HRHS4930 01 Jewish Magic in Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages
GTU Intersession Intensive
January 16 - January 26, 2007
9:30 - 1 pm, Monday - Friday
3 credits
Jewish Magic in Late Antiquity & the Middle Ages will explore the
rich diversity of magical forms and practices in late antique and
medieval Judaism. Drawing upon literary representations and
historical artifacts, we will examine ways that Jewish practitioners
invoked spirits and angels, called forth the rains, healed the sick,
manifested divine protection, worked wonders, beguiled the unwary,
and crossed vast distances in the blink of an eye. We will consider
motifs of witchcraft and the demonic in Jewish life and pay
particular attention to the ways that gender and socio-religious
position shape the meanings ascribed to magical practice. We will
also explore the role of religious syncretism in magical practice and
consider comparisons with Greco-Roman and European magical
traditions. The course will involve extensive in-class work with
primary sources, either in original languages or in translation.
About the Instructor: Julia Watts Belser is a Ph.D. candidate in
Jewish Studies at the UC Berkeley and the Graduate Theological
Union. Her dissertation research focuses on folklore and gender
studies in Talmudic literature, particularly the magic and miracle
tales of Masekhet Ta'anit. This class has been made possible by a
Newhall Research and Teaching Fellowship and will be taught under the
supervision of Professor Deena Aranoff.
For more information, contact the instructor at
[log in to unmask] or the Center for Jewish Studies at
[log in to unmask] Community auditors are welcome with the permission of
the instructor.
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