First Year Seminar: Midrash: The Imaginative Interpretation of Biblical Texts

3 units

The aim of this course is to introduce students to Midrash, the highly fascinating literature of Rabbinic Biblical interpretation. Among the topics to be studied are: How did the classical Rabbis read the Bible? What is the relationship between the plain meaning of the Biblical text and the polyphone interpretations of Midrash? How can numerous, at times even contradictory interpretations of the same verse coexist? What is the function of imaginative narratives, parables, and folklore in Midrash? Initially the Midrashic logic may seem elusive from the viewpoint of a modern Western reader, in turn its creative thinking will prove to be smart, playful, at times even slippery, and yet substantial. Addressing the literary, historical, and cultural context in which Rabbinic Midrash developed, we will get to know a variety of Midrashic collections and styles covering a time span from late antiquity to the Middle Ages. All primary sources will be read in translation. Throughout the semester we will devote time to discussing practical questions such as how to use the Library's catalogue and (electronic) reference sources, as well as techniques for structuring and writing students' essays.