Read all of the primary sources and article/s on the topic “Providence and Theodicy”. Feel free to research any other relevant sources that you find. Write a 5 page essay (double spaced, Times New Roman, 12 point font, standard margins) on Maimonides’s view of the topic. You must cite at least four primary sources (meaning something that Maimonides wrote, two different chapters in the Guide count as two) and two secondary source (meaning written by a recent writer). Make at least two references back to sources and/or methodologies that we discussed in class (for example content of Letter on Astrology, methodology we used in readings on prophecy). This should be taken out of the doc that’s called “Micah Goodman”
Clearly indicate what you are quoting from others. Do not simply summarize the sources. Include methodological considerations, questions, solutions, and why you chose that solution over others. Include also how you relate to this material: how does it compare with what you have learned before, do you find Maimonides’s approach helpful or confusing, is his approach relevant for a modern Jew or do you think another approach is better and if so which one and why.
Category: Jewish Studies
Offer a comparative analysis (but not a book-report retelling the contents) of Sholem
Aleichem’s “Tevye the Dairyman” (written in 1895-1915) and its two screen adaptations:
(a) Maurice Schwartz’s 1939 film “Tevye” and (b) the relevant final two episodes of Norman
Jewison’s 1972 film adaptation of the 1960s musical “Fiddler on the Roof”.
When comparing the original book by Sholem Aleichem with the two films, please remember
that the Yiddish film is not based on the book part of which we read, but on the author’s, that is
Sholem Aleichem’s own, adaptation of some of the Tevye stories into a play. Also, the film
“Fiddler on the Roof” is not a direct adaptation of Sholem Aleichem’s work, but a 1971 film
adaptation of a Broadway 1960’s musical with the same name, “Fiddler on the Roof”, which is
indeed a very loose and somewhat deceptively americanized adaptation of the Tevye stories
Suggested issues to address may include some, none all the following:
1. The characterization of Tevye in the book and the different interpretations of this character on screen. What
can be done on screen as opposed to what was done in the original text of Tevye’s monologues? How does the
type of film – a high-drama film, or a musical play reworking which is, in turn, itself adapted into a film –
affect the nature and perhaps even the content of the original literary work?
2. The way in which death is being portrayed, referred to, dealt with in the book and on screen (note, if it is
altogether avoided in one of the film adaptations and if so, then what does it tell us about that particular
adaptation).
3. Coping with “losing a child” to poverty, to Revolution, to death, to Capitalism in the book and to conversion
(in “internal” traditional terms: to “Apostasy”) in both the book and in the two screen adaptations.
4. The portrayal of the non-Jewish characters and Tevye’s interactions with them.
5. The traditional way of life, the changing world and the overwhelming impact of “modernity”
“A Palace in Time” Abraham Joshua Heschel’s The Sabbath Writing Assignment In this assignment, your goal is to critically analyze A.J. Heschel’s interpretation of the Sabbath and its significance in Judaism, focusing on the distinction between space and time and the concept of teshuva (repentance) as elucidated in his work. The essay should be approximately 800-1000 words in length, typed and double-spaced, following standard formatting guidelines (e.g., Times New Roman, 12-point font, 1-inch margins).
Introduction
Heschel’s short book on the Sabbath describes the meaning of Judaism and a philosophy of life based upon that meaning. For Heschel, Judaism teaches humanity how to discover God not in the world of things, but in the realm of time. The world of things enslaves humanity to something lifeless (we work so hard to earn money that we forget what we are living for–remember the Rabbi Nachman story “The Master of Prayer,” it carries the same message). The realm of time opens up the possibility of freedom. Why? Because it makes a future possible that is not determined by the past, a future that is NEW. Heschel makes this point: “Time is perpetual innovation, a synonym for continuous creation.” But where do we get the future from, the possibility of beginning again after a failure, after acting in a way we regret? Says Heschel, we get this from God” (p.100). Heschel says Judaism teaches that humanity meets God in the realm of time. But if every instant is a moment when we may feel the possibility of living differently, of “turning” to use the Jewish term (teshuva, often translated “repentance”), what is so special about the Sabbath? On the Sabbath, Heschel answers, humanity gets a sense of what the reward for teshuva is, namely, Paradise. The Sabbath requires that humans “turn” away from their enslavement to things and money and open themselves up to another dimension, the dimension of spirit. In fact, to “welcome the Sabbath bride,” to open oneself to the Sabbath, is itself “teshuva,” since it is a turning away from the weekday world and an acceptance of God’s dimension, an acknowledgement of God’s sovereignty over all creation, and an acknowledgment that God awaits one the next instant if only one looks beyond the things in space that occupy one’s time. The Sabbath is Teshuva, and it is also the reward for it. Both at once. The instant one performs the “turn,” one gets the reward.
Choose one of the following paragraphs as a beginning for an essay dealing with Heschel’s ideas in his book.
Choice #1
Heschel’s book depends upon a sharp distinction between space and time. According to Heschel, things in space have a past and future but they do not have a real future. What they are is determined by what they have been. Only humans have a future, because only humans can experience time as a gift. But in order to experience time as gift, humans must first free themselves from things in space, which draw our lives away from the future and into the past, making us see ourselves in the things we have made or acquired. Choice #2
Heschel says that the Ten Commandments teach humanity not to covet the things of space, but to covet the things of time. Coveting the things of space is the selfish desire to take something that belongs to another, but coveting the things of time is the loving desire to share togetherness in time with God and one’s fellow humans. According to Heschel, the Sabbath is the day which God wishes us to covet.
Instructions:
Begin by selecting one of the provided paragraphs as the starting point for your essay.
Develop a comprehensive essay that explores Heschel’s ideas in his book on the Sabbath.
Provide a brief overview of Heschel’s central arguments regarding the distinction between space and time, emphasizing the unique significance of time in Judaism as a realm where humanity encounters God.
Analyze Heschel’s concept of teshuva and its relationship to the Sabbath.
Consider how the Sabbath serves as both a catalyst for and a culmination of teshuva, allowing individuals to transcend their worldly concerns and reconnect with the divine.
Reflect on Heschel’s assertion that the Sabbath represents a paradigm shift from the materialistic pursuits of daily life to a spiritual dimension. Discuss how this transformation is integral to experiencing the true essence of the Sabbath.
Incorporate relevant examples and quotations from Heschel’s work to support your analysis and enhance the clarity of your arguments.
Utilize additional scholarly sources (1-2 sources) to enrich your understanding of Heschel’s philosophy and provide broader context for your discussion.
Structure your essay logically, with a clear introduction, body paragraphs that present and analyze key concepts, and a concise conclusion that summarizes your main points and offers insights or implications drawn from your analysis
A Palace in Time” Abraham Joshua Heschel’s The Sabbath Writing Assignment In this assignment, your goal is to critically analyze A.J. Heschel’s interpretation of the Sabbath and its significance in Judaism, focusing on the distinction between space and time and the concept of teshuva (repentance) as elucidated in his work. The essay should be approximately 800-1000 words in length, typed and double-spaced, following standard formatting guidelines (e.g., Times New Roman, 12-point font, 1-inch margins).
Introduction
Heschel’s short book on the Sabbath describes the meaning of Judaism and a philosophy of life based upon that meaning. For Heschel, Judaism teaches humanity how to discover God not in the world of things, but in the realm of time. The world of things enslaves humanity to something lifeless (we work so hard to earn money that we forget what we are living for–remember the Rabbi Nachman story “The Master of Prayer,” it carries the same message). The realm of time opens up the possibility of freedom. Why? Because it makes a future possible that is not determined by the past, a future that is NEW. Heschel makes this point: “Time is perpetual innovation, a synonym for continuous creation.” But where do we get the future from, the possibility of beginning again after a failure, after acting in a way we regret? Says Heschel, we get this from God” (p.100). Heschel says Judaism teaches that humanity meets God in the realm of time. But if every instant is a moment when we may feel the possibility of living differently, of “turning” to use the Jewish term (teshuva, often translated “repentance”), what is so special about the Sabbath? On the Sabbath, Heschel answers, humanity gets a sense of what the reward for teshuva is, namely, Paradise. The Sabbath requires that humans “turn” away from their enslavement to things and money and open themselves up to another dimension, the dimension of spirit. In fact, to “welcome the Sabbath bride,” to open oneself to the Sabbath, is itself “teshuva,” since it is a turning away from the weekday world and an acceptance of God’s dimension, an acknowledgement of God’s sovereignty over all creation, and an acknowledgment that God awaits one the next instant if only one looks beyond the things in space that occupy one’s time. The Sabbath is Teshuva, and it is also the reward for it. Both at once. The instant one performs the “turn,” one gets the reward.
Choose one of the following paragraphs as a beginning for an essay dealing with Heschel’s ideas in his book.
Choice #1
Heschel’s book depends upon a sharp distinction between space and time. According to Heschel, things in space have a past and future but they do not have a real future. What they are is determined by what they have been. Only humans have a future, because only humans can experience time as a gift. But in order to experience time as gift, humans must first free themselves from things in space, which draw our lives away from the future and into the past, making us see ourselves in the things we have made or acquired. Choice #2
Heschel says that the Ten Commandments teach humanity not to covet the things of space, but to covet the things of time. Coveting the things of space is the selfish desire to take something that belongs to another, but coveting the things of time is the loving desire to share togetherness in time with God and one’s fellow humans. According to Heschel, the Sabbath is the day which God wishes us to covet.
Instructions:
Begin by selecting one of the provided paragraphs as the starting point for your essay.
Develop a comprehensive essay that explores Heschel’s ideas in his book on the Sabbath.
Provide a brief overview of Heschel’s central arguments regarding the distinction between space and time, emphasizing the unique significance of time in Judaism as a realm where humanity encounters God.
Analyze Heschel’s concept of teshuva and its relationship to the Sabbath.
Consider how the Sabbath serves as both a catalyst for and a culmination of teshuva, allowing individuals to transcend their worldly concerns and reconnect with the divine.
Reflect on Heschel’s assertion that the Sabbath represents a paradigm shift from the materialistic pursuits of daily life to a spiritual dimension. Discuss how this transformation is integral to experiencing the true essence of the Sabbath.
Incorporate relevant examples and quotations from Heschel’s work to support your analysis and enhance the clarity of your arguments.
Utilize additional scholarly sources (1-2 sources) to enrich your understanding of Heschel’s philosophy and provide broader context for your discussion.
Structure your essay logically, with a clear introduction, body paragraphs that present and analyze key concepts, and a concise conclusion that summarizes your main points and offers insights or implications drawn from your analysis