Weeks 4-5: Judaism in the First Century of the Common Era

In Jerusalem with our professor, the late Ezri Uval, who invited us,

his students to celebrate Habdalla, the end of the Sabbath;

seen in the pic - Father Jean-Juste from Haiti and Father Dario from Argentina
Photo taken in 1997

A. Contents
Part I: Judaism as a Greco-Roman Religion
Part II: Political Crises in Palestine and their Ramifications
Part III: The Formation of Jewish Sects


B.  Required Readings
1. Ehrman, pp. 36-55 (see File Box); Quiz on July 5, review the Key Terms, p. 54.

2. Amy-Jill Levine, “Jesus and Judaism: Why the Connection Still Matters,” in Ethical Dimensions in the Teachings of Jesus and Paul (Proceedings of the Fifth Annual Convention of the Catholic Biblical Association of the Philippines, 2004) – see File Box

3. The Pontifical Biblical Commission, The Jewish People and Their Sacred Scriptures in the Christian Bible (2001). Read esp. nos. (par.) 23-63 “Shared Fundamental Themes” and nos. 70-78 “Jesus in the Gospels and Acts of the Apostles.”

C. Quizzes
1. July 5 -  Ehrman, pp. 36-55 (see File Box); review the Key Terms, p. 54.
2. July 12 - TBA

D. Helpful Materials

1. Rabbi Benjamin Blech, The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Understanding Judaism, 2nd ed. (NY: Alpha Books, 2003).
2. _____________, The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Jewish History and Culture, 2nd ed. (NY: Alpha Books, 2004).

3. The Fiddler on the Roof  (The Movie, 1971) - Click here for the opening lines of the movie (Tradition!).

4. Amy-Jill Levine, The Misunderstood Jew: The Church and the Scandal of the Jewish Jesus (New York: HarperOne, 2006).

5. E. P. Sanders, Judaism Practice and Belief, 63 B.C.E.—66 C.E. (London: SCM Press; Philadelphia:Trinity Press International, 1992).-- “a full, detailed, and authoritative account of what it meant to be a Jew immediately before and during the time of the New Testament” (Ehrman).

6. James C. Vanderkam, “Judaism,” in The New Interpreter’s Dictionary of the Bible 3: 424-435.
Click here for the outline.

7. E. J. Schabel, "Pharisees," in The New Interpreter's Dictionary of the Bible 4: 485-496. Click here for an excerpt. 

8. Felix Just, SJ, "Jewish Groups during the Time of Jesus."

E. PowerPoint Lecture Presentation -click here.