Me’ah Classic
Medieval -Semester 3
In Person at Hebrew College
Fall 2026
Me’ah Classic Medieval – Semester 3
Program: Hebrew College Me’ah Classic
Instructor: Jacob Meskin, PhD.
Dates: 11 Tuesdays, Fall 2026/Winter 2027: 10/13, 10/20, 10/27, 11/3, 11/10, 11/17, 11/24, 12/1, 12/8, 12/15 & 12/22 (Makeup dates: 1/5 & 1/12)
Time: 7 -9 p.m. ET
Course fee: $490 for the Fall Medieval semester only, financial aid is available
Location: In Person at Hebrew College
Hosted by: Hebrew College
Registration: Click here
The Me’ah Classic Year 2 Program begins with Medieval in the Fall and continues with Modern in the Spring. Your tuition covers the Fall semester.
Fall: Medieval
Study the Jewish mindset and the contours of medieval Jewish civilizations under Islam and Christianity during the Middle Ages (600 to 1700 CE).
Jewish life during the Middle Ages (about the seventh century through the 17th century), built upon earlier rabbinic foundations, made manifest in form and content what the rabbis of the Talmud had only begun: the construction of a rabbinic Jewish civilization, with distinctive approaches to community life, behavioral norms, and beliefs and values. As a result, Jewish culture and its genres expanded dramatically in several areas: philosophy, mysticism, liturgy and commentaries on the Bible and talmudic texts.
Readings and discussions in this sequence focus on Jewish encounters with non-Jews, including the rise and fall of Jewish life in Spain and Eastern Europe. You will examine the modes of community that Jews constructed in the shifting diaspora, as well as the expansion of Jewish thought in the areas of philosophy, mysticism, liturgy, and biblical and talmudic commentaries.
Suggested Readings Before Year Two:
Below are a few suggestions (not mandatory!) for reading before Me’ah Classic Year Two begins.
Historical Fiction
People of the Book, Geraldine Brooks
A Guide for the Perplexed, Dara Horn
The Coffee Trader, David Liss
The Day of Atonement, David Liss
The Weight of Ink, Rachel Kadish
We encourage students to take Year One before registering for Year Two. If, however, starting with Year Two would work better for your schedule, please contact the Hebrew College Tamid Team.