Diversity of Ancient Israel Course

A course at B’nai Sholom Reform Congregation will examine the diversity of ancient Israel from its beginnings to the Diaspora.

“The Diversity of Ancient Israel” will be taught eight Tuesday mornings beginning March 10 from 10 a.m. until 11:45 a.m. at B’nai Sholom, 420 Whitehall Road, Albany, N.Y.

                During his ongoing study of ancient Israel, instructor Steven Stark-Riemer was surprised to realize that the courses he presents all have an unintended central theme running through them: diversity – of community, of thought, of practice – and it has marked ancient Israel from its beginnings in the central hill country of Canaan to its life in the Diaspora. This course, built from the previous seven in this series, highlights this variety. Among the topics to be covered are:

• the emergence of early Israel as a people;
• the distinction between “book religion” and “folk religion” – Does the Bible present religious reality or theological ideal?
• the redactors of the Hebrew Bible;
• the variety of Second Temple Judaisms;
• Alexandria – the first Jewish Golden Age;
• sects of the Second Temple period, and the formation of the Dead Sea Scrolls community;
• apocalyptic eschatology meets politics in first-century Judea;
• was there a split Diaspora?

Stark-Riemer studied anthropology at City College of New York, where he specialized in archaeology, and received his degree in 1972. He conducted field work at the Tell Gezer excavations in Israel under the direction of William G. Dever, director of the Hebrew Union College Biblical and Archaeological School at the time. Stark-Riemer continues to pursue his interest in the archaeology, history and religion of the ancient Near East.

“The Diversity of Ancient Israel” is open to the public. Fee for the eight-session course is $60; $40 for B’nai Sholom members. Registration is required.

For more information, visit www.bnaisholomalbany.org or contact the B’nai Sholom office at 518-482-5283 or office@bnaisholom.albany.ny.us.

-MORE-