Sacks’s research focuses on Jewish thought and philosophy of religion, along with related fields such as religious ethics, Jewish-Christian relations, theories of religion, religion and politics, and hermeneutics. His first book, “Moses Mendelssohn’s Living Script: Philosophy, Practice, History, Judaism” (Indiana University Press, 2017) explores the account of Jewish practice in the Hebrew and German writings of Moses Mendelssohn, the Enlightenment philosopher generally seen as the founder of modern Jewish thought. Sacks is currently working on a project on Nachman Krochmal, modernity’s leading Eastern European Jewish thinker, including producing (with Lawrence Kaplan) the first English translation of Krochmal's Hebrew magnum opus 'The Guide of the Perplexed of the Time' (under contract with Yale University Press). Sacks’s recent and forthcoming articles explore medieval and modern thinkers such as Moses Maimonides, Baruch Spinoza, Mendelssohn, Krochmal, Elijah Zvi Soloveitchik, Hermann Cohen, Franz Rosenzweig, Jacob Taubes. Sacks also serves as a translator for a new English edition of Mendelssohn’s writings, along with an anthology of responses to Spinoza.
keywords
Jewish thought, philosophy of religion, hermeneutics, Jewish-Christian relations, theories of religion, religious ethics, religion and politics
JWST 3100 - Judaism
Primary Instructor
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Fall 2018 / Spring 2021 / Spring 2022 / Fall 2024
Explores Jewish religious experience and its expression in thought, ritual, ethics, and social institutions. Same as RLST 3100.
JWST 4000 - Capstone in Jewish Studies
Primary Instructor
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Spring 2020 / Spring 2021 / Fall 2021 / Fall 2024
Serves as the final product for students completing the major in Jewish Studies. Students will design a project under the supervision of a mentor that serves as the summation of their past work in Jewish Studies. Capstone projects can take the form of a thesis, film or another media. Instructor consent required for JWST minors.
JWST 4170 - God and Politics
Primary Instructor
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Fall 2022
Explores the relationship between religion and politics. Examining traditions such as Judaism and Christianity, this course considers diverse ways in which ancient, medieval and modern sources have imagined the role of religion in civic life. Some topics include the status of religious minorities, the nature of religious freedom and contemporary debates surrounding issues such as torture, sexuality and climate change. Same as RLST 4170 and RLST 5170.
JWST 4180 - Is God Dead?
Primary Instructor
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Fall 2021
Explores debates about the following questions: does it make sense to believe in God? Should believing or not believing in God make a difference for how individuals behave? Examining ancient and modern views on the existence and nature of a higher power, this course considers topics including evil and suffering, religion and science and religion's role in politics. Same as RLST 4180 and RLST 5180.
JWST 4190 - Love and Desire
Primary Instructor
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Spring 2019
Explores debates about the following questions: what and whom should humans and gods love, and what role should passions play in religion? Examining traditions such as Judaism and Christianity, this course considers diverse views on topics including religion and sexuality, the promise and perils of loving gods and humans, and the relationship between love, politics, and violence. Same as RLST 4190 and RLST 5190.
RLST 2400 - Religion, Ethics and Politics
Primary Instructor
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Spring 2019
Explores the role of religion in today's world, focusing on debates around religion, ethics and politics. Examining diverse voices from Christianity, Judaism and other traditions, this course considers religion's role in debates about issues such as same-sex marriage, race, climate change, war, criminal justice, torture, sexual ethics, abortion and economic justice.
RLST 3100 - Judaism
Primary Instructor
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Fall 2018 / Spring 2021 / Spring 2022 / Fall 2024
Explores Jewish religious experience and its expression in thought, ritual, ethics, and social institutions. Same as JWST 3100.
RLST 4170 - God and Politics
Primary Instructor
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Fall 2022
Explores the relationship between religion and politics. Examining traditions such as Judaism and Christianity, this course considers diverse ways in which ancient, medieval and modern sources have imagined the role of religion in civic life. Some topics include the status of religious minorities, the nature of religious freedom and contemporary debates surrounding issues such as torture, sexuality and climate change. Same as RLST 5170 and JWST 4170.
RLST 4180 - Is God Dead?
Primary Instructor
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Fall 2021
Explores debates about the following questions: does it make sense to believe in God? Should believing or not believing in God make a difference for how individuals behave? Examining ancient and modern views on the existence and nature of a higher power, this course considers topics including evil and suffering, religion and science and religion's role in politics. Same as RLST 5180 and JWST 4180.
RLST 4190 - Love and Desire
Primary Instructor
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Spring 2019
Explores debates about the following questions: what and whom should humans and gods love, and what role should passions play in religion? Examining traditions such as Judaism and Christianity, this course considers diverse views on topics including religion and sexuality, the promise and perils of loving gods and humans, and the relationship between love, politics, and violence. Same as RLST 5190 and JWST 4190.
RLST 5170 - God and Politics
Primary Instructor
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Fall 2022
Explores the relationship between religion and politics. Examining traditions such as Judaism and Christianity, this course considers diverse ways in which ancient, medieval and modern sources have imagined the role of religion in civic life. Some topics include the status of religious minorities, the nature of religious freedom and contemporary debates surrounding issues such as torture, sexuality and climate change. Same as RLST 4170 and JWST 4170.
RLST 5180 - Is God Dead?
Primary Instructor
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Fall 2021
Explores debates about the following questions: does it make sense to believe in God? Should believing or not believing in God make a difference for how individuals behave? Examining ancient and modern views on the existence and nature of a higher power, this course considers topics including evil and suffering, religion and science and religion's role in politics. Same as RLST 4180 and JWST 4180.
RLST 5190 - Love and Desire
Primary Instructor
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Spring 2019
Explores debates about the following questions: what and whom should humans and gods love, and what role should passions play in religion? Examining traditions such as Judaism and Christianity, this course considers diverse views on topics including religion and sexuality, the promise and perils of loving gods and humans, and the relationship between love, politics, and violence. Same as RLST 4190 and JWST 4190.
RLST 6830 - Introduction to the Academic Study of Religion
Primary Instructor
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Fall 2018 / Fall 2020 / Fall 2024
Introduction to the graduate academic study of religion through the exploration of contemporary models and issues that demonstrate the nature and future of the field. Students prepares a profile of intended area of research.
RLST 6945 - Portfolio: Non-Thesis Option
Primary Instructor
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Fall 2018 / Spring 2019
Course work finished or in the last semester. May be repeated up to 4 total credit hours.
