Status: In Development

Description

What is Judaism — a religion, a covenant, a civilization, a legal system, or a people? How did it form, how does it function, and how has it endured across millennia?

The Foundations of Judaism course offers a rigorous, structured journey through the intellectual and lived foundations of Judaism. Built on a 16-chapter progression from conceptual orientation to applied modern case studies, this program guides students from historical grounding and textual development to theology, law, worship, diversity, and contemporary ethical debates.

Students will explore:

• The structure of Judaism as covenantal civilization

• The historical formation of Israelite and Jewish identity

• The Tanakh and methods of interpretation (including PaRDeS)

• The Oral Torah, Mishnah, and Talmudic reasoning

• Core theological doctrines and ethical frameworks

• Halakhah as lived daily practice

• Sacred time, festivals, and lifecycle obligations

• Jewish philosophy, mysticism, and denominational diversity

• Judaism’s relationship with Christianity and Islam

• Modern issues including the Holocaust, Zionism, science, and technology ethics

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Course Structure

This is a fully self-paced program designed for serious independent learners.

Each of the modules includes:

• Structured video instruction

• Guided reading sections

• Reflection questions

• Key term mastery lists

• Discussion prompts

• Supplemental readings and curated resources

• Applied exercises and case analysis

To deepen engagement, students will complete:

(1) Two Structured Projects

Focused on textual analysis, halakhic reasoning, and historical/theological synthesis.

(2) Final Capstone Project

A comprehensive integrative assessment requiring students to analyze a complex ethical using textual, theological, historical, and legal frameworks developed throughout the course.

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Estimated Time Commitment

Most students complete the program in 60–80 hours, comparable to a college-level semester course. Learners may progress at their own pace.

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Certification and Digital Credential

Upon successful completion of all modules, projects, and the final capstone, students will receive:

• An official Michaelis University Certificate in Foundations of Judaism

• A verified digital badge suitable for LinkedIn and professional profiles

This credential signifies demonstrated competency in Jewish foundational studies, interpretive methods, and applied ethical reasoning.

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Ideal for independent scholars, homeschool educators, ministry leaders, interfaith learners, and those seeking structured religious literacy, this course provides not merely information, but intellectual formation.