Chaburot (small-group study of special topics in Jewish political thought): 3 credits -- Philosophy / Political Theory
The chaburot are small groups of three to five students each, overseen and guided by the Rav HaMachon (Institute Rabbi) at weekly meetings (2.5 hours each). Each chabura takes an inquiry-driven approach and focuses on a specific topic, issue, or question in Jewish political thought (for some examples, please see the Machshevet Yisrael / Jewish Thought course description), tracing it from the Tanakh (Hebrew Bible) through various key texts as appropriate to the topic.
The course includes weekly "low-stakes" writing assignments focused on inventorying and mastering the material to date: analytical summaries, detailed descriptions of selected items, "conversation charts" that diagram various ways in which the texts and ideas relate to each other, and similar tasks. It culminates in two projects: group presentations that detail each chabura's research and findings, and individual, inquiry-driven final essays.
• Grading: Participation 50% + Presentation 25% + Essay 25%