Teaching Certificate in Oral Law and Jewish Thought

The program grants a certificate for teaching oral law and Jewish thought in high schools Students with a bachelor's degree from the OUI in the humanities or in the humanities and social sciences, who have met the requirements specified in section A below, and individuals with a bachelor's degree in oral law and Jewish thought from other academic institutions may apply for the program.1

The study program for a teaching certificate in oral law and Jewish thought includes courses in education, methodology and practical training.

A. Requirements for undergraduate students at the Open University of Israel2

Jewish studies: 54 credits – including at least 6 advanced credits, according to the following specifications:

Level

Credits

Introduction to Oral Law (10133)

Intermediate

6
Midrash and Agaddah (10446)

Intermediate

6

Time, Society and Family: Studies in Talmud (10105)

Intermediate

6

Selected Topics in Jewish Law (10229)

Intermediate

6

Gender and Sexuality in Rabbinic Culture (10947)

Intermediate

6


Jewish studies – at least 24 credits3

Jewish Philosophy in the Middle Ages from Sa'adiah Gaon to Rambam (Maimonides) (10412)

Intermediate

6

Ashkenazi Hasidism in the History of Jewish Thought (10297)

Intermediate

6

Law and Philosophy: Maimonides (10202)

Intermediate

6

Rashi's Commentary on the Torah (10231)

Intermediate

6

Secularization in Modern Jewish Culture (10932)

Advanced

6

Medieval Jewish Political Thought (10585)

Advanced

6


The History of the Jewish People – at least 6 credits 3

From Exile to Independence: From the Babylonian Exile to the Fall of the Hasmonean Kingdom (10419)

Intermediate

6

Jewish History during the Second Temple: Judea and Rome (10212)

Intermediate

6

Historical Topics in the World of the Sages (10572)

Advanced

6

The Bar Kochba Revolt (10351)

Advanced

6

Seminar Requirements

At least one seminar paper, in one of the following courses: Historical Issues in the World of the Sages (10572), The Bar Kochba Revolt (10351), Medieval Jewish Political Thought (10585), Secularization in Modern Jewish Culture (10932).


B. Requirements for a teaching certificate in oral law and Jewish thought

Courses in education – 24 points

Philosophy of Education (10765)4

Intermediate

6

Curriculum Planning, Teaching and Evaluation (10106)

Intermediate

6

Educational Psychology (10125)

Intermediate

6

Teaching: Art, Craft, or Profession? (10363)

Advanced

6


Courses in methodology

Teaching Oral Law and Jewish Thought: Methodology(55155)5, 6



(6)
7

Research Literacy in Education (55476)

(4)8


Practical training

Practicum in teaching Oral Law and Jewish Thought (55155)5, 6

(10)9

Didactic Seminar in Teaching Oral Law and Jewish Thought (55471)6, 10

(4)8


Test of knowledge in Talmud

Students will be tested on their knowledge of eight pages of Talmud, to be selected in accordance with the study program and the methodology course.

Applicants to the program must submit a request to the Study Program Approval Committee, attaching bachelor's degree documentation and an original grade transcript, no later than the date of completion of the first course in the teaching certificate program (see section B above) and prior to registration for the course Teaching Oral Law and Jewish Thought: Methodology (55155).11

Acceptance to the program is contingent upon completion of a bachelor's degree, or, for students in the final year of degree studies, an average GPA of at least 75, plus fulfillment of the English requirements.

Students studying towards a bachelor's degree from the Open University must meet the following criteria in order to be accepted to the program: at least 72 undergraduate credits; GPA of at least 75, including required courses; at least one advanced course and one seminar paper (as per program requirements); fulfillment of English requirements; and approval of both the degree and teaching certificate study programs by the Study Program Approval Committee.12

Students will be notified regarding acceptance and/or supplementary course requirements (where applicable) by the Study Program Approval Committee.

Students will be granted a teaching certificate in oral law and Jewish thought once they have completed all undergraduate degree requirements, supplementary courses (if required) and the study program for the teaching certificate, as approved by the committee.

Students may be exempted from a maximum of two education courses (not more than 12 credits). This exemption is granted only for prior study of courses with similar content matter and scope to those in the program. In all cases, an advanced course will be required in the framework of the teaching certificate.

 

For additional information/clarification, please contact avichay@openu.ac.il.


1 Individuals with a bachelor's degree in oral law and Jewish thought from another academic institution, who do not meet all of the mandatory requirements specified in section A, will be required to take supplementary courses in accordance with these requirements.


2 The rest of the study program requirements for a degree in the humanities or humanities and social sciences must be completed. In particular, please note that for the humanities degree, at least another 30 credits must be accumulated in the humanities, of which at least 12 are advanced credits, in courses for which the only connection or the primary connection is to the humanities. For a degree in the humanities and social sciences, at least another 6 advanced credits must be accumulated in the humanities in courses for which their only, or primary, connection is to the humanities. In the framework of credits in the humanities, it is recommended to take Religion and State: Philosophical Aspects (10555) and Problems in Moral Philosophy (10122) .


3 Students who have taken The World of the Sages (10201), which is no longer offered, may count the course towards Jewish studies courses or History of the Jewish People.


4 Or the course Educational Theory (55004), which is no longer offered.

5 There are several prerequisites for the course Teaching Oral Law and Jewish Thought: Methodology (55155) and it is a requirement for the practical training courses. Therefore, the courses must be taken in the appropriate order.


6 Attendance is required at meetings for this course.


7 Credit is not granted for this course, but it is equal to 6 semester hours.


8 Credit is not granted for this course, but it is equal to 4 semester hours.


9 Credit is not granted for this course, but it is equal to 10 semester hours.


10 Only students who have successfully completed Teaching Oral Law and Jewish Thought: Methodology (55155) will be accepted to the practicum and the Didactic Seminar.


11 The application should be sent to the secretariat of the teaching certificate programs at the Open University of Israel.


12 The curriculum for the undergraduate degree must be approved first, and thereafter the curriculum for the teaching certificate.