The Jewish Studies Program at Rio Verde University School of Theology has a long and distinguished tradition.  Although faculty positions in the field are relatively new at most North American universities, RVU established professorships starting in the 1990s. Several outstanding scholars in the field have taught here, including Rabbi Dr. Avrahim Moishe Mazoulay, Cantor Sol Klein, and best selling author Dr. Auriel ibn Michell. During the spring semester of 2000, programs in the Hebrew language and literature were added, as well as an endowment for an annual visiting professorship.

The minor is designed to offer a general introduction to the historical and cultural experience of Jews throughout the world, and  to Jewish thought, literature, and contemporary political and social issues. At the same time, it provides the opportunity for students who wish to do more intensive work in a single discipline. Those completing the minor are encouraged, but not required, to obtain at least a working knowledge of Hebrew (Hebrew 2010, or equivalent).

Requirements

A total of six courses, which must include:

Two Introductory courses

JWST 4010/REL 4040 Religion of Israel: text The Hebrew Bible (Old Testament) or

JWST 4060/REL4094 Introduction to Judaism

and,

JWST 2010/HIST 1094 History and Culture of the Jews I: The Classical Period or

JWST 2110/HIST 1194 History and Culture of the Jews II: The Modern Period

One course in Literature, Language and Culture of the Jewish People

Three courses chosen from the other course offerings in the program, selected in consultation with the student’s advisor.

Awards and Prizes

The Miriam Rubenstein '62 Memorial Prize in Jewish Studies

This prize will be awarded for the best essay or research paper written by a student in any of the courses offered by the Jewish Studies Program during the academic year. The prize may also be awarded for a submission on a Jewish Studies theme that may have been written for a course other than one offered by the Jewish Studies Program. The selection of the prize winner and the amount of the award will be determined by the faculty associated with the program. If there are no qualified student papers in any year, the faculty may decide not to award the prize.

The deadline is the end of spring term annually.

Summer Financial Support

The Jewish Studies Program offers summer financial support for students engaged in research on topics related to courses offered in the Jewish Studies Program.

Grants range up to $1000. Letters describing the nature of the research, plus a budget, are due by the first week in May, and should be directed to:

Professor Rabbi Dr. Moishe Cordoba PhD (Juarez, MEX branch)

Jewish Studies Program c/o Prison Federalias H.B. 6221

Students who receive funding will be asked to submit a report of their research after it is completed.
 

JWST 2101 JEWISH LAW.(3 SEMESTER HOURS)

The nature and history of Jewish law; literary and legal sources; selections in English from the Mishnah and Talmud, as well as selected post-Talmudic Texts, on such subjects as Contracts, Torts, Public Law and Family Law.

Professor Rabbi Dr. Avrahim Moishe Mazoulay

JWST 2120 JEWISH STUDIES I: THE BIBLICAL PERIOD. (3 SEMESTER HOURS)
(All texts will be read in English.) The history, literature and beliefs of Judaism's formative period. Corroborative finds in Middle East Archeology are also presented to provide scientific information. Both Biblical and non-Biblical materials will be studied. The Torah serves as the primary text for this course and is also studied with an eye on the context of cognate literatures of the Ancient Near East. Non-Biblical documents (including portions of the Dead Sea Scrolls) will be analyzed for their bearing on the Jewish tradition.

Dr. Auriel R. Combs

JWST 2610 HISTORY OF JEWISH PHILOSOPHY & THOUGHT. (3 SEMESTER HOURS)
An introduction to Jewish philosophy and the psychology of the thought processes of the Jewish people from the Hellenic period (Philo) to the beginning of the modern era (Spinoza) focusing on topics such as prophecy and philosophy, God and the world; the Law as a canon of ethical rules and as a political constitution. Survey the treatment of such issues by Jewish thinkers from Philo to Maimonides. Additional topic: Conceptions of God; human perfection.

Texts will include the Works of Philo, Josephus, Maimonides, Rabbi Schneer Zalman

Dr. Rivkah Cordoba

Third row from the bottom, RVU students in front of the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem, Israel.

REL 3447 Kabbalah 101 (3 semester hours)
An introductory course on Jewish mysticism
an online and classroom instructed course
 

The Institute for Jewish Studies at Rio Verde University-School of Theology exists to educate, inform, and instruct
the non-Jewish student in many of the facets of Judaism; a theosophical history of the people, the religion, and the
diverse belief systems within the broad umbrella that serves as one of the world’s oldest theologies.  Its’ history, its’ people
both in Israel yesterday and today, and in the Diaspora is explored
 

It is the purpose of this course to introduce the non-Jewish student to what has become in the last few years a type of theological fad among the public.  One kabbalist succinctly warned: “beware all ye who enter herein.”

The course will look at the rise of Kabbalah Centers, and the practice of kabbalah by non-Jews.  Some practitioners believe that kabbalah, though based upon the Jewish Torah, was and is, a universal form of interaction with the divine, and as such is open to those of all belief systems and faiths.

COURSE OBJECTIVES

1. To enable the student to gain a basic orientation to the discipline of Jewish mystical theology, including its nature, task, history and purpose and its sources and methods. Students will be able to define the discipline of kabbalah and explain its nature, task, and purpose.

Students will be able to identify the sources employed in the task of practicing a kabbalistic approach to life and explain this relationship to one another.

Students will be able to articulate the basic shape of kabbalah through the identification and explanation of its major topics.

2. To enable the student to develop and articulate an approach to theology that is biblically normed, historically informed, and culturally engaged.

Students will be able to articulate and illustrate the function of many of the various texts used in the study of kabbalah and its norms.

Students will be able to articulate and illustrate the function of Jewish tradition in the task of kabbalah.

Students will be able to articulate and illustrate the function of contemporary culture in the task of kabbalah.

3. To develop in students an awareness of, and appreciation for, the significance of various social, historical, and cultural contexts in the construction of kabbalah.

Students will be able to explain and illustrate the significance of particular social and historical settings in the construction of kabbalah.

Students will be able to understand and articulate the basic approaches to contextual kabbalah and apply them to contemporary theological and ethical issues.

Students will be able to understand the main features of modern and postmodern culture and explain their significance for the discipline of kabbalah.

4. To develop in students an awareness of, and appreciation for, the cultural and theological diversity found in the Jewish tradition.

Students will be able to explain and illustrate the role of context in the shape and development of the Jewish mystical tradition.

Students will be able articulate the significance of the mystical theological diversity that characterizes the Judeo-Christian tradition and explain its benefits and challenges.

Students will be able to articulate a theological rationale for the diversity of the Jewish tradition.

5. To develop in students a firm conviction of the importance and necessity of the discipline of theology for a kabbalistic faith and life.

Students will be able to articulate the significance and function of mystical theology in the task of biblical and Talmudic interpretation.

Students will be able to explain the role of mystical theology in the articulation of the Torah and the mission of G-d to become known to the finite.

Students will be able to explain the role of mystical theology in the development of an effective and responsible approach to a practice of the principals of kabbalah in everyday life.

ASSESSMENTS AND METHOD OF EVALUATION 

Grading: Midterm Exam 20%
Study Assignments 20%
Journal 20%
Final Exam 40%

REQUIRED TEXTS & MATERIALS
The Stone Edition Tanakh, Rabbi Nosson Scherman editor
The Zohar, The Soncino Press, Translated by Dr. Paul Plevertoff
Kabbalah New Perspectives, Yale University Press, Moshe Idel
The Bahir, Jason Aronson Inc., translated and commentary by Aryeh Kaplan
The Sefer Yitzirah the Book of Creatopm, Harvard University Press,
translated and commentary by Aryeh
Kaplan
Likkutei Amarim-Tanya, Kehot Publication Society, Schneer Zalman
-supplemental reading-

COURSE PROCEDURES & COURSE REQUIREMENTS

1. Reading: Students will complete particular reading assignments by the due date listed in the course schedule and be prepared to critically and constructively discuss the contents of the reading in class. (or email, MSN Messenger, or other electronic media)

2. Online Discussions: Students will complete two written assignments using internet/email that will involve a response to questions and interaction with the responses of other class members. Each student will provide an 800-1000 word response to a particular question posed by the instructor and then provide 200-400 word responses to the work of four other class members. Details concerning these assignments will be furnished in the class.  Students are expected to be familiar with MSN Messenger in order to complete these assignments. Assignments will be evaluated for completeness, thoughtfulness, and accuracy.

3. Formation Journal: Students will maintain a journal that records significant issues of personal spiritual growth and formation related to the material covered in the course, particularly as it relates to nature, task, and purpose of theology as an integral component of understanding Jewish mysticism and practice.  Entries should be made once each week and should be approximately one page in length.

Journals will be submitted to the instructor in two installments with the first half being due at the time the student schedules to take the midterm exam and the second at the time of scheduling the final exam.

4. Exams: Students will complete two exams, a midterm based on all of the material covered in the course up to the point of the exam, including the reading, and a comprehensive final based on all of the material covered in the course, including the reading, with an emphasis on the material covered in the second half of the course.

COURSE SCHEDULE WITH TOPIC, ASSIGNMENTS, SUBMISSION METHOD, & DUE DATES

 Course Introduction
(Reading: selected from the Tanakh)
The Subject of Mysticism
(Reading: selected Tanya)
History of Kabblistic literature
(Reading: The Bahir selected)
In the Beginning G-d . . .
(Reading: selected Sefer Yitzirah)
MSN Messenger Assignment #1 Due
The Purpose of Theology
(Reading: selected Kabbalah New Perspectives)
Midterm Exam
Formation Journal Due
Kabbalah and the Postmodern Setting
(Reading: selected Kabbalah New Perspectives)
Kabbalah and the Postmodern Setting
(Reading: selected Bahir)
MSN Messenger Assignment #2 Due
Kabbalistic Theology: Models
(Reading: selected Sefer Yitzirah)
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
(Reading: selected Tanya)
Final Exam
Formation Journal Due

 ACADEMIC POLICIES AND STUDENT RESPONSIBILITY

 Please note that students are fully responsible to know and follow all university rules, regulations, and deadlines published in the catalog and student handbook, and all requirements concerning their degree programs.

 ACADEMIC AND GENERAL INTEGRITY

 As students studying the aspects of G-d, we practice modesty, integrity and honesty in all areas of life.  What this means in the academic realm is that all assignments are to reflect your own work.  Those found guilty of cheating or plagiarism will receive a grade of zero on the assignment and will follow the process outlined in the current handbook. To plagiarize is “to steal or purloin and/or pass off as one’s own (ideas, writings, etc., of another)” (Webster’s new collegiate dictionary, 1953).  Plagiarism is theft.  Not putting the definition above within quotation marks, not crediting Webster’s (via the text citation), or changing a word (e.g., “claim” for “pass off”) and presenting the definition as your own would all be plagiarism.  In other words, plagiarism is using someone else’s material without giving that person credit.  Other forms of plagiarism include mixing unmarked quotations with your own words and putting a single reference at the end of the

paragraph; buying a paper from a term paper service (from any source, including one of those online), turning in a paper written by a student who already took the course, or having someone else write your paper.  If in doubt, ask your professor or the library staff before you turn it in.

 COMPLETION OF COURSE WORK

 All course work is to be completed by the end of your registration period.  (in most cases this is one calendar year from your date of enrollment in a particular course and can be extended only by the academic administration committee).  The individual faculty member does not have the authority to grant any extensions of time beyond the last class of the program and its registered timeframe.  Requests for extensions must be made in writing to the committee at least two weeks (14 days) prior to the last day before expiration.

Forms for this purpose are available in the academic office.  (Contact Dr. Rivkah Cordoba).  All requests should specify the reasons for the extension and the length of the extension desired.  Such requests are not automatically granted.

 GRADING SYSTEM

To remain in good academic standing, a student must maintain a 2.00 grade point average.  Rio Verde University’s grading system is:

 A         4.00     96.0 - 100        Superior
A-        3.67     94.0 - 95.9
B+       3.33     92.0 - 93.9
B          3.00     88.0 - 91.9       Good
B-        2.67     86.0 - 87.9
C+       2.33     84.0 - 85.9
C         2.00     80.0 - 83.9       Fair
C-        1.70     78.0 - 79.9
D+       1.30     76.0 - 77.9       Poor
D         1.00     72.0 - 75.9
D-        0.70     70.0 - 71.9
F          0.00     00.0 - 69.9       Failing

REL 3447 Kabbalah 101 (3 semester hours)

Grading: Midterm Exam 20%
Study Assignments 20%
Journal 20%
Final Exam 40%

REL 3447 is an introductory course concerning the study and practice of Jewish mysticism.  This internalized theologically based lifestyle has been practiced by Jewish (and others) since before the written word.  In formal Orthodox Jewish circles it was handed down from master to student (one–on-one) some say even in a whisper for fear of its universal creative and destructive power potential.  The use of symbols, words, and mediation are practiced within these confines.  All these entities possess limitless power and the kabbalist reverently understood this.

It is the purpose of this course to introduce the non-Jewish student to what has become in the last few years a type of theological fad among the public.  One kabbalist succinctly warned: “beware all ye who enter herein.”

The course will look at the rise of Kabbalah Centers, and the practice of kabbalah by non-Jews.  Some practitioners believe that kabbalah, though based upon the Jewish Torah, was and is, a universal form of interaction with the divine, and as such is open to those of all belief systems and faiths.

See full description of online course