Jewish Studies 11-1
Rabbi Steven Razin
Office: room 313 610-922-2443
Please feel free to email me srazin@jbha.org if you have any questions, comments or concerns.
Welcome!
The Jewish Ethics course examines the foundation and practice of ethics. We begin the 2nd & 3rd Trimesters examining the foundations of ethics in Judaism, reviewing various sources from the Torah and Rabbinic literature. We will read and discuss articles on how the Reform, Conservative and Orthodox movements view the role of ethics and halakha. Our second unit will focus on Jewish Ethics and Homosexuality. Our third unit will focus on an examination of bio-ethics and the sanctity of life. Throughout our studies, we will explore how Judaism shapes our own ethical and moral values.
Second & Third Trimester Assignments:
9 Dec, read, sign and return the course policy and grading rubric and complete the Calvin and Hobbs
(http://derdo.wordpress.com/2009/07/28/calvin-and-hobbes-on-ethics/ ) The Foundation of Ethics worksheet, due: 10 Dec
11 Dec, Find a news article about an ethical dilemma, read it, write a summary. Then write a short (one page) position paper on the dilemma, taking one side and explaining why you took that side. Due: 14 Dec
16 Dec, Read and review the passage from Shabbat, due: in class
Read and be prepared to explain the story from Bereshit Rabbah, in class
6 Jan, Read the article "Imitatio Dei", due: 7 Jan
Read the passage from Shabbat, bottom of page 1 and answer the questions on the top of page 2, due:
7 Jan, Bring in the Rashi to the passages in Gen 6, Gen 19 and Deut 11, due: 8 Jan
12 Jan, Read Gen 6, Gen 19 and Deut. 11 (pages 4 & 5 in sourcebook) and complete the worksheet for these readings, due: 13 Jan
Read and summarize the readings on page 5, due:
25 Jan, Read the Yad Avraham to Pe'ah 1:1, due: 26 Jan
28 Jan, Read Sforno on page 6 in the sourcebook and complete Section II on worksheet, due: 1 Feb
2 Feb, Complete section III on worksheet and read the remainder of the packet, due: 3 Feb
16 Feb, Read and be prepared to discuss Bereshit 22:1-19, Bereshit 18:20-32, and Devarim 4:5-9 (pages 8-9 in Sourcebook), due: 17 Feb
17 Feb, Read and be prepared to discuss Devarim 4:5-9 and Gittin 59b (Sourcebook pg 9), due: 19 Feb
19 Feb, Read the 2 halakhot from the Mishna Torah handout and explain in a paragraph or two what the moral dilemma is, due: 22 Feb
22 Feb, Complete worksheet on Pittsburgh Platform of 1885, and
Complete worksheet on Pittsburgh Platform of 1999 , pages 12-15,
and
Read Geiger's letter to Zunz, pages 16-17 in the Sourcebook and
answer the questions on those pages,
Due: 23 Feb
23 Feb, Read and complete worksheet for "Surrendering Our Minds to God" from Reflections of the Rav by Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik, Sourcebook pages 18-21, due: 24 Feb
24 Feb, Read Ethics and the Halakhah by Rabbi Seymour Siegel, sourebook pages 22-25, and complete worksheet for this reading, due: 25 Feb
3 Mar, Complete the section Ramban Vayikra 19 on worksheet, due: in class
Hok u'mishpat take home test
5 Mar, Complete the section Ramban Vayikra 19 on worksheet, due: 9 Mar
11 Mar, Write a 1 page reaction essay to "Hineni" due: 15 Mar
24 Mar, Research Paper
A. Topic due: Monday, 12 April
B. Sources (must be photocopies) due: Friday, 23 Apr
C. Detailed outline and introductory paragraph of paper due: Wednesday, 5 May
D. Rough draft due: Friday, 14 May
E. Paper due: Friday, 11 June
F. Class Presentations: Friday & Monday, 11 & 14 June (with 1 page handout for classmates)
13 Apr, Trembling Before God worksheet, due: 19 Apr
Read and summarize in 2-3 sentences the handout "The Traits of Chassidus", due:
Reading and discussing primary sources related to homosexuality
Read and summarize pages 44-54 in Sourcebook, due:
Please use the class time to begin research on your papers. Ms. Gabay has put aside a selection of books on biomedical ethics and she can also direct you to acceptable web sites for research
Read pages 34-40 and complete worksheet on page 41, due:
Read and outline/highlight "A Reform Perspective" and "A Reconstrutionist Perspective", pages 65-67 in sourcebook, due:
Read and summarize pages 44-54 in Sourcebook, due:
1. Worksheet on Movement's perspectives on homosexuality &
2. read scientific information on pages 70-71 in sourcebook and answer the questions at the end of this section, due:
Scenario: A homosexual couple, one Jewish the other not Jewish, wish to have you perform a wedding/committment ceremony. How will you answer this couple if you are an Orthodox rabbi? A Conservative rabbi? A Reform rabbi? A Reconstructionist rabbi? Your answers should reflect thoughtful consideration and respect for this couple. Due:
Complete survey on page 79 and 2.
Meet in library to research primary sources for paper
Read Kedushat hahayyim, pages67-69 and complete assignment on page 69, due:
30 Apr, Worksheets for pages 70-71 in class
Complete the first section of the worksheets entitled “Your blood is redder than his-deciding whose life is more valuable”, page 70, in class
Complete the second and third pages of the worksheet under "Rodef", questions 5-9
Complete all sections of the worksheets, due:
Complete Why Change the Rules For Twins Like Them worksheet, pages 96-7 in Sourcebook, due:
Abortion, American Reform Responsa worksheet, pages 98-9 in Sourcebook
A. Topic due: Monday, 12 April
B. Sources (must be photocopies) due: Friday, 23 Apr
C. Detailed outline and introductory paragraph of paper due: Wednesday, 5 May
D. Rough draft due: Friday, 14 May
E. Paper due: Friday, 11 June
F. Class Presentations: Friday & Monday, 11 & 14 June (with 1 page handout for classmates)
21 May, Worksheet on Desecration of the Dead, sourcebook pages 76-77
On-line resources:
Library Essentials from the Jack M. Barrack Hebrew Academy Library
Please feel free to email me if you have any questions, comments or concerns.
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