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Moses' Face

Moses' images as reflected in Jewish literature

Avigdor Shinan and Yair Zakovitch

One was Moses but many are his faces. Starting with the Hebrew Bible, continuing with Jewish literatures throughout history (Second Temple literature, rabbinic literature, medieval commentaries, modern literature, thought and art.) the character of Moses keeps changing and developing through the eyes of the beholder, it's time, tendency and the nature of the genre. The course will follow the different phases of Moses' character and try to understand what motives are behind them.

אחד היה משה אך רבים פניו. החל בגופו של המקרא והמשך בספרות עם ישראל לדורותיו (ספרות הבית השני, ספרות חז"ל, פרשני ימי הביניים ועוד) וכלה בספרות, באמנות ובהגות של העת החדשה - לובשת ופושטת דמות של משה צורות חדשות ומגוונות, על פי המתבונן, זמנו, מגמתו ואופי יצירתו. הקורס יעקב אחר גלגולי דמויותיו של משה [ביצירה שעד ראשית תקופת הגאונים] ויבקש להבין מה עומד מאחורי יצירתן.

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Syllabus

מבואות

שיעור 1: ביוגרפיה, משה במקרא, המקורות שיידונו בקורס

משה- מסורות קדם לידה

שיעור 2

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

מיועד למתעניינים בספרות יהודית, במדרשי חז"ל, בכתבי פרשנים ובהגות יהודית, מתלמוד בבלי ועד לעת החדשה

מתאים לתלמידים הלומדים מקרא בעברית

מבהיר את התגשמותן של דמויות מוסריות בתרבות הישראלית

מיועד לתלמידים המעוניינים להרחיב את ידיעותיהם בנושאים מקראיים וספרותיים

מועבר על ידי מרצים מנוסים בעלי מומחיות בתחום המקרא וספרות חז"ל

מתאים לסטודנטים לתואר ראשון או שני בתחומי יהדות, מקרא וספרות

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Reviews summary

מסע עומק בדמות משה בספרות ישראל

לומדים אומרים שקורס מרתק זה מעניק תובנה עמוקה בדמותו המשתנה של משה לאורך הדורות בספרות ישראל. סטודנטים משבחים את הידע הרב והתשוקה של המרצה להעברת החומר, ומוצאים את התוכן רחב ידיים ומעורר מחשבה. בעוד שהביקורות חיוביות ברובן, חלק מהלומדים מציינים שהקורס דורש ידע קודם מסוים במקורות יהודיים או היסטוריה וכי הוא מאתגר, מה שהופך אותו מתאים יותר למי שמחפש העמקה אקדמית מאשר היכרות שטחית. מבנה הקורס, הסוקר תקופות שונות באופן כרונולוגי, נתפס כמקיף.

הקורס מצריך רקע מסוים בטקסטים יהודיים או היסטוריה.

"חשוב להגיע עם רקע מסוים ביהדות או לימודי המזרח, אחרת זה קצת מאתגר."

"מי שמגיע בלי הכנה מוקדמת עלול למצוא את הקצב מהיר מדי בחלקים מסוימים."

"הקורס מעמיק מאוד, ומי שפחות מכיר את המקורות הקלאסיים עלול להתקשות לעקוב."

הקורס מאתגר ודורש מחשבה והשקעה.

"זה לא קורס קל, הוא דורש קריאה ומחשבה, אבל האתגר מתגמל."

"לפעמים הרגשתי שהחומר קצת צפוף ומצריך ריכוז רב."

"קורס ברמה אקדמית גבוהה, מתאים למי שמחפש העמקה אמיתית."

הקורס מספק מבט רחב ועמוק על דמות משה בספרות.

"הקורס סקר תקופות רבות ומגוון עצום של מקורות. ממש 'מסע' אחרי דמות משה."

"קיבלתי הבנה טובה יותר של האבולוציה של דמות משה לאורך ההיסטוריה היהודית."

"העומק שבו נותחו טקסטים מסוימים היה מרשים."

המרצה בעל ידע עמוק ומרתק את הסטודנטים.

"המרצה בעל ידע עצום ומצליח להעביר את החומר בצורה מרתקת..."

"אהבתי את הדרך שבה המרצה קישר בין הטקסטים השונים. רואים את התשוקה שלו לנושא."

"קיבלתי תובנות חדשות בזכות הניתוח המעמיק של המרצה."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Moses' Face: Moses' images as reflected in Jewish literature with these activities:

Watch a video lecture on the character of Moses

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Watching a video lecture on the character of Moses will provide you with a concise overview of his key characteristics and significance.

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Find a video lecture on the character of Moses.
Watch the lecture.
Take notes on the key points of the lecture.

Review the Torah

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Reviewing the Torah will provide you with a solid foundation for understanding the character of Moses throughout the course.

View The Guide to the Perplexed on Amazon

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Read the book of Exodus, focusing on the chapters that describe Moses' life and work.
Take notes on Moses' character and actions, paying attention to how he is portrayed in different contexts.
Identify the key themes and ideas related to Moses' character.

Review the book Moses: A Biography

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Reviewing the book Moses: A Biography will provide you with a comprehensive overview of Moses' life and work.

View Moses on Amazon

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Read the book Moses: A Biography.
Take notes on the key points of the book.
Write a summary of the book.

Five other activities

Expand to see all activities and additional details

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Create a collection of resources on Moses

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Creating a collection of resources on Moses will provide you with a valuable reference for further study.

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Gather a variety of resources on Moses, such as articles, books, and websites.
Organize the resources in a way that makes sense to you.
Share your collection with others.

Practice identifying the different ways Moses is portrayed in the texts

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Practicing identifying the different ways Moses is portrayed in the texts will help you to develop a deeper understanding of his character and the contexts in which he is presented.

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Read a variety of texts that discuss Moses.
Identify the different ways Moses is portrayed in each text.
Analyze the reasons for the different portrayals.

Write a summary of Moses' character

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Creating a summary of Moses' character will help you to synthesize and deepen your understanding of his role and significance.

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Identify the key aspects of Moses' character.
Write a clear and concise summary that captures the essence of his character.
Share your summary with others for feedback.

Discuss Moses' character with a peer

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Discussing Moses' character with a peer will allow you to share your insights and learn from others' perspectives.

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Find a peer who is also interested in Moses.
Discuss your thoughts on Moses' character.
Listen to your peer's insights.

Contribute to a Wikipedia article on Moses

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Contributing to a Wikipedia article on Moses will allow you to share your knowledge and understanding of his character.

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Find a Wikipedia article on Moses.
Identify an area of the article that you can improve.
Make your edits to the article.

Career center

Learners who complete Moses' Face: Moses' images as reflected in Jewish literature will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Rabbi

Rabbis are spiritual leaders in Jewish communities. They lead services, teach Torah, and provide guidance and support to their congregants. This course would be of great interest to someone considering this role, as it teaches the student about the history and development of Moses as a character in Jewish literature. This understanding would help a Rabbi to better interpret and teach the Torah to their congregants.

See salaries and explore the career path for Rabbi

Hazzan

Hazzans are cantors who lead Jewish religious services. They have a deep understanding of Jewish liturgy and music, and they use their skills to create a meaningful and inspiring worship experience for congregants. This course would be helpful to a Hazzan, as it would provide them with a deeper understanding of the history and development of Moses as a character in Jewish literature. This understanding would help them to better interpret and lead the prayers and songs of the Jewish liturgy.

See salaries and explore the career path for Hazzan

Museum curator

Museum curators are responsible for planning and managing exhibitions, as well as conducting research and writing about the museum's collection. They have a deep understanding of art history and museum studies, and they use their skills to create engaging and informative exhibitions for the public. This course would be helpful to a Museum Curator, as it would provide them with a deeper understanding of the history and development of Moses as a character in Jewish literature. This understanding would help them to better interpret and present artifacts related to Moses and his time.

See salaries and explore the career path for Museum curator

Professor

Professors are teachers and scholars who work at colleges and universities. They teach courses, conduct research, and publish their findings. They have a deep understanding of their field of study, and they use their skills to educate and inspire their students. This course would be helpful to a Professor, as it would provide them with a deeper understanding of the history and development of Moses as a character in Jewish literature. This understanding would help them to better teach and write about Moses and his time.

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Theologian

Theologians are scholars who study religion. They research and write about religious topics, and they teach about religion at colleges and universities. They have a deep understanding of religious texts and traditions, and they use their skills to interpret and explain religious beliefs and practices. This course would be helpful to a Theologian, as it would provide them with a deeper understanding of the history and development of Moses as a character in Jewish literature. This understanding would help them to better interpret and teach about Moses and his time.

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Author

Authors write books, articles, and other forms of written content. They have a strong command of language and a deep understanding of their subject matter. This course would be helpful to an Author, as it would provide them with a deeper understanding of the history and development of Moses as a character in Jewish literature. This understanding would help them to better write about Moses and his time.

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Editor

Editors review, revise, and prepare written content for publication. They have a strong command of language and a deep understanding of their subject matter. This course would be helpful to an Editor, as it would provide them with a deeper understanding of the history and development of Moses as a character in Jewish literature. This understanding would help them to better edit and prepare written content about Moses and his time.

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Journalist

Journalists write and report on news and current events. They have a strong command of language and a deep understanding of their subject matter. This course would be helpful to a Journalist, as it would provide them with a deeper understanding of the history and development of Moses as a character in Jewish literature. This understanding would help them to better write and report on Moses and his time.

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Lawyer

Lawyers advise and represent clients in legal matters. They have a deep understanding of the law and legal procedures. This course would be helpful to a Lawyer, as it would provide them with a deeper understanding of the history and development of Moses as a character in Jewish literature. This understanding would help them to better understand and interpret the laws that govern religious freedom and other religious matters.

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Politician

Politicians run for office and hold elected positions in government. They make laws and policies that affect the lives of their constituents. This course would be helpful to a Politician, as it would provide them with a deeper understanding of the history and development of Moses as a character in Jewish literature. This understanding would help them to better understand and represent the needs of their constituents, particularly those who are religious.

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Social Worker

Social workers help people to cope with personal and social problems. They provide counseling, support, and resources to individuals and families in need. This course would be helpful to a Social Worker, as it would provide them with a deeper understanding of the history and development of Moses as a character in Jewish literature. This understanding would help them to better understand and support the needs of their clients, particularly those who are religious.

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Teacher

Teachers instruct students in a variety of academic subjects. They develop lesson plans, deliver instruction, and assess student learning. This course would be helpful to a Teacher, as it would provide them with a deeper understanding of the history and development of Moses as a character in Jewish literature. This understanding would help them to better teach about Moses and his time.

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Librarian

Librarians help people to find and access information. They work in libraries, schools, and other settings. This course would be helpful to a Librarian, as it would provide them with a deeper understanding of the history and development of Moses as a character in Jewish literature. This understanding would help them to better assist patrons who are interested in learning about Moses and his time.

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Archivist

Archivists preserve and manage historical documents and records. They work in archives, libraries, and other settings. This course would be helpful to an Archivist, as it would provide them with a deeper understanding of the history and development of Moses as a character in Jewish literature. This understanding would help them to better preserve and manage documents and records related to Moses and his time.

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Historian

Historians research and write about the past. They use primary and secondary sources to reconstruct historical events and interpret their significance. This course would be helpful to a Historian, as it would provide them with a deeper understanding of the history and development of Moses as a character in Jewish literature. This understanding would help them to better research and write about Moses and his time.

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Reading list

We've selected 11 books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Moses' Face: Moses' images as reflected in Jewish literature.

The Invention of Religion

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Explores the historical and cultural context of Moses' life, providing a deeper understanding of the biblical narrative.

The Invention of Religion

Paperback

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The Invention of Religion

Kindle Edition

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Torah

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This commentary provides a detailed and scholarly analysis of the Torah, and valuable resource for those who want to understand the text in more depth.

(English) The Torah: A Mordern Commentary: Travel Edition...

Paperback

$$$$

Moses

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This comprehensive biography provides a detailed account of Moses' life and his role in shaping Jewish history.

Joshua (Baker Commentary on the Old Testament:...

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Provides a comprehensive overview of the life and times of Moses, and good starting point for those who want to learn more about the subject.

(English) Joshua: (An Exegetical & Theological Bible...

Hardcover

(English) Joshua (Baker Commentary on the Old Testament:...

Kindle Edition

The Jewish Study Bible

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This study Bible provides a comprehensive overview of the Hebrew Bible, and useful resource for those who want to understand the text in its historical and cultural context.

(English) The Jewish Study Bible: Second Edition

Hardcover

(English) The Jewish Study Bible: Second Edition

Kindle Edition