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Course: Jewish Philosophy and Mysticism

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Course title Jewish Philosophy and Mysticism
Course code KRE/ZFIL2
Organizational form of instruction Seminar
Level of course Master
Year of study not specified
Semester Summer
Number of ECTS credits 4
Language of instruction English
Status of course Compulsory-optional
Form of instruction Face-to-face
Work placements This is not an internship
Recommended optional programme components None
Lecturer(s)
  • Lisý Štěpán, Mgr. M.A. Th.D.
Course content
The chosen topics from The Guide of the Perplexed concerning reasons for the Commandments (taamei ha-mitzvot) in comparison with the kabbalistic explication of Commandments (mitzvot).

Learning activities and teaching methods
Methods of individual activities, Skills training
  • unspecified - 30 hours per semester
Learning outcomes
The objective of this course is to introduce students to the interaction of Jewish Philosophy and Mysticism (Kabbalah) in the Middle Ages, paying particular attention to the explications of reasons for the Commandments.
Students will be able to handle Mediaeval philosphical/mystical texts and their commentaries, and they will get the basic overview of Jewish religious literature, thought and culture in general (of the Middle Ages and Renaissance).
Prerequisites
English Language.

Assessment methods and criteria
Didactic test, Discussion

Credit will be given according to the regular preparation of source texts, 80% presence on sessions, and reading the secondary literature. The oral exam will take the form of discussion upon the chosen text where student has to proof he read various sources and secondary literature about the medieval Jewish philosophy and mysticism.
Recommended literature
  • CAPUTO, N. Nachmanides in Medieval Catalonia - History, Community and Messianism. Notre Dame, 2007. ISBN 9780268022938.
  • Elior, Rachel. Jewish Mysticism: The Infinite Expression of Freedom. Portland, 2007. ISBN 978-1-906764-04-3.
  • Garb, Jonathan. Shammanic Trance in Modern Kabbalah. Chicago, 2011. ISBN 978-0-226-28207-7.
  • HALEVI, J. An Argument for the Faith of Israel the Kuzari. New York, 1964. ISBN 0805200754.
  • Idel, Moshe. Kabbalah New Perspectives. New Haven and London, 1988. ISBN 0-300-04699-5.
  • KELLNER, M. Maimonides' Confrontation with Mysticism. Oxford, 2007. ISBN 9781904113294.
  • MAIMONIDES, M. The Guide of the Perplexed (volume one). CHICAGO, 1963. ISBN 0226502309.
  • MAIMONIDES, M. The Guide of the Perplexed (volume two). CHICAGO, 1963. ISBN 0226502317.
  • SAADIA, G. The Book of Beliefs and Opinions. New Haven and London, 1976. ISBN 9780300044904.
  • Schäfer, Peter. The Origins of Jewish Mysticism. Princeton, 2009. ISBN 978-0-691-14215-9.
  • Scholem, G. Gershom. Major Trends in Jewish Mysticism. New York, 1961.
  • TWERSKY, I. Inroduction to the Code of Maimmonides (Mishneh Torah). New Haven and London, 1980. ISBN 9780300028461.
  • Unknown. The Zohar (Pritzker Edition) Vol. I-V. Stanford, 2004. ISBN 0804747474.


Study plans that include the course
Faculty Study plan (Version) Category of Branch/Specialization Recommended year of study Recommended semester
Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Philosophy Study plan (Version): Religious Studies (2013) Category: Philosophy, theology 1 Recommended year of study:1, Recommended semester: Summer
University of Pardubice, date of update: 13.05.2024 23:50.