Spinoza's critique of religion ranks among the most thorough and most comprehensive projects of modern philosophy of religion. Even though Spinoza's critique of religion is aimed at monotheistic religions in general, it is the Jewish religion and its fundamental concepts (prophecy, chosenness, divine law, and revelation) upon which he focuses. Spinoza is always mindful of the Jewish tradition in which he was brought up; whether its ancient biblical version or its later rabbinical and philosophical versions. The object of the course is a careful study of Spinoza's polemics with Jewish tradition while focusing on its theological and political context. To that end, we will undertake a close reading of the Ethics and we will read excerpts from the Theological-Political Treatise.