Introduction to Classical Judeo-Arabic
Date: Mar 05, 2026 - May 28, 2026
Time: 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm
Sponsor: Online Learning
Location: Online
Category: Online Learning
Introduction to Classical Judeo-Arabic
A New Online Course from JTS with Dr. Yaara Perlman
Ten Thursdays: March 5, 12, 19, 26; April 16, 23, 30; May 7, 14, 28, 2026
12:00–1:30 p.m. ET
Beginning with a brief overview of the history and linguistic features of Judeo-Arabic and a survey of major medieval writers, this course will primarily focus on the close reading of texts from a range of genres. Readings will include excerpts from Saadia Gaon’s translation of the Torah and from the Responsa of Maimonides, as well as documentary materials such as private letters and legal documents that are part of JTS’ permanent collection. Taken together, the texts will offer a window into the vast literature composed in Judeo-Arabic and into the daily lives of Jewish communities in the medieval Arabic-speaking world.
Recordings will be available for those unable to attend a session. Space is limited.
Prerequisites: This course requires prior knowledge of Arabic, equivalent to 3–4 semesters of university study. Students are also expected to be familiar with Hebrew script by the second week of class.
If you’re not sure whether this class is for you, please contact Dr. Alisa Braun.
Cost: $650
About the Instructor
Dr. Yaara Perlman is a historian of the premodern Middle East, working at the intersection of kinship ties created through women, tribal affiliations, and social and political networks. Her research covers topics pertaining to pre-Islamic Arabia, as well as to the early history of Islam from the time of the Prophet Muḥammad to the period of the early ʿAbbāsid caliphs. Her first book, currently in progress, focuses on Khaybar, an oasis in the Arabian Peninsula that during Muḥammad’s lifetime was inhabited by Jews. It seeks to elucidate Muḥammad’s considerations in making administrative appointments there, along with the close relations that some of his companions shared with the Jews. She holds a Ph.D. from Princeton University and has been a postdoctoral fellow at Tel Aviv University and Yale Law School.
