Overview
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 IYUN is a three year program. Classes meet at the Skirball Center (10 East 66th Street, New York City) for three hours on Wednesday evenings, for ten weeks in the fall and ten weeks in the spring. Each session includes lecture, discussion, and interactive text study. Students are expected to complete assigned readings and preparation of up to two hours per week.
IYUN cultivates a community of learning in which students and faculty bring their life experience, secular knowledge, and critical judgment to the exploration of traditional and contemporary Jewish texts. It brings together adults from a broad spectrum of Jewish backgrounds who want a coherent, directed course of study. Prospective students should be motivated by and interested in intensive text study. Students must be willing to learn from others and exercise sensitivity and respect for their classmates. There are no specific pre-requisites. Knowledge of Hebrew is not required. Applicants should be prepared to make a three year commitment to IYUN. Space is limited.
IYUN invites all students to participate in at least one extra-curricular experience each semester. This may consist of a Shabbat dinner with students, faculty, and their families, an outing to a noteworthy Jewish site, or a guest speaker.
Curriculum
The IYUN program is divided into the following six components:
YEAR 1 - THE WRITTEN TORAH: Who, What, Where, When and Why of the Bible
 Fall: The Five Books of Moses
Gain an in-depth understanding of sections of Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. Explore the literary distinctions in the Torah between narrative and law. Discuss theological issues as they arise from the text. Trace major themes such as God, creation, humanity, covenant, Israel and mitzvah that weave their way through the entirety of the Torah. Explore the questions asked and methodologies used by interpreters of the Tanakh (Hebrew Bible) from the earliest times to our own day.
Spring: The Prophets and Writings
What is prophecy? What is wisdom? What gave rise to these bodies of literature and how were they understood by successive generations? Gain an appreciation of the artistry of prophetic writing and wisdom literature and the Israelite societies from which they sprang. Explore the relationship between prophecy, wisdom, and Torah.
YEAR 2 - THE ORAL TORAH: The Rabbis and their Reinvention of Ancient Judaism
Fall: Halakhah (Jewish law)
What are the differences between the Torah's concept of mitzvah (commandment) and the rabbinic concept of halakhah? Discuss the historical challenge posed by the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem and the construction of a portable Jewish civilization. How is Jewish law both similar to and different from other legal systems? How has Jewish law changed and developed over time? These large questions will be explored through an examination of two classic Jewish texts, the Mishnah and the Gemarah (Talmud).
Spring: Aggadah (Non-legal rabbinic literature)
Discuss the concept of "Oral Torah" and the classic division of Rabbinic literature into the categories of Halakhah (Jewish law) and Aggadah (lore). In both genres, what are the premises and assumptions that the ancient rabbis bring to the Torah? What are the limits of interpretation for them and for us? Learn to appreciate the different modes of rabbinic interpretation, including word-play, parable, exegesis, and homily. How did the rabbis treat biblical anthropomorphism? What did they do with biblical texts they found troubling? What do we do? These important questions will be explored through selections from Midrash and the Gemarah (Talmud).
YEAR 3 - JEWISH THOUGHT: Philosophy and Theology
Fall: Medieval Thought
Explore some of the most significant medieval Jewish texts, including biblical commentaries and legal codes, as well as major works of theology and philosophy. How do they relate to the classical medieval question of the relationship between revelation and reason? How does one maintain traditional concepts of religious relevance and authority while remaining open to the greatest intellectual ideas emerging from the larger world?
Spring: Modern Thought
How does the newly found ability to step outside and look at a text critically, to see historical development, to utilize scientific tools of investigation, affect the sacredness of the text and the tradition? Is our approach to tradition one of obligation or of meaning? What do we mean today by the term "revelation"? How does one balance autonomy with the commands of tradition? In addressing these questions, read selections from the most significant modern Jewish texts. How have modern Jews met the challenges of secularism, nationalism, socialism, anti-Semitism, and modernity itself? Ultimately, use these sources and your own experience to answer the quintessential modern question of what it means to be a Jew in the 21st century.
For more information, please contact Adina Gerver at 212-507-9537 or iyun@adultjewishlearning.org.
Tuition
$675 per semester
Limited financial aid is available. All conversations regarding financial aid are confidential.
Dates & Deadlines
- Applications for Fall 2008 are available by clicking here.
- Rolling admissions has already begun. Space is limited.
- Classes begin in early September and applicants are expected to attend all classes during the semester.
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