JS 9-1 Homework Assignments & Projects

due Fri, 11/14/08 - read the 1885 Pittsburgh Platform of Reform Judaism. After you have read it, please use it to fill in the chart of the "5 attitudinal indicators" for early Reform.

due Wed, 11/12/08 - take the Belief-O-Matic quiz online at: http://www.beliefnet.com/Entertainment/Quizzes/BeliefOMatic.aspx

E-mail the results of the quiz to me before class, and bring a printout with you to class.

due Mon, 11/3/08 - finish reading Holtz article, and summarize (1 page) the 5 attitudes contained in classical Jewish texts (and how they may conflict with modern ideas)

due Thu, 10/30/08 - read and summarize (1 page) pp. 54-60 of source book "The Haskalah", by Shira Schoenberg.

due Mon, 10/27/08- read pp. 51-53 of source book (Karaites, Ashkenazic/Sephardic Jews, Chasidim/Mitnagdim)

due Fri, 10/24/08- read the first Mishnah of the 10th Chapter of Mesechet Sanhedrin (also known as Perek "Helek") - write out a summary (1/2 page) of what is written there regarding "Torah mi-Sinai" (a link to Mishnah Sanhedrin is provided above; for unfamiliar words, use Gesenius)

due Mon, 10/20/08 - Read text of "Ani Ma'amin" distributed in class. For each of the "13 Principles of Faith," write 1-2 sentences addressing the following question: "Does the Jewish community to which I belong accept this belief as a fundamental part of Judaism?"

due Fri, 9/12/08 - Read Rambam's Hakdama to Mishneh Torah, para. 12 - 15, and answer the following questions:  1) What did Rebbe do that no one had done before?   2) Why is it not correct to say that before Rebbe no one had written down the Oral Torah?    3) Why did Rebbe do what he did? (be specific in your answer in to this question)

due Tue, 9/9/08 - One page essay on subject "I am a ____________ Jew, because____________"