Course description
The Jewish Bible: Its History As A Physical Artifact
When studying the Jewish Bible and other historical works, the physical attributes—the form of the writing, whether it be scroll, codex, or simply a printed page layout, in addition to the size and shape—determine how we read the book and understand its meaning. Whether you are interested in literature or history, ancient or religious art and texts, or looking to deepen your understanding of religion and its impact on the world, this course will delve deeper into the Jewish Book as a physical object and spark desire to learn more about the materials as both artifact and religious content—enriching your understanding of the Jewish Bible, how it came to be, and its place today in a digital age.
In The Jewish Bible: Its History as a Physical Artifact, you will focus largely on the Torah Scroll—elaborate, handwritten scrolls that share the first five books of Moses, the first books of the Jewish Bible. The physical Torah has been a revered part of the Jewish community for centuries; there is even a tradition of touching the Torah as it is brought around the congregation as a sign of respect and paying homage to its history. In this course you will learn about the birth of the scrolls; their evolution from scrolls to codex; and the Jewish Bible through culture, history, and religion.
Upcoming start dates
Who should attend?
Prerequisites
None
Course delivery details
This course is offered through Harvard University, a partner institute of EdX.
2-4 hours per week
Costs
- Verified Track -$99
- Audit Track - Free
Certification / Credits
What you'll learn
- The importance of the Jewish Bible as a physical object
- What the Jewish Book meant and still means for the Jewish people, from the earliest rendering to the most complex layouts of Jewish Study Bible pages
- How the shape, script, and layout represent the cultural, political, intellectual, and religious changes of the Jewish community in the context of the non-Jewish cultures
- How to read and interpret the context and meaning of the pages, from the earliest forms of Codex through the digital age
- The differences in the books that make up the Jewish Bible, and the page formats of the codex throughout history, encouraging your own reading and comparison between instances
- How to appreciate ancient texts, using the Bible as a physical object, through touch, smell, and written word—enhancing your appreciation for ancient wisdom, rituals, and Rabbinic law
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