Since 2003 I’ve been enrolled in the Master of Science in Jewish Studies program at the Spertus Institute of Jewish Studies. It’s been a very broadening experience for me thus far. I intend to pursue a concentration area in the Second Temple Period of Judaism, especially because of its importance for understanding the background of early Christianity.
I have completed five courses so far through distance education, plus this past July, for the first time, I attended two courses at the one-week intensive seminar held on campus in Chicago, and thus have completed seven courses total in the program as of December 2010.
On this page I will chronicle my progress and post papers which I have written, after receiving my grades. As mentioned, seven courses are already completed, and the links below will go “live” as I post them in the form of blog posts.
Older papers written on an older computer will be posted by photographing the pages so they may be conveniently be read by clicking thumbnails in my blog posts.
I also invite comments and discussion on these papers and any subject relating to Jewish Studies, especially the Second Temple period. I have approached these papers as learning exercises, not as the composition of my own personal creed. If you want to know my actual opinions on any of the subjects discussed, or what I’ve been learning through this program, please ask!
Shalom, Michael Peterson
CORE COURSES (6):
The Religion of Biblical Israel (2003-2004)
The Belief System of Ancient Israel
Worship
The Rabbinic Mind (pending)
Medieval Judaism (2005-2006)
Dialogue of Medieval Biblical Commentators
Medieval Jewish Philosophy
Overview of Medieval Judaism
Medieval Jewish Ethics
Modern Judaism (2006-2007)
“Ethical Monotheism” – Early Reform Judaism
Two papers about the thought of Mordecai Kaplan – Reconstructionist Judaism
The “Science of Judaism” and Conservative Judaism
Jewish Theology (2004-2005)
Human Nature
Afterlife
Sinai
Torah
Teshuvah
Jewish Practices (The Haggadah) (2010)
Comparison of the “Maxwell House Haggadah” with a Christian Haggadah
ELECTIVE COURSES (3):
Jewish Mysticism (2009-2010)
Kabbalistic Themes in the Maggid Mesharim
Four Models of Jewish Mysticism
Second and Third Elective Courses pending
CONCENTRATION AREA (6):
The Dead Sea Scrolls (2010)
The Cosmic Vision of the Qumran Calendar
Second through Sixth Concentration Courses pending
HEBREW REQUIREMENT (pending)
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