About this course: The Talmud is one of the richest and most complicated works of literature the world has ever known. Since being composed around 1500 years ago it has inspired not only religious reverence but significant intellectual engagement. In this course learners will be introduced to the unique characteristics of this text and the challenges that inhere in studying it while studying a chapter of the Talmud. Students of the course can expect to develop an appreciation for how the Talmud works and why it continues to inspire religious and intellectual devotion. They will be challenged to employ critical reading skills and to analyze legal and historical concepts.
Created by: Northwestern University
Taught by: Barry Scott Wimpfheimer , Associate Professor
Religious Studies
| Commitment | 8 weeks of study, 1-2 hours/week |
| Language | English |
| How To Pass | Pass all graded assignments to complete the course. |
| User Ratings |
Syllabus
WEEK 1
Introducing the Talmud
The Talmud is a canonical work of Jewish literature that collects the ideas and arguments of rabbis who lived between the first and eighth centuries CE. This module explains the basics of how the Talmud was composed, why the Talmud matters and how it is accessed today.
5 videos, 9 readings
- Video: Introduction
- Reading: Meet Your Professors
- Reading: Grading & Logistics
- Reading: Additional Resources
- Reading: Special Thanks & Permissions
- Reading: Full Glossary
- Video: Video 1 Why Study Talmud?
- Reading: Module 1 Glossary
- Reading: Module 1 Rabbi Genealogy & Maps
- Video: Video 2 Where Does the Talmud Come From?
- Reading: Video 2 Texts & Translations
- Video: Video 3 How the Talmud Works-An Overview
- Reading: Video 3 Texts & Translations
- Video: Video 4 The Talmud's Interpreters
Graded: Module 1 Quiz
WEEK 2
False Testimony From Bible to Rabbis
The Talmud relies heavily on the authority and substance of its canonical predecessor, the Hebrew Bible. This module charts a trajectory from the biblical origins of the treatment of false testimony in Deuteronomy through its treatment within the second temple apocryphal book Susannah and the early Rabbinic law code, the Mishnah.
4 videos, 5 readings
- Video: Video 5 False Testimony in the Bible
- Reading: Module 2 Glossary
- Reading: Video 5 Text & Translations
- Video: Video 6 Evolution of Testimony Scenarios in Biblical, Second Temple and Rabbinic Literature
- Reading: Video 6 Texts & Translations
- Video: Video 7 Overview of Mishnah - What it is and how it works
- Reading: Video 7 Texts & Translations
- Video: Video 8 How Was the Mishnah Organized
- Reading: Video 8 Texts & Translations
Graded: Module 2 Quiz
WEEK 3
Reading the Bible & Rabbinic Logic
Interpretation is a major component of Rabbinic literature and the Talmud. This module introduces the specific features of Rabbinic interpretation of the Hebrew Bible—its assumptions and its reading tools.
3 videos, 4 readings
- Video: Video 9 The Logic of Reading the Bible - Kal Vahomer
- Reading: Video 9 Texts & Translations
- Reading: Module 3 Glossary
- Video: Video 10 Using Logic in Reading Critically
- Reading: Video 10 Texts & Translations
- Video: Video 11 Reading the Bible Like a Rabbi
- Reading: Video 11 Texts & Translations
Graded: Module 3 Quiz
WEEK 4
Redaction & Textual Witnesses
Textual Criticism is a form of reading that looks to explain the meaning of a text by figuring out aspects of its composition history. This module will show how Talmudic passages are typically constructed and what scholars can do to figure out the original meaning of a text.
3 videos, 4 readings
- Video: Video 12 What is a Beraita
- Reading: Video12 Texts & Translations
- Reading: Module 4 Glossary
- Video: Video 13 How Loyally Were Materials Transmitted
- Reading: Video 13 Texts & Translations
- Video: Video 14 How Redactors Built a Talmudic Passage
- Reading: Video 14 Texts & Translations
Graded: Module 4 Quiz
WEEK 5
The Stam as Reader and Writer
The historical range of the different centuries of rabbinic literature makes it possible to take note of changes in the ways the different rabbis thought about the Bible and law. This module will demonstrate how later rabbis have a more abstract way of thinking about law while simultaneously having a more restrictive way of reading the Bible.
3 videos, 3 readings
- Video: Video 15 Conceptual Evolution of “Multiple Punishments”
- Reading: Video 15 Texts & Translations
- Reading: Module 5 Glossary
- Video: Video16a What is Legal Midrash?
- Video: Video 16b Mah Hatzad: Applying a Rabbinic Logical Tool
- Reading: Video 16b Texts & Translations
Graded: Module 5 Quiz
WEEK 6
Tosefta, Tannaitic Midrash and Palestinian Talmud
Rabbinic literature consists of multiple works in three genres—Midrash, Mishnah and Talmud. This module introduces each of these different genres with a comparative analysis of texts related to false testimony in works of each type.
4 videos, 5 readings
- Reading: Module 6 Glossary
- Video: Video 17 Mishnah-Tosefta Comparison
- Reading: Video 17 Texts & Translations
- Video: Video 18 Mishnah-Tannaitic Midrash Comparison
- Reading: Video 18 Texts & Translations
- Video: Video 19 Palestinian Talmud
- Reading: Video 19 Texts & Translations
- Video: Video 20 Rabbis and Romans
- Reading: Video 20 Texts & Translations
Graded: Module 6 Quiz
WEEK 7
Narrative and History
The Talmud contains many stories that feature historical figures from the rabbinic period. In this module we will demonstrate the difficulty of reading these stories as history and model the use of literary tools for reading such materials.
3 videos, 4 readings
- Video: Video 21 Legal Narrative
- Reading: Video 21 Texts & Translations
- Reading: Module 7 Glossary
- Video: Video 22 From Sects to Rabbis
- Reading: Video 22 Texts & Translations
- Video: Video 23 Parallel Narratives
- Reading: Video 23 Texts & Translations
Graded: Module 7 Quiz
WEEK 8
Conclusion
While some of the material we have studied is unsettling, we need to bear in mind that much of it is rabbinic idealization or fantasy. This module goes through both the fantasy of rabbinic power and the realities of the importance of the Talmud in the post-Talmudic age.
3 videos, 3 readings
- Video: Video 24 Rabbinic Law as Idealization
- Reading: Video 24 Texts & Translations
- Reading: Module 8 Glossary
- Video: Video 25 Reception and Impact
- Reading: Video 25 Texts & Translations
- Video: The Talmud MOOC - Live!
Graded: Module 8 Quiz
FAQs
How It Works
Coursework
Each course is like an interactive textbook, featuring pre-recorded videos, quizzes and projects.
Help from Your Peers
Connect with thousands of other learners and debate ideas, discuss course material, and get help mastering concepts.
Certificates
Earn official recognition for your work, and share your success with friends, colleagues, and employers.
Creators
Northwestern University
Northwestern University is a private research and teaching university with campuses in Evanston and Chicago, Illinois, and Doha, Qatar. Northwestern combines innovative teaching and pioneering research in a highly collaborative environment that transcends traditional academic boundaries.
Ratings and Reviews
Now I can read the Talmud and understand the discussions presented in light of the explanations given in the course.
This is hands down one of the best courses on Coursera
Todah rabah pour ce précieux cours. Un cordial shalom de France. Lehitraot.
Coursera provides universal access to the world’s best education, partnering with top universities and organizations to offer courses online.
© 2017 Coursera Inc. All rights reserved.
CW
This is a very well constructed introduction to the Talmud but I think it would be improved if it made more demands on the student in terms of reading assignments and exercises.