GROUP ISP

Monastic Jewish Women and Men?  Revisiting Historical Assumptions and Sources

Susan Marks

Assistant Professor of Judaic Studies

Preferred method to be contacted:

E-mail:  smarks@ncf.edu

Office:  PME 221

Fall 2004 Office Hours:

Tuesday 2:00-3:00 p.m.,

Thursday 3:00-4:00p.m.,

And by appointment

When are representations in ancient texts about real people?

This question takes on particular importance as scholars try to identify traces of ancient women that have been overlooked in previous generations.  In “On the Contemplative Life,” Philo (1^st c. CE) describes celibate Jewish women and men engaged in study and prayer.  Did he write of a real community or from his imagination?   In her upcoming visit to New College Ross S. Kraemer of Brown University, author of groundbreaking works on women in Antiquity, will help us explore these questions and revisit ancient evidence.  Kraemer’s works include Her Share of the Blessings:  Women’s Religions among Pagans, Jews and Christians in the Greco-Roman World, and When Aseneth Met Joseph:  A Late Antique Tale of the Biblical Patriarch and His Egyptian Wife, Reconsidered.  In advance of Ross Kraemer’s visit to New College on January 13^th and 14^th this ISP group will:

• Explore Philo’s “On the Contemplative Life”
• Review various strategies for interpreting Philo
• Read and consider Kraemer’s explorations
• Visit other primary sources with an eye towards historical representation
• Research one aspect of these ideas

The activities of this group will culminate first in a seminar with Ross Kraemer and then in presentation of research by members of the group.

Meeting times:     We will meet twice a week for discussion of group readings and to share the preliminary findings of individual research projects.  In addition, all those in the ISP group should plan to attend Ross Kraemer’s Thursday night public lecture as well as her advanced seminar Friday morning.

Requirements:  Student will read assigned texts in a timely fashion and come to our meetings ready to engage in discussions.  Each student will turn in one thesis-driven paper of around 8-12 pages, the highlights of which he/she will present to the group.