Jonatan Meir Homepage

	Jonatan Meir

Courses
Hasidim, Maskilim, Mithnagdim: A Chronicle of the Polemics (2010-2011) The course will be devoted to the close reading and analysis of the most important texts related to the Hasidic movement. We will discuss the patterns of polemics of the Mithnagdim and the Maskilim during the different phases of the development of the movement. The discussion will provide a broad picture of the Jewish society from the end of the 18th till the beginning of the 20th century. Jewish Enlightenment and Esotericism (2011-2012) This course will focus on the conceptions of Judaism and the limits of Religion in the works of various Maskilim in the nineteenth century and their attitudes toward various contemporary phenomena of esotericism. One of the topics to be considered is their view of the Ba‘al Shem, magic, belief in demons, spirits and hell. We will also consider and the influence of Mesmerism and various spiritual orders and criticism of Kabbalah and Hasidism in its various forms. Bratslav Hasidism (2011-2012) This course will delve into the major moments of Bratslav Hasidism from its founding through the Holocaust. Through a study of central texts in Hasidism we will evaluate the daring theological picture that negotiated change in relation to a shifting reality. In the first semester we will read from the works of R. Nahman of Bratslav and R. Nathan of Nemirov, and in the second we will study the development of Hasidism through the twentieth century. The Light that Reside in Heresy: Hillel Zeitlin, Y. H. Brenner ad Rabbi Kook (2011-2012) This course will focus on three exception figures of the twentieth century, each one expressing a unique relationship to the place of religion in modern life. We will analyze central texts of each figure and evaluate the complex connection and relations of one to other regarding the place of heresy in religion. Late Sabbatianism (2012-2013) In this seminar we will read the founding texts of late Sabbatianism and we will study the theological and historical developments of Sabbatianism from the time of Sabbatai Sevi’s conversion (including texts of Cardozo, Hayyon, Ramhal and Eybeschutz) until the radical expression of Sabbatianism amongst Jacob Frank and the Doenmeh. Hasidic Hagiographic Literature (2012-2014) This seminar will be based on readings of foundational texts of Hasidic hagiography from the nineteenth century. We will investigate the sources of this literature, the authors and printers of these texts, their changing characteristics and reception. The course will focus on close readings of central texts, particularly Shivhei ha-Besht. Habad Hasidism (2013-2014) This course will delve into the major moments of Habad Hasidism from its founding through the last years. Through a study of central texts in Hasidism we will evaluate the daring theological picture that negotiated change in relation to a shifting reality. Hillel Zeitlin and Jewish Mysticism in Poland (2013-2014) This course will focus on the exception figure of Hillel Zeitlin, as part of the Renaissance of the Jewish Mysticism in Poland at the beginnig of the twentieth Century. We will analyze central texts of Zeitlin, Shmuel Aba Horodezky, Haim Bunin, The Rabbi of Gur, The Zaddik from Piaseczna, Bratslav Hasidim and others. Yosef Hayyim Brenner and Judaism (2013-2014) This course will focus on the conception of Judaism and the limits of Religion in the works of Yosef Hayyim Brenner. We will analyze central texts of Brenner in several genres, from Short Publicist articles to his fundamental Romans. East European Haskalah and Religion (2013-2014) This course will focus on the concept of Religion in the works of various East European Maskilim in the nineteenth century (From Nachman Krochmal and Yitzhak Baer Levinsohn to Yehuda Leib Gordon and Moshe Leib Lilienblum).The discussion will provide a broad picture of the Jewish society in Eastern Europe from the end of the 18th century till the end of the 19th century. Readings in Sipurey Ma'asiyot of R. Nachman of Bratslav (2014-2015) This course will delve into the mysteries world of R. Nachman of Bratslav Stories, collected in the volume Sefer Sippurey Ma'asiyot (1815-1816). We will investigate their theological and historical context, deal with the Hasidic Interpretations of the stories throughout the 19th century, and analyze the neo-hasidic views of bratslav hasidism. 'In Praise of the Baall Shem Tov' (Shivchei Ha-Besht) and the Hasidic Hagiographical Literature (2014-2015) This Course will be based on readings of foundational texts of Hasidic hagiography from the nineteenth century. We will investigate the sources of this literature, the authors and printers of these texts, their changing characteristics and reception. The course will focus on close readings In Praise of The Baal Shem tov. Major Trends in Jewish Studies: Between Romanticism and Orientalism (2014-2015) This seminar will be based on readings of foundational texts of Hasidic hagiography from the nineteenth century. We will investigate the sources of this literature, the authors and printers of these texts, their changing characteristics and reception. The course will focus on close readings of central texts, particularly Shivhei ha-Besht. Bratslav Hasidism (2015-2016) This course will delve into the major moments of Bratslav Hasidism from its founding through the Holocaust. Through a study of central texts in Hasidism we will evaluate the daring theological picture that negotiated change in relation to a shifting reality. In the first semester we will read from the works of R. Nahman of Bratslav and R. Nathan of Nemirov, and in the second we will study the development of Hasidism through the twentieth century. Israel Baal Shem Tov and the Beginnings of Hasidism (2015-2016) This seminar will be based on readings of Hasidic texts from the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. We will focus on the Theological and historical background of Hasidism and on the role of the Baal Shem Tov in the establishment of the new movement. Hillel Zeitlin and Jewish Mysticism in Poland (2015-2016) This course will focus on the exception figure of Hillel Zeitlin, as part of the Renaissance of the Jewish Mysticism in Poland at the beginnig of the twentieth Century. We will analyze central texts of Zeitlin, Shmuel Aba Horodezky, Haim Bunin, The Rabbi of Gur, The Zaddik from Piaseczna, Bratslav Hasidim and others. Late Sabbatianism (2016-2017) In this seminar we will read the founding texts of late Sabbatianism and we will study the theological and historical developments of Sabbatianism from the time of Sabbatai Sevi’s conversion (including texts of Cardozo, Hayyon, Ramhal and Eybeschutz) until the radical expression of Sabbatianism amongst Jacob Frank and the Doenmeh. New Readings in Bratslav Hasidism (2016-2017) This seminar will delve into the major moments of Bratslav Hasidism from its founding through the Holocaust. Through a study of central texts in Hasidism we will evaluate the daring theological picture that negotiated change in relation to a shifting reality. In the first semester we will read from the works of R. Nahman of Bratslav and R. Nathan of Nemirov, and in the second we will study the development of Hasidism through the twentieth century.