From Song of Songs to Lamentations: Biblical Voices in Contemporary Jewish Festivals (BA3876T)

Undergraduate, 18.0 points

Content

This course explores the Five Scrolls in the Hebrew Bible (Song of Songs, Ruth, Lamentations, Ecclesiastes, and Esther), examining both their biblical contexts and their integral role in contemporary Jewish liturgy and festival observance. Each scroll is traditionally read during a specific Jewish holiday, and its themes deepen our understanding of the festival it accompanies. Through a combination of textual study, liturgical analysis, and embodied experience students will uncover the historical, theological, and cultural significance of the scrolls, enhancing their appreciation for both the books themselves and the rituals that bring them to life in Jewish tradition.

Unit code: BA3876T

Unit status: Approved (New unit)

Points: 18.0

Unit level: Undergraduate Level 3

Unit discipline: Old Testament

Proposing College: Trinity College Theological School

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Learning outcomes

1.

Articulate and analyse major themes of the books of the Five Scrolls (Song of Songs, Ruth, Lamentations, Ecclesiastes and Esther) using exegetical skills
2.

Reflect on the historical, theological, and cultural significance of the Five Scrolls across religious traditions, including contemporary Judaism.
3.

Demonstrate an understanding of the significance and practices of contemporary Jewish festivals
4.

Identify traditions, including rabbinic sources, connecting biblical texts and contemporary Jewish festivals.

Unit sequence

Pre-requisite: Introduction to the Old Testament or equivalent

Pedagogy

Lectures, tutorials, embodied experience of liturgy

Indicative Bibliography

  • Anisfeld, Sharon Cohen, Tara Mohr, Catherine Spector, eds. The Women’s Passover Companion: Women’s Reflections on the Festival of Freedom. Woodstock, VT: Jewish Lights, 2003.
  • Boyarin, Daniel. Intertextuality and the Reading of Midrash. Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 1990.
  • Brenner-Idan, A., Yee, G.A. , & Lee, A.C. The Five Scrolls: Texts@Contexts. London: Bloomsbury T&T Clark, 2018.
  • Eisenberg, Ronald L. The JPS Guide to Jewish Traditions. A JPS Desk Reference. Philadelphia: The Jewish Publication Society, 2004.
  • Harris, Monford. Exodus and Exile: The Structure of the Jewish Holidays. Minneapolis: Fortress, 1992.
  • Hammer, Reuven. Entering the High Holy Days: A Complete Guide to the History, Prayers, and Themes. Philadelphia: The Jewish Publication Society, 2003.
  • Melton, Brittany. Where Is God in the Megilloth?: A Dialogue on the Ambiguity of Divine Presence and Absence. 1st ed. Vol. 73. Boston: Brill, 2018.
  • Morgan, Donn F., ed. The Oxford Handbook of the Writings of the Hebrew Bible. New York: Oxford University Press, 2018
  • Waskow, Arthur. Seasons of Our Joy. Boston: Beacon Press, 1990.

Assessment

Type Description Word count Weight (%)
Essay

Thematic essay on the biblical foundations of contemporary Jewish festivals

 2000 40.0
Seminar or Tutorial

Creative piece presenting a biblical text for a contemporary audience

 1500 30.0
Personal Reflection

Reflective piece on embodied experience of Jewish liturgy and festivals

 1500 30.0
Approvals

Unit approved for the University of Divinity by Prof Albert Haddad on 28 Jul, 2025

Unit record last updated: 2025-07-28 08:51:24 +1000