Extensive reading in the works of a major poet. Emphasis will be on the poetry of Bialik and Amichai. Conducted in Hebrew.

The course is designed to introduce the advanced student of Modern Hebrew to modern prose written primarily in what today is this state of Israel. To this end we spent two weeks looking at the motifs and styles available in contemporary children's literature with an eye to the use of biblical allusions. This then serves as background to a study of selections of short stories by the Nobel laureate Agnon. The conclusion of the course is an analysis of one of Agnon's major novels. Having mastered primary reading skills in prose literature, students will be introduced to postmodern literary analysis, misprision, anxiety of influence, and temporal cultural models. The course will be conducted in Hebrew and students are strongly urged to write their essays in Hebrew.

Halakhic Midrash, the rabbinic continuation of biblical law, is one of the three major literary creations of the Tannaitic period, making it one of the most important sources for Middle Hebrew. Midreshei Halakha are the ancient Jewish biblical interpretations and constitute the earliest and closest reading of the Pentateuch excluding Genesis. A study of terminology and methodology indicates the existence of two midrashic systems: D'vei R. Yishmael and D'vei R. Aqiva. We will examine the scholarly debate concerning the exact time in which midreshei halakha were composed and redacted and concerning the transfer of terminology and material between the schools. In this course we shall study selections from the cultic and purity texts from Leviticus in Sifra or Torat Kohenim and/or from Numbers in Sifrei and Sifrei Zuta. In the course of our study, we shall develop facility with midrashic terminology and midrashic logic. We shall compare the texts in the standard scholarly editions with the manuscripts of those texts, parallel material in other compositions in Middle Hebrew (Mishnah and Tosefta) and the Talmudim. Students will gain facility in reading and creating a critical apparatus. This course will demonstrate the context of ancient Jewish law in matters of purity and cultic practice for students of Hebrew Bible, Dead Sea Scrolls, and Rabbinics.

This course is intended to introduce the student to the exegetical methods of the rabbis in their analysis of concepts related to the Divine, to human beings, and to the Jewish people. The selections are chosen from the Babylonian and Jerusalem Talmuds and midrashic and other rabbinic literature. Close attention will be paid to the literary forms, organization, language, and exegetical techniques of this material. The student will be introduced to concepts of philology, text criticism, and redaction criticism, and become acquainted with the manuscript traditions of the primary text analyzed. The shaping and reshaping of these traditions will be explored through a study of textual parallels. The essential modern debates concerning the text under consideration will inform the background of the study as well as methods to help resolve if possible these scholarly conflicts.

This course will examine the interconnections between the various layers of rabbinic literature in terms of theme, sources, hermeneutics, orality, and textual variation. Development of terminology and exegetical methods from the earlier to the later genres of literature will be investigated. Solid knowledge of Hebrew and some background in Aramaic are prerequisites for this course. All textual readings in the seminar course will be in original languages. Students will be introduced to the use of the most important database in rabbinic literature, about Bar Ilan Responsa Project and learn its usefulness in comparing texts.

This course is designed for students with little or no experience in Hebrew. As such, it offers intensive training in the basics of 4 language skills: reading, writing, speaking, and listening. Students will be able to recognize the Hebrew verb system's fundamental structures, learn its primary forms, and acquire the necessary basic vocabulary for everyday conversations. We will focus on reading: easy dialogues, passages without vowels, and short texts in simple Hebrew. Writing: short dialogues and paragraphs. Conversation: simple dialogues and stories. Comprehension: listening to short stories and recorded conversations.

The second half of a two-semester Modern Hebrew course for beginners is intended to strengthen the students' conversation skills and their reading, writing, and listening comprehension while further developing the cultural context of the language. Materials include simple stories and poems, digital media, film, comics, textbook exercises, and complementary class activities. In addition, students will be expected to deliver presentations in Hebrew and write about a range of topics, demonstrating an ability to acquire new vocabulary using print and digital dictionaries independently.

This course will further enhance students' Hebrew language skills. With the context of contemporary Israeli and Jewish culture in mind, the course focuses on 1) Reading: unadapted texts and simple articles in regular Hebrew. 2) Writing: the beginning of practical writing on topics discussed in class, writing about personal experiences, and writing structured compositions. 3) Conversation: conversational skills developed by regular participation in class presentations and discussions of current events and cultural issues; role play and participation in dialogues and informal expressions. 4) Comprehension: listening to recorded short stories in easy Hebrew. 5) Grammatical Skills: Completing the syntactic study of verb conjugation in different tenses.

This course of Intermediate Hebrew is intended for those who completed the requirements of intermediate Hebrew I. Intermediate Hebrew aims to instill more excellent proficiency, enrich vocabulary, and deepen the student's understanding of the cultural context of Israeli Hebrew. Subjects include current affairs, Israeli society, and cultural traditions. Added emphasis will be placed on language registers and grammatical and syntactic nuances, with materials ranging from children's books to television programs. By the end of the semester, students will complete their understanding of the Hebrew verb system and main preposition words.

This advanced-level course is designed to deepen the student’s knowledge of Hebrew in various fields and to increase vocabulary through extensive reading and writing. Areas of focus include 1) Reading: Scientific articles, newspaper editorials, prose, and poetry passages, with emphasis on Israeli culture. 2) Writing: practical writing according to communicative functions and models of persuasion, explanation, etc. In addition, students will be asked to write short essays about a literary text. 3) Conversation: increasing vocabulary in conversations and discussions while emphasizing different language styles. 4) Comprehension: listening to radio programs on an advanced level and viewing regular television programs and YouTube music clips. 5) Grammatical Skills: complementing the student's linguistic knowledge and handling of irregular forms.

This final advanced-level course provides students with an extensive vocabulary and knowledge of grammatical structures with a more in-depth study of the language and attention to verb conjugation, noun forms, and syntactic structure of modern Hebrew. In addition, students will learn to understand and produce texts in modern Hebrew through exposure to literature, poetry, and everyday conversation. Each lesson emphasizes all four skills (reading, comprehension, speaking, and writing) so that students feel comfortable using their skills. Assignments will help students incorporate all the language skills with exposure to a wide range of vocabulary and language structure. Upon completing this course, students should be able to understand discussions on a variety of topics, able to express ideas and opinions clearly and fluently, describe situations and actions using the correct forms of verbs and nouns, and expand and effectively use a more precise and varied vocabulary.

In writing capabilities, students will write coherently considering both form and content, compose complex sentences, and produce narrative and descriptive writing. In this terminal level of the Hebrew-from-scratch program, students will master the verb tenses and be able to conjugate the seven verb forms in past, present, and future tenses, and they will understand and correctly apply the rules of gender and be able to use the correct pronouns and suffixes.

This course examines the cultural and political history of ancient Egypt from the Middle Kingdom through the Ptolemaic Period, emphasizing the analysis of primary sources of evidence (inscriptional, archaeological, iconographic) and the role of critical thinking in the reconstruction of ancient history.

The Levant (modern day Israel, the West Bank, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria) is one of the most intensively explored archaeological regions in the world. While substantial regionalism exists, the entire area nevertheless constitutes a distinct cultural region with (broadly speaking) more similarities than differences. In addition to reviewing research methods historically employed by archaeologists working in the region, attention will be devoted to exploring new and innovative approaches and methodologies, while focusing on current issues and debates in the field. Emphasis will be on in-depth analysis of archaeological sources (in combination with documentary sources where appropriate), from a broadly anthropological perspective, with the aim of enhancing understanding of the social and economic history of the region.

The Levant (modern day Israel, the West Bank, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria) is one of the most intensively explored archaeological regions in the world. While substantial regionalism exists, the entire area nevertheless constitutes a distinct cultural region with (broadly speaking) more similarities than differences. In addition to reviewing research methods historically employed by archaeologists working in the region, attention will be devoted to exploring new and innovative approaches and methodologies, while focusing on current issues and debates in the field. Emphasis will be on in-depth analysis of archaeological sources (in combination with documentary sources where appropriate), from a broadly anthropological perspective, with the aim of enhancing understanding of the social and economic history of the region.

This seminar will examine the archaeology of ancient Egypt from the Predynastic period through the Middle Kingdom, focusing on the archaeological evidence and the contributions that the analysis of that material have made to our understanding of cultural development. Particular emphasis is placed on the theoretical and methodological issues associated with the interpretation of material culture from Egypt. Students will also have access to artifactual material in the collection of the Royal Ontario Museum.

This seminar will examine the archaeology of ancient Egypt from the Second Intermediate Period through the Late Period, focusing on the archaeological evidence and the contributions that the analysis of that material have made to our understanding of cultural development. Particular emphasis is placed on the theoretical and methodological issues associated with the interpretation of material culture from Egypt. Students will also have access to artifactual material in the collection of the Royal Ontario Museum.

This course will examine methods of classification and analysis (form, fabric, and style) involved in the study of archaeological ceramics, and the use of ceramics to infer patterns of production, distribution, and social organization linking research questions with appropriate analytical techniques.

This course will focus directly on the study of Near Eastern ceramic sequences, with a primary emphasis on assemblages from the region of Syria-Palestine, utilizing the collections of the University of Toronto and the Royal Ontario Museum.

A comprehensive survey class on the archaeology of Mesopotamia during prehistoric and early historic periods (10,000-2,300 BC), covering the rise of villages, the Agricultural Revolution, the development of cities, cultic centers, and complex bureaucracy, and the rise of state entities during the Neolithic, Chalcolithic, and Early Bronze Ages. This class will focus on the area of modern-day Iraq but will also consult materials from western Iran, eastern Syria, and southeastern Turkey.

This course will focus on the development of major types of artifactual material from ancient Egypt. Primary emphasis will be placed on the study of ceramic sequences, but other aspects of material culture will also be examined in terms of their development and chronological significance. Analytical methods will also be discussed. Students will have the opportunity to work directly with the Egyptian collection of the Royal Ontario Museum.

A comprehensive survey class on the archaeology of Mesopotamia during historic time periods (Sumer, Assyria, and Babylon; 2,300- 333 BC), covering the rise of the Akkadian Empire, the Neo-Sumerian "renaissance" of the Ur III State, Hammurabi's Babylon, the Late Bronze Age under Kassite and Mittani rule, the rise and dominance of Assyria, and the splendor and fall of Babylon. This class will focus on the area of modern-day Iraq but also will consult materials from western Iran, eastern Syria, and southeastern Turkey.

This course deals with the recognition and interpretation of ancient Egyptian symbols and the representations of human and divine figures as preserved in the epigraphic record. We will examine issues such as the intersection of Egyptian art and writing and the appropriateness of terminology such as "art," "canon," and "aspective" in analyzing Egyptian representations.

The subject of this course is the archaeology of the Nubian cultures from the Middle Stone Age until the end of the Christian Period (ca. AD 1300). The study area is the Middle Nile Valley between Aswan and Khartoum, but the relationships with Egypt and other Northeast African cultures are also discussed. Through the use of site and survey reports and the study of artifacts from the Royal Ontario Museum collections the student is expected to acquire in-depth knowledge of the cultures of ancient Nubia. Occasional class presentations and one major research paper are required.

The cultural and social history of the Egyptian Old Kingdom (ca. 2650-2150 BCE) is the main subject of this course. The emphasis will be placed on the study of the archaeological remains, art, and architecture of the period known as the pyramid age. Important sites will be examined in detail and artifacts from the Royal Ontario Museum will be studied.

This seminar course allows advanced graduate students the opportunity to investigate in detail the archaeological, iconographic, and artifactual evidence relating to a central issue in the study of ancient Egyptian culture. The subject of the course varies based upon the needs and research interests of current graduate students in the fields of Near Eastern Archaeology and Egyptology, for example: the Egyptian data relating to state formation, urbanism, ethnicity, and the archaeological record, regionalism, and core/periphery relations, the Deir el-Medina community, foreign relations, etc. The course is offered on an as-needed basis, so interested students are advised to contact the professor directly.

This seminar course allows advanced graduate students the opportunity to investigate in detail the archaeological, iconographic, and artifactual evidence relating to a central issue in the study of ancient Egyptian culture. The subject of the course varies based upon the needs and research interests of current graduate students in the fields of Near Eastern Archaeology and Egyptology, for example: the Egyptian data relating to state formation, urbanism, ethnicity, and the archaeological record, regionalism, and core/periphery relations, the Deir el-Medina community, foreign relations, etc. The course is offered on an as-needed basis, so interested students are advised to contact the professor directly.

This course focuses on a comprehensive introduction and discussion of Mesopotamian artwork from the Neolithic to the Iron Age periods (ca. 6000-300 BC). Following an introduction of major artifact classes (including sculpture, relief, and glyptics), students will learn to describe and catalogue works of Mesopotamian art, allowing them to critically use and evaluate primary and secondary publications. Systematic descriptions and labels for key characteristics such as the object materials, size, iconography, genre, style, and theme will be established to show how meaningful artifact typologies can be constructed. The potential as well as limitations of art-historical approaches for archaeological work, especially for the chronology and interpretation of archeological contexts, will be discussed and examined on selected cases. Several classes will be taught at the Royal Ontario Museum to demonstrate the handling and physical analysis of artifacts.