RELJ 3170

I thought this class was interesting, but rather unorganized. Professor Biemann is incredibly kind and funny, but without presentation slides or consistently following the syllabus, I often felt lost in the class. You definitely need to pay attention the whole time, especially if you don't want to do the readings, but the information was pretty interesting. The class is 30% attendance/participation, 30% midterm, 40% final; you can do up to 15% extra credit for participation. After the midterm, I stopped doing the readings and ended up doing fine on the final. Class is super easy and Professor Biemann likes to ensure you know that, but sometimes his "chillness" gets in the way. He didn't give us any prior notice before opening the final (it was open for 5 days, 2 I had exams and 2 were weekends) so I felt a bit rushed for studying. However, he grades super easily and the exam questions incorporate a lot of your own opinions so you only really need to know the basic information. I really like the professor, but I wish the class was structured a little better.

Take this class! Professor Biemann is an awesome guy, very nice and makes lectures very engaging which is nice instead of just 75 minutes of pure lecture. Class is largely discussion based, so be prepared to participate. There are readings every class, but you really don’t need to do all of them to participate just fine. The material is pretty interesting, and my class had a mix of Jews and non-Jews, so if you’re not Jewish and want to expose yourself to Jewish history, this is a great way to do it. The only grades are class participation, a midterm (a few long-response questions) and a final (a few long-response questions and an essay). The exams really test you but they are great ways to show your thoughts and are fun to write. There are also extra credit opportunities if you’re concerned with your grade, but that shouldn’t be a problem with Biemann.

Overall I'd definitely recommend this course if you're interested in Jewish history and/or need to fulfill an area requirement. Discussions in class were very engaging. Professor Biemann teaches well and is clearly very passionate about the subject. Your grade is half participation and half exam grades. Midterm and a final, both take-home closed notes with short answer and essay prompts. I wouldn't call it an easy A per se, but if you do the readings, participate in class, and remember the basic ideas of the texts you read, you shouldn't have any issues getting a good grade.

If you think you would be even remotely interested in this class you should take it. I know that sounds like hyperbole, but I promise you it isn't. Lemme go over the bad first:
-The lecture is very boring at times
-No slides are used for the class. The professor just talks. You write it down or get someone else's notes or get nothing
-The midterm is graded a bit harshly
That's it. That might sound harsh but listen to the upsides for a moment:
-Most students get an A or A-
-No weekly work besides readings that you can honestly get away with not doing most of the time
-30% of your final grade is participation
-Up to 15% of that can be extra credit
-The other 70% is off of two TAKE HOME tests
-Professor is a cool guy (If you have a problem in the course, he will address it)
-Classes on Jewish holidays get canceled
-The final is graded very generously

For me, it was a no brainer. Wish the rest of my classes were structured like this. Can be extremely boring, but imo it's worth it

Great class, little to no daily work (there is light reading, but it is covered the next day in class), extra credit opportunities, and Professor Biemann is always available to help you and talk through any questions. Even as a fourth-year in religious studies, this class qualified as one of my best experiences.

Professor Biemann is one of the best professors I've had at UVA. He is so kind and you can tell he really enjoys teaching. He fosters thoughtful discussion in class and the readings for the class are not bad at all. The exams in this class are the only exams I have enjoyed taking at UVA. He asks you questions and you write your thoughtful response. I wish I wasn't graduating so I could take another class with Professor Biemann!

Professor Biemann is the nicest man in the world. His lectures are great, although they can get a little rambly. Exams are easier than you think.