© Rabbi David L. Kline
http://good-to-be-a-jew.blogspot.com/
STORIES OUR ANCESTORS
TOLD ABOUT THEIR ANCESTORS
What’s Going On Here,
VII Rabbi David
L. Kline
BOLLI Spring
2012
Continuing the Intro to Bible courses, we focus on the
stories, narratives as found in Bible.
Selections from the three sections of Tanach (Bible): Torah
(Pentateuch), N’vi’im (Joshua through Malachi), K’tuvim (Psalms through
Chronicles) The object is twofold.
First, literary appreciation, reading for pleasure, discovering a past
world of creative writing, an ancient genre. This will include critical reading to distinguish between
factual and fictional passages.
Second, relating to our ancestors, our history and idea development.
Prior
knowledge is desirable but the course will be appropriate for any level
student. Participants will be
encouraged to make class presentations.
Most
of the assigned stories can be found on my blog, “Good to be a Jew.” See the right hand column, headed
“Bible Project.” Click on a title
and follow the instructions.
Textbooks
Required: Bible,
Hebrew or any translation.
Footnotes/commentary desirable
Suggested: Richard
Eliot Friedman, Who Wrote the Bible, $ 5
Robert
Alter, The Art of Biblical Narrative, $ 15
MYTHS OF REALITY
1. March
6
Two Creation Stories Genesis
1-3
A) “The First
Week,” B) “In the Garden.”
Google
your curiosity.
How does theory
differ from myth? What’s the
weltanschauung? Who is God?
2. March
13
The Man and His Woman and Their Kids Genesis
4-6
Midrashically speaking http://www.myjewishlearning.com/texts/Rabbinics/Midrash/Midrash_Aggadah/How_Midrash_Functions.shtml
Life expectancy?
Whose families are these?
Brotherly hate?
FAMILY LEGENDS
3. March
20
Avraham Avinu Genesis
12-23
Classic, with Rashi http://www.aish.com/jl/b/eb/kbc/48969836.html At the window labeled
“CHUMASH,” enter the chapter and verse you want. You will see a translation of the text. Select a verse and you will be linked
to the Rashi commentary.
Classic critical http://www.archive.org/search.php?query=critical%20and%20exegetical%20commentary%20AND%20collection%3Atoronto&page=1 At the site, select
Genesis (6th on the list).
In the “View the book” window at the left margin, select “Read
Online.” What you will see is a
photo of the book. Place cursor
over image of page edges and numbers will appear. Click to go to any page. Search by flipping pages.
Joseph Campell (Google “Joseph Campbell”
Abraham, bottom of 1st
page)
http://books.google.com/books?id=pDaGaYqcL8EC&pg=PA204&lpg=PA204&dq=joseph+campbell%22+abraham&source=bl&ots=Jg4RLLbtMW&sig=ba4M0hv_sPBDluUUsaEqKq4ZCNM&hl=en&ei=lG-pTsHZE8rz0gHipKm6Dg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=10&ved=0CGQQ6AEwCQ#v=onepage&q&f=false
What do we hope to find when we tell stories about our
ancestors?
4.
March 27
Yitschak Genesis
24-27
A) Rivkah at the well
B) Child rearing C) Travel
precautions D) Food is destiny
Rashi and Critical commentaries as
above
Wife/sister motif (Speiser, in Anchor Genesis)
Have we got skeletons in the closet? Are
we at risk?
5. April
3
Ya’akov Genesis28-36
A) Ladder B)
Trickster tricked C) Assistant wives D) Genetic engineering E) God and
gods F) Trickster > Wrestler G)
Semireconciliation
Rashi and Critical commentaries as
above
Anita Diamant, The Red Tent
Arthur Waskow, God Wrestling
Who wrestles with God?
HEROIC TALES
6. April
17
Gid’on Judges
6-9
Judge or king?
Charisma or birth? Tribe or
nation?
7. April
24
Sh’lomo the King
I Kings 1-11
Google: Solomon
What’s a good king? Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown?
EYEWITNESS ACCOUNTS
8. May 1
Return From Babylonia Ezra 1-10,
Nehemiah 1-13 (see reading
guide)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_Ezra
Apocrypha 1 Esdras 3-4
9.
May 8
The process of change, Malka Simkovich, BOLLI Scholar.
10.
May 15
Torah for 5th century BCE
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