Review:
This class is really a very good class. It provides a great introduction to many different topics in the Talmud and the way the themes are presented make them very accesible. The class is a seminar, which works very well as it provides the opportunity to hear a lot of different opinions on the passages. There is also a lot of discussion in pairs or small groups. Rabbi Summitt is also a great guy to take a class with. He is very enthusiastic and really cares about all the students in the class. He is a busy guy, but will always make the time to meet with you, especially to help you find quotes in the Talmud for the papers.

Workload:
The workload is pretty light. Some short readings for each class, a short three page paper and then a longer ten page paper and a take-home final. The hardest part of the papers is finding the quotes in the Talmud. Once you have them, the paper writes itself.

review a class you took with Rabbi Jeffrey Summit - help your classmates make informed decisions!

Review:
This class was quite enjoyable. Certain discussions were held solely between students, after which, eveyone's views and opinions were made public in an open forum with the professor as well. Additionally, the topics chosen for evaluation were extremely fascinating because they dealt with real life issues that still pertain to this day.

Workload:
Very fair workload with interesting assignments

review a class you took with Rabbi Jeffrey Summit - help your classmates make informed decisions!

Review:
Most likely one of the best classes I have taken at Tufts. Rabbi Summit chooses daily topics that are always pertinent to the current events, holidays, or seasons. He assigns readings due for each class and then happily goes over the material during class time by allowing the students to re-read the assignments together in small groups to enable intimate discussions. When the class regroups, we discuss how each group interpreted the readings and reevaluate our own interpretations. The Rabbi is extremely considerate, always willing to help explain things and always available outside class for appointments to review any misunderstandings. His enthusiasm for the course is undeniable and it truly affects the way students respond to foreign material. Even though it is an introductory course, at the end of the semester the knowledge acquired is quite substantial. It is most certainly not only a course for enthusiastic Jews, but every denomination benefits from the discussions and assignments. My class in particular had a variety of faiths including Muslim and Christian students who all participated in making the class as comprehensive as possible and overwhelmingly inviting. It was a wonderful experience and I plan on taking a number of classes with Rabbi Summit in the future. (Plus there was always a bonus of great snacks each class!)

Workload:
The day to day work is absolutely manageable. Simple readings are due each class and then interpreted during class. There are two essays, one 5 page midterm essay and one final 10 page essay. Along with a relatively enjoyable final where students express themselves and have a huge amount of flexibility in their responses. The Rabbi is happy to accomodate students with difficult schedules or conflicts. In short this is a very stress-free class.

review a class you took with Rabbi Jeffrey Summit - help your classmates make informed decisions!

Review:
Intro to Talmud is one of the best classes that I've taken at Tufts. The class studies really interesting topics that can be both fun to discuss and relevant to today's world. Professor Summit is an incredibly smart, caring teacher who always leads very interesting discussions. Unlike teachers who seem unconcerned with their students' understanding, he is a wealth of information, always willing to help. It doesn't matter what your major is; this is a really good class that you will definetly enjoy.

Workload:
Readings were always interesting and managable. They are relevant to class discussions and in general, are enjoyable to read. The grading of the three papers is fair (but you have to take them seriously).

review a class you took with Rabbi Jeffrey Summit - help your classmates make informed decisions!

Review:
This was one of the finer courses I've taken at Tufts: It was relatively small--only about 25 students--allowing for an intimate class setting. Rabbi Summit is charismatic and shows great enthusiasm for the course. It is evident that he enjoys both teaching as well as studying the material along with his students. He encourages student participation and designs the class around an open forum, where everyone feels comfortable expressing their views. Rabbi Summit challenges his students to think both critically and creatively as they delve into the mystery that is the Talmud.

Workload:
The workload was totally manageable. There are short reading assignments due for each class. There are no tests or quizzes. There are 2 papers and a take-home final...one paper is 3 pages, the other 10, and the final is composed of three short answer questions...about 6 or 7 pages in all.

review a class you took with Rabbi Jeffrey Summit - help your classmates make informed decisions!

Review:
This was an awesome class-
We talked about some really important issues, and it definitely changed the way I approach day-to-day activities. The readings were interesting, and we had a lot of in class discussion. Rabbi Summit was very enthusiastic and knowledgeable in Talmud, but also open to new ideas/interpretations. I really learned a lot, and would recommend it to anyone who wanted to get a better grasp of Judaism or to just learn how to do deeper analysis on a text.

Workload:
The work was do-able. I really enjoyed the creative take-home final, and the comments on papers were really helpful.

review a class you took with Rabbi Jeffrey Summit - help your classmates make informed decisions!

Review:
Do not take Intro to the Talmud. Rabbi Summit is a really nice guy, and Talmud can be a very interesting topic of study, but the class is poorly done. He is too disorganized and involved in too many other things. He means well and is very enthusiastic, but I think the class entails a bit too much BS. If you're a serious student, it's probably an easy A, but if you really want to learn Talmud, it can be very frustrating at times. He's a great guy, but he needs to learn to be a better teacher.

Workload:
Short readings throughout the semester (you can easily get by without doing many, if any). A three page paper, a ten page paper, and a ridiculous take-home final that hits you as SOON as you finish the ten-pager.

review a class you took with Rabbi Jeffrey Summit - help your classmates make informed decisions!