Jewish History - Davar Academy
Descriptions and credit recommendations for all evaluated learning experiences
Varies – self study.
May 2022 - Present.
Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to: illustrate and discuss what Jewish society and culture was like during the European Middle Ages; describe the major historical events in the European Middle Ages that affected the Jewish population and explain the impact these events had on Jewish life; identify the major historical personalities in Middle Ages Europe whose actions affected the Jewish population and explain how they impacted the Jewish population; describe the contributions of Jewish historical figures and explain the impact they had on Jewish life; describe and assess how the interactions between Jewish and Christian cultures influenced Christian attitudes towards Jews and in turn influenced Jewish life and society; describe and asses the important decisions and decrees Jewish leaders made during this period and discuss what may have influenced their decisions and how Jewish culture was affected.
This course explores historical events and personalities involving or affecting the Jewish people in medieval Europe through the fourteenth century. The course will also focus on how historical figures made an impact on Jewish life through their major works and communal interaction. Significant figures include Rashi and the Ba’alei Tosafos, the Rabainu Tam, R’ Yitzchok b. Shmuel (the Ri), the Ra’avad and R’ Zerachyah HaLevi (the Ba’al Hamaor). Nicholas Donin, Innocent III, R’ Shmuel of Falais, R’ Yechiel of Paris, R’ Moshe of Coucy, R’ Chaim Kohen, R’ Meir of Rothenberg and his students, R’ Kalonymos of Rome and R’ Nosson b Yechiel. Students will also demonstrate an understanding of how the Jews living in Europe during the Middle Ages interacted with surrounding cultures, and how they influenced and were influenced by their host countries. Also, students will be able to express an understanding of the significance of major political and cultural events and their impact on the Jewish communities and individuals. Topics include the Second Crusade, early Christian Anti-Semitism, Ritual Murder Libels, Blood Libels, The French and English expulsions, usury the Papacy, the disputations, the burning of the Talmud, emigration to Eretz Yisroel, the expulsion from France, the Black Death, rabbinic ordination, the 100 Years War.
In the upper division baccalaureate degree category, 3 semester hours in History, Jewish History, Judaic Studies or Sociology (3/22).
Varies – self study.
May 2022 - Present.
Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to: illustrate and discuss what Jewish society and culture was like during the early medieval period in Europe; describe the major historical events in early Medieval Europe that affected the Jewish population and explain the impact these events had on Ashkenazi Jewish life; identify the major historical personalities in Medieval Europe whose actions affected the Jewish population and explain how they impacted the Jewish population; describe the contributions of Jewish historical figures and explain the impact they had on Jewish life; describe and assess how the interactions between Jewish and Christian cultures influenced Christian attitudes towards Jews and in turn influenced Jewish life and society.
This course explores historical events and personalities involving or affecting the Jewish people in medieval Europe through the eleventh century. The course will also focus on how historical figures made an impact on Jewish life through their major works and communal interaction. Significant figures include the Kalonymus family, R’ Gershom Me’or HaGolah, the Chasidei Ashkanaz, and R Yaakov b. Yakar. Students will also demonstrate an understanding of how the Jews living in Medieval Europe interacted with their host countries and how major political and cultural events such as the crusades had an impact on the Jewish communities. Major topics that will be covered include Jewish emigration to France and Germany, Jewish economic life in France and Germany, the importance of customs, rabbinical decrees, the origins aftermath and outcomes of the first crusades and “The People’s Crusade”.
In the upper division baccalaureate degree category, 3 semester hours in History, Jewish History, Judaic Studies or Sociology (3/22).
Varies – self study.
May 2022 - Present.
Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to: illustrate and discuss what Jewish society and culture was like in Spain during the Middle Ages; describe the major historical events in Spain during the Middle Ages that affected the Jewish population and explain the impact these events had on Jewish life; identify the major historical personalities in Spain whose actions affected the Jewish population and explain how they impacted the Jewish population; describe the contributions of Jewish historical figures and explain the impact they had on Jewish life; describe and assess how the interactions between Jewish, Christian and Muslim cultures influenced Christian and Muslim attitudes towards Jews and in turn influenced Jewish life and society; describe the important decisions and decrees Jewish leaders made during this period and discuss what may have influenced their decisions and how Jewish culture was affected.
This course explores the rich and intricate history of the Jews of Spain and Portugal throughout the Middle Ages until the 1492 expulsion. The course will also focus on how historical figures made an impact on Jewish life through their major works and communal interaction. Significant figures include Chisdai Ibn Shaprut, Shmuel Hanagid, Shlomo Ibn Gavirol, R’ Yehuda Halevi, The Rambam, The Ramban, Rabbenu Yonah, The Rashba, and The Rosh. Students will also gain an understanding of how the Jews living in Spain and Provence during the Middle Ages interacted with surrounding cultures, and how they influenced and were influenced by their host countries. Also, students will understand the significance of major political and cultural events and their impact on the Jewish communities and individuals. Topics include controversy and harmony between Sephardic Jewry, Christiandom, and Islam; the influence of philosophy on Jewish scholarship; how Kabbalah came to influence Jewish culture in Spain; the cultural and religious legacy of Sephardic Jewry; the trauma of Christian persecution and compulsory conversion to Christianity.
In the upper division baccalaureate degree category, 3 semester hours in History, Jewish History, Judaic Studies or Sociology (3/22).
Varies – self study.
May 2022 - Present.
Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to: illustrate and discuss what Jewish society and culture was like in Spain during in the century leading up to the expulsion; describe the major historical events in Spain in the 14th and 15th centuries that affected the Jewish population and explain the impact these events had on Jewish life; identify the major historical personalities in Spain whose actions affected the Jewish population in the period leading up to the expulsion and explain how they impacted the Jewish population; describe the contributions of Jewish historical figures and explain the impact they had on Jewish life; describe and assess how the interactions between Jewish and Christian cultures influenced Christian attitudes towards Jews and in turn influenced Jewish life and society; describe the important decisions and decrees Jewish leaders made during this period and discuss what may have influenced their decisions and how Jewish culture was affected.
This course explores historical events and personalities involving or affecting the Jewish people in medieval Europe through the fourteenth century. The course will also focus on how historical figures made an impact on Jewish life through their major works and communal interaction. Significant figures include Avner, Shlomo HaLevi, Yehoshua Lorki, R’ Nissim b. Reuven (Ran), R’ Chisdai b. Crescas, R’ Yitzchok Abrabanel, Torquemada, Ferdinand and Isabella. Students will also demonstrate an understanding of how the Jews living in Europe during the Middle Ages interacted with surrounding cultures, and how they influenced and were influenced by their host countries. Also, students will be able to express an understanding of the significance of major political and cultural events and their impact on the Jewish communities and individuals. Topics include the conversos, the riots of 1391, the Inquisition, the Holy Child of LaGuardia, events leading up to the expulsion, and the refugees from Spain.
In the upper division baccalaureate degree category, 3 semester hours in History, Jewish History, Judaic Studies or Sociology (3/22).
