Author Type

Graduate Student

Date of Award

1977

Document Type

Thesis

Publication Status

Version of Record

Submission Date

October 2026

Thesis/Dissertation Advisor [Chair]

Council, Charles T.

Abstract

This dissertation was prepared in order to explore the results of the use of group instructional modules in the teaching of Judaica upon the data recall of various groups of students. The students who provide the data were selected from a variety of educational institutions, including a university, a community college, and several non- Orthodox Hebrew schools. The group instructional modules reflect an audio-visual approach. They were prepared by this investigator and reflect his experiences as a teacher of Judaica at various institutions. The desire to contribute to the existing media resources arose from what the investigator perceived as a need to expand the quantity and variety of audio-visual materials that are relevant to the subject matter. Because the methodology of the research and presentation and interpretation of the data resulting from it must be consistent with the literature of Jewish civilization as it relates to the use of visual media in education, an extensive review of the literature was required. For many scholars it has been considered axiomatic that the Jews created little in the field of visual, and especially representative, art. This was considered the result of an essentially negative attitude to the subject. However, a more careful survey of the literature suggests that a better description of the Jewish attitude to visual art, including representative art, is that of ambivalence. Further, the quantity and variety of such art during the millenia of Jewish history is far more extensive than is commonly acknowledged. From the Biblical beginnings to the present century it seems that the ability to clearly define the place of art in terms of Jewish civilization has proved elusive. To what extent this traditional ambiva lence has affected the definition of Jewish art, and to what degree it is likely to influence the development of contemporary visual materials relevant to Jewish subject matter, is considered in the dissertation. It is noted within the review of literature that the investigator desires to provide evidence that the recently developed software resources are within the bounds of good taste and theological restrictions as defined by the Halachah (Jewish Law). The themes of the group instructional modules include Biblical and Talmudic history, medieval legends, Jewish art and architecture, modern Israel, Zionism, and related topics. The results of the testing of the hypo theses suggest that the modules do indeed have a positive effect upon the data recall of students at all educational levels under consideration, and therefore provide a basis for an instructional program.

Extent

160 p.

Comments

Thesis (Educat.D.)--Florida Atlantic University, 1977.|College of Education|FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection|Thesis (Educat.D.)--Florida Atlantic University, 1977.

Identifier

FADT11702

Format

pdf

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