Online Courses

Online Courses

Hebrew College offers many exciting courses online. We invite you to explore online learning opportunities for Spring 2012 below. Register here.

Bible Text and Context

Rodman

BIBLE 600

Syllabus

A critical introduction to the Hebrew Bible (Tanakh) studying its place in the history of ancient Israel and Jewish tradition, as well as its relationship to ancient Near Eastern cultures of the biblical period. Through broad coverage and close reading, students will focus on the fundamental scholarly methods of literary, historical and theological analysis, in order to explore the Bible's compositional development and overarching messages.

How to Lead High Holiday Services

Schwartz

CANTR 523

Note: Does not count for credit for ordination candidates

Syllabus

This course provides students with the skills necessary to lead the traditional prayers of services of the high holidays. Students will explore the musical modes of Nusach HaTefillah that are chanted throughout these holidays, and apply those musical motifs to the traditional liturgy. Melodies will be introduced for the most common piyyutim (religious poetry), basic Hebrew grammar will be reviewed, and the structure of this liturgy will be studied. The Mi Sinai melodies of the Ashkenazic tradition will be utilized for specific prayers where appropriate. Facility with reading Hebrew is required.

Teaching Jewish Values to Young Children

Rodenstein

EDUC 501

Syllabus

This course is designed to enhance the potential of Jewish early childhood education through its teachers and educational leaders. The exploration and text study of basic Jewish values to augment our own, adult understanding of the virtues we hope to cultivate, will be coupled with curricular approaches to their promotion with young children. We will look at various models along the way to guide us in our planning and practice, including values acquisition, social-emotional, cognitive, moral, and faith development, paying particular attention to the crucial role of the adults in a child's life as active role models of the values we hope to instill in our children and the behavior we ultimately hope to encourage.

Managing Jewish Inclusive Classrooms

Miller-Jacobs

January 30–March 2

1 credit

EDUC 576

This course builds on the basics of classroom management, examining the variety of social, emotional and behavioral issues students present and their implications for teaching. Learn how to create and facilitate a learning community where all students receive the support needed to be successful in school.

Case Study, Curriculum and Evaluation

Miller-Jacobs and Sokol

April 16–May 18

1 credit

EDUC 577

Classroom teachers and special educators share their individual expertise to address the needs of the students in the inclusive classroom. Using a case study approach, we will examine the match between teaching style and learning style, evaluating and grading students and the use of electronic portfolios. Underlying our discussions will be an examination of how curriculum content impacts students' learning.

Jewish Life and Values

Kaunfer

EDUC 625

Syllabus

The purpose of this course is to engage educators with major concepts and values of Jewish life. The course will have a dual focus: content knowledge and pedagogic application. In studying each topic, students will be asked to consider both the concepts and sources of the topic, and how the topic can be taught and experienced by students in various educational settings. Students will study each area using classic texts along with modern commentaries. Topics will include the Jewish life cycle (birth, bar-bat mitzvah, marriage, divorce, adoption, death); values such as tzedakah, relationship between parents and children, Talmud Torah, k'vod haberiyot, bikur cholim, views of God; and Jewish practice (kashrut, tallit and tefillin).

Case Studies in Experiential Education

Goldstein

January 30–March 2

1 credit

EDUC 699

Syllabus

In this course we will use the case study method to analyze five areas of experiential education (supervision, adolescent development, vision, dynamics of group work, self-evaluation) that directly impact an educator’s ability to successfully engage youth. Students will engage in discussions that will have immediate relevancy and application to their work. At the conclusion of the course students will design an original case study in an area of experiential education of their choosing.

Seminar in Educational Leadership and Supervision

Regosin

EDUC 710

Note: For advanced students and supervisors

Syllabus

This seminar explores the process of educational supervision, instructional leadership and organizational leadership in Jewish education. Students will consider and practice varied models of supervision and staff development and examine issues of change in Jewish education. In addition, students will practice Jewish educational leadership skills, including public speaking, homiletics and educational planning and problem solving.

Theory and Practice of 21st-Century Jewish Education

Reiss Medwed

EDUC 832

Syllabus

This course will explore theories of 21st-century Jewish education and ways that these theories inform practice. We will examine different tools for learning and teaching across educational venues. The course will explore how different applications support current theories in Jewish education and will also identify the pedagogic implications for integration of technology and ideas of 21st-century education into learning experiences for Jewish education.

Mekhina (Preparation) for Hebrew Language

Levy

non-credit

HEBRW 010

Prerequisite: No prior knowledge of Hebrew is required

This course is designed to serve as an introduction to Hebrew language study and to ensure that students with some prior Hebrew study experience begin Hebrew I at comparable levels. The Mekhina introduces the Hebrew alphabet and vowels, as well as verbs and syntax sufficient for conducting simple daily conversation. Students progress at their own pace, submit oral and written homework, and take online quizzes. Weekly real-time class discussions are conducted by the instructor with small groups of students at comparable levels. The Mekhina is based on the seven introductory units of Ivrit Min Hahatchala (Hebrew From Scratch), the textbook used by Hebrew College's campus-based and online Hebrew language programs.

Hebrew I

Levy

4 undergraduate credits

HEBRW 110

Prerequisite: Hebrew Mekhina or placement test

This course enables students to recognize and use fundamental structures of Hebrew grammar and morphology, and to acquire the necessary vocabulary for basic conversation and reading of modern and classical texts. All language skills are mastered through elementary syntactic and grammatical structures. Students will learn the basic verbs in the different common active verb groups and their conjugation in the present and past tense. Students will read and listen to stories and dialogues, and participate in guided class discussions. Based on topics introduced in the lessons, students will write their own dialogues and passages. All language skills are mastered through more advanced syntactic and grammatical structures.

Hebrew IA

Levy

2 undergraduate credits

HEBRW 111A

Prerequisite: Hebrew Mekhina or placement test

This course covers the first half of Hebrew I, Lessons 1–7 of Ivrit Min Hahatchala, Vol. 1.

Hebrew IB

Levy

2 undergraduate credits

HEBRW 111B

Prerequisite: Hebrew IA or placement test

This course covers the second half of Hebrew I, Lessons 8–14 of Ivrit Min Hahatchala, Vol. 1.

Hebrew II

Levy

4 undergraduate credits

HEBRW 210

Prerequisite: Hebrew I or placement test

A continuation of Hebrew I, this course enables students to recognize and use additional structures of Hebrew grammar, morphology and vocabulary to read modern and classical texts, and to engage in conversation. Students will read and listen to stories and dialogues, and participate in guided class discussions. Based on topics introduced in the lessons, students will write their own dialogues and passages. All language skills are mastered through more advanced syntactic and grammatical structures. Students will learn the past tense of verb groups introduced in Hebrew I.

Hebrew IIA

Levy

2 undergraduate credits

HEBRW 211A

Prerequisite: Hebrew I or placement test

This course covers the first half of Hebrew II, Lessons 15–21 of Ivrit Min Hahatchala, Vol. 1.

Hebrew IIB

Levy

2 undergraduate credits

HEBRW 211B

Prerequisite: Hebrew IIA or placement test

This course covers the second half of Hebrew II, Lessons 22–28 of Ivrit Min Hahatchala, Vol. 1.

Hebrew III

Levy

4 undergraduate credits

HEBRW 310

Prerequisite: Hebrew II or placement test

Students will learn to recognize and use new and more complex structures of Hebrew grammar and morphology, such as combined sentences, and will acquire vocabulary for advanced reading of modern and classical texts, and for conversation. Lessons include readings of longer passages, dialogues and stories. Students will be given the opportunity to practice the new syntactic and grammatical structures. Based on topics introduced in the lessons, students will write short expository passages and deepen their mastery of spoken Hebrew through participation in open conversation.

Hebrew IIIA

Levy

2 undergraduate credits

HEBRW 311A

Prerequisite: Hebrew II or placement test

This course covers the first half of Hebrew III, Lessons 1–4 of Ivrit Min Hahatchala, Vol. 2.

Hebrew IIIB

2 undergraduate credits

HEBRW 311B

Prerequisite: Hebrew IIIA or placement test

This course covers the second half of Hebrew III, Lessons 5–8 of Ivrit Min Hahatchala, Vol. 2.

Hebrew IV

Levy

4 undergraduate credits

HEBRW 410

Prerequisite: Hebrew III or placement test

This course is designed for intermediate students who have successfully mastered Hebrew reading, writing and speaking skills. Students will practice writing directed and complex sentences, as well as free composition. In weekly oral assignments and class discussions, only Hebrew is spoken. Through extensive readings, students will expand their vocabulary and increase their familiarity with grammatical patterns. Students will learn the future tense of basic verbs in the strong verb groups, as well as frequently used weak verbs.

Hebrew IVA

Levy

2 undergraduate credits

HEBRW 411A

Prerequisite: Hebrew III or placement test

This course covers the first half of Hebrew IV, Lessons 9–12 of Ivrit Min Hahatchala, Vol. 2.

Hebrew IVB

Levy

2 undergraduate credits

HEBRW 411B

Prerequisite: Hebrew IVA or placement test

This course covers the second half of Hebrew IV, Lessons 13–16 of Ivrit Min Hahatchala, Vol. 2.

Reading Maimonides

Mesch

4 credits

JTHT 528

Syllabus

This course will consider the writings of one of the most prolific and influential Jewish figures of all time. Moses ben Maimon was born in Spain in the 12th century, fled to Palestine and then Egypt where he lived for most of his life. His writings deal with almost every aspect of Jewish life with a particular focus on law and philosophy. Students will read from his Guide of the Perplexed, Mishneh Torah, and the Introduction to the Tenth chapter of the Tractate of Sanhedrin (Perek Ha- Helek) along with short selections from his letters (igarot). The course will focus on Maimonides' leadership, compassion, elitism, rationalism and ultimately, his view of Jewish life and faith. The course will include a Bet Midrash experience—once a week students will meet virtually in hevruta (partnership or small groups) to study the text synchronously together.

Masterpieces of Modern Hebrew Literature

Gillman

LITER 553

Note: All materials will be made available in English translation.

Syllabus

Why did Jewish writers living in Russia and Poland begin writing in the Hebrew language in the late nineteenth century? To what similar themes, ideas and values do subsequent generations of Israeli writers return, and what innovations do they introduce? How did the historical experiences of rejection, alienation and self-determination impact upon the "Hebrew Language Revolution" (Harshav) and the ongoing development of Israeli literature? Finally, what can contemporary Hebrew literature teach us about Israeli culture and society in the twenty-first century? Short stories and novels by Peretz, Berdichevsky, Baron, Agnon, Oz, Yehoshua, Appelfeld, Castel-Bloom, Keret, Liebrecht, Grossman and others, that address the struggle for modern identity in the domains of family, nation and religion. Topics include the crisis of religious identity; Zionism and the New Hebrew; the lasting impact of the Holocaust; the Arab-Israeli encounter; the challenges facing women in a patriarchal society; the tension between individual and collective interests; and the 'Americanization' of Israeli culture. Short writing assignments and interpretive essays will enable students to develop skills of literary analysis and improve prose style.

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