THE HEBREW UNIVERSITY OF JERUSALEM
ROTHBERG INTERNATION SCHOOL
Division of Undergraduate Studies
PRE SEMESTER COURSE 2023
Jerusalem: A Journey Through Time and Space
Historical and Geographical Perspectives
48170
September- 2023
Instructor: Abraham Silver
09:00 – 12:45
Email: Abraham.Silver@mail.huji.ac.il; abrahamsilver@gmail.com
Tel: 052-424-4115
COURSE DESCRIPTION
“The view of Jerusalem is the history of the world; it is more, it is the history of earth and of heaven.” Benjamin Disraeli
There is a concept in Jerusalem of “Yerushali’im shel Ma’ala, Yerushali’im shel Mata” Heavenly Jerusalem and Earthly Jerusalem. How did that happen? How did a small, not very significant city-state become the Heavenly city? This course will attempt to answer that question by following Jerusalem on its journey over the course of three thousand years, from a regional center to a national capital to the spiritual center for the world’s three great western monotheistic religions.
Each one of us has a relationship with Jerusalem. This purpose of this course is to bring that personal relationship into better focus, while understanding and appreciating the meaning of Jerusalem for everyone in the world.
Class participation
Preparation of documents and bibliography readings as requested
Take Home Exam
Montefiore, Simon Sebag: Jerusalem: The Biography, (Weidenfeld and Nicolson, 2011). Overseas library E114 S443; EBOOK
Wednesday Sept. 06th
Lecture:
Introduction: Jerusalem – its place in our hearts and in the ancient geo-political world
Understanding the place of the physical city and the idea of the metaphysical city. Examining the site and location of Jerusalem and factors behind its development.
Readings:
Sebag: 01-22. Jerusalem: The Biography; Overseas library E114 S443; E-BOOK
Urban geography of Jerusalem. Overseas Library E114(084) A517;
E-RESERVE
King: 28-33, 52. The valleys of Jerusalem; E-RESERVE 001897119
The First Temple Period: The Formation of the National Jewish City
How Jerusalem came to be the capital city of the Jewish Kingdom; how the city morphed in different time periods – specifically the Davidic, Solomonic, and Hezekiah reigns as well as the destruction and end of first Temple period.
Readings:
Sebag: 23-56. Jerusalem: The Biography; E-BOOK
Dan Gill: 21-33. How They Met, Biblical Archaeology Review, vol. 20:4, July/August, 1994. ERESERVE
Ronny Reich: 279-317 Excavating the City of David: Where Jerusalem’s History Began, Jerusalem 2011, ERESERVE; Overseas library E114 R347
Eilat Mazar: Did I find King David's Palace? article in BAR Magazine
Monday, Sept. 11th
Lecture:
The Second Temple Period: - Jewish Jerusalem at its zenith
The return to Zion from Babylon through the Greek Period and Maccabean Jerusalem until the zenith of Jerusalem’s power during the reign of King Herod, and the end of that power with the destruction of the Second Temple
Readings:
Sebag: 57-152. Jerusalem: The Biography; E-BOOK
Ben-Dov: 138-142. Herodian Jerusalem revisited. E-RESERVE
Avigad: 469-475. The Upper City. Overseas library E13 B582; E-RESERVE
Ritmeyer: 23-42. Reconstructing Herod’s Temple Mount in Jerusalem.
E-RESERVE
Avi-Yonah: 9-13. Jerusalem of the Second Temple Period. Overseas library E114 Y12; E-RESERVE
Dan Bahat: 34-63. The Carta Jerusalem Atlas. 2011, Overseas library E114(084) B151; ERESERVE
Jerusalem Redefined: Rome until early Islam
The reemergence of Jerusalem from the Roman City of Aelia Capitolina through the Christian City of Constantine until the Early Islamic Period
Readings:
Sebag: 155-244. Jerusalem: The Biography. E-BOOK
Patrich: 101-117. The early church of the Holy sepulchre in the light of excavations and restoration. Overseas library E132 T877; E-RESERVE
Goitein: 168-195. Jerusalem in the Arab period (638-1099). E-RESERVE
Avi-Yonah: 9-23, 50-60. Madaba Mosaic map. E-RESERVE
Yoram Tsafrir: 133-150. Byzantine Jerusalem: The Configuration of a Christian City in Lee Levine (ed.), Jerusalem: Its Sanctity and Centrality to Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. New York, 1999 ERESERVE; Overseas library E114(08) L665
Tuesday Sept. 12th
Field Trip: The First Temple Period:
Overlook on the city
The City of David including Warren’s Shaft, Hezekiah’s Tunnel, Shiloach Pool Jerusalem
Wednesday Sept. 13th
Field Trip: The Second Temple Period:
The Herodian Quarter, The Southern Wall excavations, the Western Wall
Monday Sept 18th
Field Trip: Jerusalem Redefined:
Church of the Holy Sepulcher, Via Delarosa, Austrian Hospice, Roman and Crusader Cardo
Tuesday, Sept 19th
Lecture:
Jerusalem between the Great World Civilizations: The Crusaders until the Early Ottomans
The clash of civilizations as Jerusalem is conquered by the Crusaders, the Ayubi, the Mamluks and the Ottomans.
Readings:
Sebag: 247-374. Jerusalem: The Biography. E-BOOK
Seelig: 118-123. Main street, Jerusalem. E-RESERVE
Prawer: 102-107. Jerusalem in Crusader days. Overseas library E114 Y12; E-RESERVE
Benvenisti: 25-73. The Crusaders in the Holy Land. Overseas library E114(084) A517; E-RESERVE
Sivan and Solar: 168-176. Excavations in the Jerusalem Citadel, 1980-1988.
Overseas library E114 G396 ; E-RESERVE
Drory: 190-213. Jerusalem during the Mamluk period (1250-1517).
E-RESERVE
The Rise of the Modern Era: Late Ottomans until the State of Israel
The rebirth of Jerusalem in 19th in the Century Ottoman Era including the exodus from the Old City, the mark of the British Mandate on the city of Jerusalem and the coming of Zionism
Readings:
Sebag: 377-522. Jerusalem: The Biography. E-BOOK
Ben-Arieh: 104-119, 297-306. Jerusalem in the 19th Century: the old city.
Overseas library E114 B456; E-RESERVE
Sapir: 105-119. The Anglican missionary societies in Jerusalem: activities and impact. Overseas library E111 K18; E-RESERVE
Biger: 209-219. An empire in the Holy Land. Overseas library E96 B592; E-RESERVE
Shapiro: 139-153. Planning Jerusalem: the first generation 1917-1969.
Overseas library E114 G396; E-RESERVE
Wednesday, Sept 20th
Field Trip: Jerusalem Outside the Walls:
Mishkenot Hasha’anim, King David Street, Nachlaot. Meah Shearim
Tuesday, Sept 26th
Field Trip: Jerusalem 1930’s:
Rechavia, Talbiya, the German Colony
Wednesday, Sept 27th
Field Trip: Modern Jerusalem:
Ammunition Hill, the Knesset, the Israel Museum
Thursday, Sept 28th
Lecture:
Jerusalem: Present and Future
Modern Jerusalem: The 20th Century - Jerusalem Divided and Jerusalem Post Six Day War
The 21st Century – Understanding Jewish Space in the 21st Century and the Future of the City
Readings:
Sebag: 553-628. Jerusalem: The Biography. E-BOOK
Hyman: 360-367. Jerusalem in transition. Main library DS 109.95 H9; E-RESERVE
Sorkin: 120-145. The Next Jerusalem: Sharing the Divided City. Overseas library DS 109.95 H9; E-RESERVE
Mann: xi-xiv. A place in history: modernism. Overseas library E115(TEL-AVIV) M281; E-RESERVE
Collins and Lapierre: O Jerusalem (Pan, 1973) Overseas library E990.12 C712