Yerushalmi. This includes the ability to:
    • Fluently navigate and analyze intricate structures and nuances within Talmudic discourse, identifying subtle variations in meaning and potential textual ambiguities.
    • Masterfully apply and critically evaluate advanced rabbinic methods of interpretation (middot) to address complex legal, philosophical, and theological issues.
    • Trace the development of legal and philosophical arguments across various strata of the Talmud (Mishnah, Gemara, and across other rabbinic collections and commentaries) and identify potential historical and redactional influences.
  2. Advanced Research and Contribution to Knowledge: Students will develop expertise in conducting original research and making significant contributions to Rabbinic Studies. This includes the ability to:
    • Formulate and defend innovative research questions related to the Talmud and related rabbinic literature, demonstrating a deep understanding of existing scholarship.
    • Utilize advanced research methodologies to critically analyze primary and secondary sources, including unpublished manuscripts and lesser-known commentaries.
    • Produce original and well-supported arguments that advance scholarly understanding of the rabbinic literature and its historical context.
  3. Comparative Analysis and Intertextuality: Students will demonstrate a sophisticated level of analysis that integrates comparative methodologies and intertextual awareness. This includes the ability to:
    • Analyze rabbinic sources in conversation with other primary sources from the rabbinic period, including non-Talmudic legal collections, Midrashic literature, and non-rabbinic Jewish texts.
    • Employ comparative approaches to analyze the development of legal and philosophical concepts across different rabbinic schools of thought and geographical regions.Identify and analyze intertextual references within the Talmud, demonstrating awareness of the broader literary and intellectual context.
    • Critically evaluate the relationship between rabbinic texts and other primary and secondary historical sources.

Doctor of Philosophy Admission Requirements

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.

Doctor of Philosophy Degree Requirements

Languages

In addition to languages required of all students in Gershon Kekst Graduate School, students must demonstrate knowledge of either Latin, Greek, or Syriac, or such other ancient languages as a specialization requires, as determined by the advisor.

Courses

In addition to courses required of all students in Gershon Kekst Graduate School, 30 graduate credits beyond the MA are required as follows:

  • 7 courses (21 credits) in the field of specialization taken at or above the 5000-level o 5000-level courses taken to fulfill this requirement must include doctoral-level research work to be determined in consultation with the instructor and the advisor
  • 3 courses (9 credits) in a related field

All courses are to be chosen in consultation with the advisor.

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 advisor.

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 committee composed of appointed internal and external faculty readers, following the procedures of the Kekst Graduate School.