MJ525/625: Messianic Jewish Spiritual Life (4 units)

Stuart Dauermann, Adjunct Assistant Professor of Judaic Studies
Summer 2006 Pasadena

DESCRIPTION:

Messianic Jewish spirituality seeks to promote a vital, mature relationship with God and humankind among those bound by the irrevocable covenant with Israel. It is rooted in Scripture, informed by Jewish tradition, dependent upon Yeshua’s creative, redemptive, and intercessory work, and responsive to the Divine Presence. This course introduces avenues for making Messianic Jewish spirituality a lived reality, exploring various means of nurturing this life in individuals and congregations.

RELEVANCE: It is imperative that we grow in our Messianic Jewish faith while maintaining and strengthening our bond with our Jewish people and culture. This course points out the avenues whereby these ends may be pursued.

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

• Students will be able to identify six core elements intrinsic Messianic Jewish spirituality, balancing those elements, and relating them to the person and work of Christ and Jewish tradition using a model called "The Cube of Messianic Jewish Spirituality."
• Given a Jewish prayer book, students will be able to identify key sections in the order of Jewish prayer, and broadly describe the functions of each section.
• Students will be able to appreciate the different center of gravity prevailing in Messianic Jewish spirituality as compared with common Christian models.
• Students will be able to see how Messianic Jewish spirituality relates to both Jewish and Christian models, without being simply a combination of the two.

COURSE FORMAT: This course is a one week intensive.

REQUIRED READING: (total 1097 pp.) If you have previously read any of the required texts, please select an alternative text from the recommended reading list or a book approved by the instructor.

Buxbaum, Yitzhak. Real Davvening: Jewish Prayer as a Spiritual Practice and a Form of Meditation for Beginning and Experienced Davveners. New York: Jewish Spirit Publishing, 1996. [48 pp.]
Demarest, Bruce. Satisfy Your Soul: Restoring the Heart of Christian Spirituality. Colorado Springs:NavPress, 1999. [Read pp. 1-218; 255-297 –Total 261 pp.]
Goldstein, Niles E., and Peter S Knobel, eds. Duties of the Soul: The Role of Commandments in Liberal Judaism. New York: UAHC Press, 1999. [Read Chapters 2, 3, 6, 11, 12 – Total 61 pp.]
Goldstein, Niles E., and Steven S. Mason. Judaism and Spiritual Ethics. New York: UAHC Press, 1996. [83 pp.]
Kugel, James. On Being a Jew. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins Press, 1999. [190 pp.]
Rothschild, Fritz A. Between God and Man: An Interpretation of Judaism from the Writings of
Abraham Joshua Heschel. New York: Free Press paperbacks, 1959. [Read Intro. and chapters 26-37 – Total 84 pp.]
Sonsino, Rifat. Six Jewish Spiritual Paths: A Rationalist Looks at Spirituality. Woodstock, VT: Jewish Lights, 2000. [154 pp.]
Olitzky, Kerry M., and Daniel Judson. The Rituals and Practices of a Jewish Life: A Handbook for Personal Spiritual Renewal. Woodstock, VT: Jewish Lights, 2002. [216 pp.]
Schermann, Nosson, ed. The Artscroll Siddur [Nusach Ashkenaz]. [Not to be “read” but to be used as a reference and in conjunction with daily minyanim.]

RECOMMENDED READING:

Borowitz, Eugene, and Frances Weinman. The Jewish Moral Virtues. Philadelphia: The Jewish Publication Society, 1999.
Buxbaum, Yitzhak. Jewish Spiritual Practices. Northvale, NJ: Jason Aronson, 1990.
Cohn-Sherbok, Daniel. Messianic Judaism. London: Contimuum, 2000.
Feher, Shoshana. Passing over Easter: Constructing the Boundaries of Messianic Judaism. Altamira Press, 1998. Harris-Shapiro, Carol. Messianic Judaism: A Rabbi’s Journey Through Religious Change in America. Boston, MA: Beacon Press, 1999.
Kravitz, Leonard and Kerry M. Olitzky. Pirkei Avot: A Modern Commentary on Jewish Ethics. New York: UAHC Press, 1993. [You may use this book to comply with course requirements with permission from the Instructor.]

ASSIGNMENTS:

• Regular attendance and participation in all classroom sessions.
• Three Book Reviews of any of the required books [Not including Buxbaum, Kugel, or Goldstein and Mason] using format provided by instructor. [Approximately 3000 words total, double-spaced].
• Keeping a reflections journal [guidelines to be provided by Instructor] chronicling your reflections, questions, and observations flowing from readings, minyanim, class discussion and our total experience together during the week. [Approximately 2250 words double spaced].
• Take-home final exam involving creative interaction with readings, class discussions, and your own context. [approximately 3750 words double-spaced].

PREREQUISITES: None. This course is offered through a special partnership agreement with MJTI. Part of the budgetary agreement necessitates that anyone who wishes to audit this course must register and pay audit fees through Messianic Jewish Theological Institute. Contact MJTI Administrator, at mjtiorga@mjti.org

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Elective.

FINAL EXAM: Take Home as above.

Last Date Edited: March 22, 2006