Introduction to the Zohar: Myth, Midrash and Mysticism in Medieval Judaism - Einzelansicht

The Zohar is a great collection of texts from medieval Spain structured in the form of a commentary on the Torah. In truth, it deals with the laws and narratives of the Torah as windows into the Big Questions about God, the relation of humanity and God, the human condition, the relation of male and female (among humans and within God), the problem of evil, the reasons for religious practice (mitzvot), and the end and purpose of life and history. The stories and interpretations of the Zohar are often presented in the literary form of midrash. The mode of thought is mythic. To what extent the source of these imaginative texts is mystical experience or intellectual speculation is debated in contemporary scholarship. Since the Zohar became the foundational text for Kabbalah, we shall also explore the reception-history of the Zohar. The course will be taught in English, and will demand an intensive reading of texts, both primary and secondary. All Aramaic and Hebrew primary sources will be available in the original as well as in English. Secondary scholarly studies will be in English. Course requirements: Regular and active participation in class. Brief writing exercises and presentations. Final exam in class, and a three-page essay.