Professors Asani and Cohen participate in this panel discussion.
Tuesday, March 1, 5:30pm. ~~ HDS Sperry Room (Andover Hall)
What do scriptures of major religions really say? What interpretations rise to prominence in a given historical or cultural moment? Which decline, and why? Who gets to interpret what scriptures mean? How do communities of faith negotiate differences within their own traditions?
The Workshop on Arabic and Islamic Studies (WAIS) presents
Almohad Architecture (exact lecture title TBA)
A discussion with Abbey Stockstill, doctoral student in the History of Art and Architecture Department, Harvard University
The centerpiece of Almohad Marrakesh is undoubtedly their dynastic mosque, built in the midtwelfth century and known as the Kutubiyya for the bookseller’s market in which it was located. This paper will explore not only the mosque’s role as...
Shady H. Nasser, University Lecturer in Classical Arabic Studies, University of Cambridge (UK)
presents a lecture:
"Is Qurʾān bad Poetry? Evolution and Creationism in the Arabic Literary Tradition"
Monday, February 8, 4:00pm -- Semitic Museum 201
While the Islamic tradition claims that Prophet Muhammad was the most eloquent and articulate of all Arabs, it also denies Muhammad the ability to compose poetry. This talk will discuss defects of poetry as...
Carlos Fraenkel, James McGill Professor, Jewish Studies and Philosophy, McGill University
presents a lecture:
"Universalism, Pluralism, Exclusivism: Maimonides in the Context of Medieval Arabic Philosophy"
Monday, February 8, 12:15 p.m. -- Barker Center 133
In this lecture I propose a solution to the puzzle why Maimonides (d. 1204) both conceives Judaism in a way that allows for other virtuous religions and insists that there can be no virtuous religion but Judaism. The...
It is our great pleasure to invite you to the seventh meeting of the Semitic Philology Workshop.
The speaker is Dr. Raanan Eichler of Harvard NELC. We will meet on February 4, Thursday, 6:15pm at Semitic Museum 201.
Title Date Palms, Dust Clouds, and Big Digs: Recovering Forgotten Meanings of Ancient Hebrew Words
Abstract In this talk I will examine several Hebrew terms from the Bible and from Iron Age inscriptions whose standard interpretations are unsatisfactory. Relying on literary...
It is my pleasure to invite you to the nineteenth meeting of the Harvard History and Archaeology of Ancient Near Eastern Societies Workshop. Our speaker is Arnulf Hausleiter, Deutsches Archäologisches Institut, Orient-Abteilung, and currently visiting research scholar at ISAW.
The meeting takes place on Wednesday, February 3rd at 5:15 pm in HSM 201.
Yaacob Dweck is an associate professor of history and Judaic studies. His first book, The Scandal of Kabbalah: Leon Modena, Jewish Mysticism, Early Modern Venice appeared in 2011. The book was a finalist for the...
Assistant Prof. of Literature, New York University, Abu Dhabi Member 2015-16, Institute for Advanced Study, Princeton
presents a lecture:
"The Maqāmāt Between Philology and World Literature"
Monday January 25, 4:00pm ~~ 6 Divinity Ave., #201
Maqāmāt relate the exploits of roving trickster protagonists who use ornate linguistic devices to defraud unsuspecting victims. Like their rogue anti-heroes who are always on the move, ...