Steven Fine
Associate Professor,
Rabbinic Literature and History,
Baltimore Hebrew University
O: 410-578-6936
Fine@bhu.edu
Spring, 1999

The Second Temple in Rabbinic Thought

This course will discuss the Second Temple as understood by the Rabbinic
Sages, against the background on Second Temple period literature,
archaeology and institutions. Primary sources will be emphasized. The
language of instruction will be Hebrew.

Course Requirements:

1. Active participation in each session of this course is vital for your
success. Please complete each reading and written assignment in its
entirety, and be prepared to discuss its contents. All materials must be
prepared in the language assigned, whether Hebrew or English. If you work
more slowly in one of the languages, please begin your preparation early.
Should you miss a class or misplace an assignment, contact another student
to fill you in.
2. A paper on a subject related to the subject matter of this course will
be prepared by each student. Your paper should explore a particular subject
as it is presented in primary sources, with reference to secondary
literature. The double-spaced, typed paper is to be 10-12 pages in length,
not including footnotes and bibliography (5-15 entries). Any standard note
and bibliography form may be used, though you must be consistent. Spelling
counts. STUDENTS MAY NOT USE ELECTRONIC DATA BASES FOR THE COLLECTION OF
RABBINIC SOURCES FOR THIS PAPER. Due week 14. You will also present the
results of your research orally, 5-7 min.
3. A presentation dealing with one of the ancient books not discussed in
class will be presented by each student over the course of the semester.
4. In class midterm.
5. The final examination that will be comprehensive, including
identifications and essays. Identifications and dates will be administered
in class. The essay will be due 5 days after the last class, and is
preferably submitted by E-Mail.



Office hours are immediately after each class session by appointment.
Contact via E-Mail is preferable to telephone messages.



Required books are for sale in the BHU bookstore:


Bible with Apocrypha, New Revised Standard Version


Josephus Flavius, Complete Writings


L. Ritmyer, Reconstructing Herod's Temple Mount in Jerusalem


L. H. Schiffman, From Text to Tradition: A History of Second Temple and
Rabbinic Judaism.


There will be a $10.00 copying fee for materials distributed, payable tot he
BHU Library, second session.


All other readings will be available either on Reference or Reserve in the
Library.



Jan 27. Introduction: Read Schiffman ch. 1, 3-8.
Maps distributed


Feb. 3, 10. The Structure of the Temple
1. Tractate Middot, and all primary Biblical cited by Albeck, ad. loc.
2. Josephus, Ant. 15.11; War 5.5-6; Apion Book 1.22, lines 196-200.
3. Temple Scroll, tba; Schiffman, Reclaiming the Dead Sea Scrolls, 257-272
(distributed)
4. New Encyclopedia of Archaeological Excavations in the Holy Land,
Jerusalem During the Second Temple Period.
5. Bavli Sukkah 51b


Feb. 17. The Vessels of the Temple-- The Menorah
1. Ben Sira 26:17
2. Baraitha de-Meleknet ha-Mishkan, ch. 9-10
3. Josephus Ant. 12.238, 14.17; War 5:216-217; 7: 148-149; Apion 1:22
4. Piyyutei Yannai, (distributed).
5. Encyclopedia Judaica, "Menorah"



THUR, February 25. visiting lecture: Yaron Z. Eliav, NYU.
The Temple Mount after 70 C. E. Please arrange your schedule accordingly



Sunday February 28. Yael Zerubavel, "The Desert in Hebrew Memory" BHU,
3:00. Participants in this lecture will be exempt from the midterm.



March 3, 10. The Priests
Maps due.
1. Find everything that Josephus says about the Temple Priesthood.
2. What does Hecataeus of Abdera in Stern, Greek and Latin Authors on Jews
and Judaism 1: 27-29.
3. Ben Sira 50
4. Mishnah and Tosefta Tractate Yoma 1, Tosefta Menahot 13:21
5. Jose b. Jose (distributed)
Article by M. Swartz, to be distributed



March 17. The Temple in the Books of Maccabees
1 and 2 Macc.
Other sources to be distributed.



March 24. The Sacrifices
2. Mishnah Tractate Tamid
4. Mishnah, Tosefta Sukkah, ch. 4 (Simhat Beit ha-Shoeva)
Bokser, The Passover Seder, entire book



April 7. (no class 4/14).
Pilgrimage to Jerusalem
1. What do Josephus and Philo say about Jerusalem pilgrimage?
2. M. Bikkurim, ch. 3; Menahot 10.
3. Gospel according to Luke, Acts of the Apostles
4. Victor Turner, Pilgrimage, (distributed)



April. 21. The Temple and the Synagogue
Horst and Sanders to be distributed on Disk;
Fine in BAR (distributed)


April 28. The Temple and Apocalyptic
Tosefta. Sota, 13
What does Ginzberg, Legends of the Jews, say on this subject?


May 5. Student Reports


May 12. Final.