Syllabus - Reading of the Gate of Kavvanot and its Commentaries (14730)

Syllabus Reading of the Gate of Kavvanot and its Commentaries - 14730
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Last update 23-08-2016
HU Credits: 4 Degree/Cycle: 2nd degree (Master) Responsible Department: jewish thought Semester: Yearly Teaching Languages: Hebrew Campus: Mt. Scopus Course/Module Coordinator: Prof Jonathan Garb Coordinator Email: Jgarb@mscc.huji.ac.il Coordinator Office Hours: Appointment by email Teaching Staff: Prof Jonathan Garb Course/Module description: The course will be devoted to close reading of the work Sha'ar ha'Kavvanot (the Gate of Contemplation), from the writings of R. Yitzhak Luria according to the reception of R. Hayyim Vital, in the edition of the latter's son, R. Shmuel Vital. The course will grant students investing the required effort the keys to approach the complex literature of Lurianic Kabbalah in general, and especially the concept of Kavvanot. Course/Module aims: Acquire the ability to comprehend the theory of modern Kabbalistic practice and fundamental philological tools. Learning outcomes - On successful completion of this module, students should be able to: • Organize materials that span the cycles of Kabbalistic practice. • Analyze kabbalistic texts from early modernity in a rich manner. • Critique and appreciate existing research accomplishments. • Present the preliminary conclusions of a personal research to fellow students. (For those who will write a seminar paper) • Ask questions in a focused and clear manner. • Critique the relevance of concepts such as ‘learning products’ for the humanities. Attendance requirements(%): There is no formal requirement, but keep in mind that the main points of class discussion must be reflected in the final papers. Classes are conducted assuming that the students have prepared the weekly readings. Teaching arrangement and method of instruction: • General introductions that provide historical and philological context. • Close reading of primary texts. • Critical analysis of scholarly articles. Course/Module Content: 1. Bibliographical and phenomenological introduction 2. Daily Cycle 3. Weekly Cycle 4. Yearly Cycle 5. The classic exegesis 6. The BeSHT and the Kavvanot 7. The Kavvanot between the ARI and RaSHaSH 8. Ba'al ha'Leshem as Kavvanot exegetist 9. Student presentations 10. Conclusion: Kavvanot as a religious phenomenon Required Reading: All in the Hebrew list, except: 2. Daily Cycle c. M. Kallus, “The Theurgy of Prayer in the Lurianic Kabbalah”, PhD. Diss, Hebrew University 2002, pp. 141-156. 6. The BeSHT and the Kavvanot M. Kallus, “The Relation of the Baal Shem Tov to the Practice of Lurianic Kavvanot in Light of his Comments on the Siddur Rashkov”, Kabbalah 2 (1997), pp. 151-167. BM 526 K32 1996. 7. The Kavvanot between the ARI and RaSHaSH P. Giller, Shalom Shar’abi and the Kabbalists of Beit El, Oxford 2007, pp. 65-83. BM 525 A9 S53745 2007 Additional Reading Material: irrelevant Course/Module evaluation: End of year written/oral examination 0 % Presentation 0 % Participation in Tutorials 0 % Project work 50 % Assignments 0 % Reports 0 % Research project 50 % Quizzes 0 % Other 0 % Additional information: For those who are submitting a seminar paper: the grade includes presentation in class (For details see the explanation page on the course website). For those who are submitting the courses’ final paper, this paper constitutes 100% of the total.

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