MA Honors Program

Research subject: Aspects of comedy and humor in the second part of Cervantes' Don Quixote.

Supervisor: Prof. Ruth Fine

Supervisor: Dr. Sharon Krishek

Abstract: I am writing my thesis on a question that has been bothering me for quite some time, the question whether or not we are obligated to forgive the people we love? or, to put it somewhat differently, can we truly love someone and at the same time hold a negative attitude towards that person, believing that he wronged us?

 This is a complex question, which requires clarifying the basic terms with which it is concerns, namely forgiveness and love. In addition, it is also not clear what kind of obligation is in question. While every person on the street can understand the question asked, since it concerns two of the most basic concepts of human life, a closer look would reveal that it is far from easy to precisely define them.

 Given the complexity and width of the topic, I shall begin my discussion from the question whether or not we are ever obligated to forgive, regardless of our attitude towards the offender. Since our initial intuition is that an obligation to forgive belongs to the moral sphere, the first step would be ascertaining whether or not there could be a moral obligation to forgive.

 After concluding, through the discussion of the secondary literature on the subject, that in the moral sphere forgiveness is always supererogatory and never an obligation; I turn to a discussion of forgiveness as a religious duty, asking if forgiveness can be a moral prerogative and a religious duty. In this discussion I shall turn to Kierkegaard's conception of forgiveness, as presented in "Works of Love". His view is a view that binds forgiveness and love together.

 Yet deferring to Kierkegaard's view would entail accepting his religious framework, which many of us have trouble accepting. Trying to avoid an obligation to a religious-Christian framework, I shall check other models of love, in an attempt to ascertain whether there could be an obligation to forgive loved ones that is not of a religious nature. This inquiry will be based on the assumption that love does not necessarily belong to the moral domain. This will be the final step, after which I hope to offer a comprehensive answer to the question.

MA Honors 2018/19

Subject: The Speech of Rabshakeh (2 Kgs 18: 19-35) – The voice of the defeated 

Supervisor: Dr. Nili Vazana

Abstract: During my bible studies, I became aware that the biblical narrative often tells its stories from the “defeated” point of view. In my opinion What most deserves examination within the narrative is how the “defeated” perspective chooses to describe its opposition, often those being the victors. I would like to focus on a literary unit that takes unique perspective on these issues – Rabshakeh’s speech (2 Kgs 18: 19-35) within the story of Sennacherib’s campaign to Judah (2 kgs 18:17-19:19). In my research I would also look to examine different questions: Who is Rabshakeh? Does his speech reflect a literary work or is it possible to find evidence that reflects an actual historical event? Is the speech able to reveal to us a connection with Assyrian propaganda and its influence? Is it possible to find within the speech evidence of beliefs and opinions prevalent at the time? and the relation between this unit to additional versions. These are only a few examples of the questions that will arise while reading and, in turn, require a full examination. I would like to examine the literary unit, expose its various sources, the language, literary means, historical context and its unique characteristics.

MA Honors 2018/19

Subject: Social history of the middle ages

Supervisor: Prof. Esther Cohen, Prof. Yitzhak Chen

MA Honors 2017/18