Beginning Biblical Hebrew, Rabbi Shari Chen — SU25

Wednesdays 1:30 – 3:00 PM CT 

This will be a survey course tracing the development of Jewish mystic thought from the visions of Yeshayahu and Yechezke’el through the Medieval Kabbalists to contemporary Jewish mystical thinkers. This will be a bit of a “tasting menu,” going for breadth over depth. Some of the texts we learn will be in Hebrew or Aramaic, others will be English translations or original English texts. Students will learn key concepts in Jewish mystical thought, ways in which mystic thought show up in our mainstream liturgy, and how contemporary Jewish mysticism draws deeply from our tradition and also incorporates concepts from the outside. Translations of Hebrew/Aramaic texts will be made available to students with no prior Hebrew knowledge.