God? Gods? Goddesses? Godexes?: Diverse Theologies in Tanakh (Hebrew Bible)
Sorry, registration for this class is closed!
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Tamar Kamionkowski
12 weeks
Mondays: 1-2:30 pm ET / 10 am-11:30 am PT, beginning October 9th
Many mainstream Jewish traditions present a clear demarcation between the world of humanity and nature – on the one hand – and God, on the other. In this course, we will explore how divine presence was understood in ancient Israel and how it was expressed in biblical literature. Tanakh (Hebrew Bible) reveals more malleable boundaries between the divine and human dimensions of the world. Its texts present a variety of ideas regarding the nature of God, gods and human beings.
The authors of the Tanakh recognized more than the national God of Israel. They had a variety of opinions regarding the role of other gods in the life of the people Israel, the role of the dead, divine messengers, and super-human people. Topics of study will include: How did YHVH become the God of Israel? Did the Israelites have a Goddess? Are there demons and angels in Tanakh? Was there ancestor worship? How does the God of Israel manifest gender? Does God have a body in biblical literature? Where did God live? What kinds of representations of God were permissible? Why monotheism?
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Sliding Scale
This course is available at a sliding scale cost of $499 (the true cost), $399 or $299.
If you can afford the full price, we hope you will choose that option, which allows us to continue to offer lower rates and scholarships to those who otherwise would not be able to access this learning because of financial barriers.
Financial Aid
If you need financial aid beyond the sliding scale, please fill out this simple form, and we will get right back to you.
**Please register each student separately. Your registrations will appear in your shopping cart and you may pay for multiple students together at checkout**
About Tamar
Tamar Kamionkowski (she/her) is a distinguished biblical scholar, and educator, who has been bridging biblical scholarship with contemporary Jewish life since joining RRC’s faculty in 1997. As a two-time recipient of the Yaakov Gladstone Award for Fine Teaching, she fosters lifelong connections with biblical texts, encouraging diverse interpretations.
Formerly the VP for Academic Affairs and Dean at RRC (2004-2013), Kamionkowski emphasized rabbinic identity and character development in rabbinical education. Her groundbreaking book, "Leviticus: A Wisdom Commentary" (2018), the first feminist and post-colonial commentary on Leviticus, earned acclaim. She authored "Gender Reversal and Cosmic Chaos" (2003) and co-edited "Bodies, Embodiment and Theology of the Hebrew Scriptures" (2010).
Founder of the Kamionkowski Beit Midrash, an online center for Hebrew learning, she holds degrees from Oberlin College, Harvard Divinity School, and Brandeis University. With expertise in various languages, she has contributed to esteemed institutions and served in leadership roles for biblical and religious societies.
