Aviva Ben-Ur - University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA

Professor: Aviva Ben-Ur

Department: Ethnic Studies

College: University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: JUD102
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: No
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

I think a lot of the reviews are old... She now has optional practice quizzes online that don't count and most of the questions on her actual quizzes are from those practice ones. She makes you read but I never have and am not doing bad.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: JUDAIC102
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: No
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Prof. Ben-Ur is a very smart lady. She knows exactly what she's talking about, but unfortunately she expects you to know exactly what she's talking about as well. Quizzes are very specific, and no partial credit is given. She also has a debilitating inability to use technology.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: JEW102
• Grade Received: C-
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: No
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

I heard it was an easy class- completely wrong. Maybe the other teacher was easy, but she is extremely hard. For a 100 level intro course, this was definitely one of the harder classes I've ever taken. Would not recommend at all unless you know a lot about religion. I'm an A/B student and I completely failed the first quiz & exam, lets hope I pass.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: JUDAIC322
• Grade Received: B-
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

This professor literally does nothing to help you, and her tests are way too specific. She does not take students seriously, she is pretentious and condescending, and there is way too much reading for her class. Attendance is mandatory and if you're absent, you need a documented University excuse. You can work hard and still fail hard.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: JUDAIC102
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Great Teacher and class if you are willing to put in the time and effort. She is very helpful, and cares about the students. The readings are dry and long, and you have to do them. The class are interesting though, and she's very passionate about what she teaches.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: JUDAIC324
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

At first, this course was unbearable and I was planning on withdrawing, but I didn't and I'm glad I stayed with it. Although expectations are not always clear, if you go to her for help, she WILL help you. She also gives you credit for improvement, but you have to do the readings and participate in class. Overall, she's a fair and respectable prof.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: JS324
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

First off, she is a strict teacher. Attendance is mandatory and graded. No extra credit opportunities and lots of reading. She treats her students as I would expect a professor to treat students in a 300 level course. She is very fair though. She gave loads of feedback on our writing assignments, and was always very kind and friendly.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: F
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

She is too detailed about the most non important things. She makes students feel inadequate if they don't understand the readings she assigns. She needs to be more clear about her information and her power points. The power points she has have way too little words than what she teaches in class.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: JUSSTUDIES102
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Honestly, worst professor I have EVER had. She is completely unclear, makes you feel as if you are stupid, and her quizzes are on the most minor details in one of her 50 page readings. I cannot emphasize enough how awful she is. I am doing ok in this class because I dedicate HOURS a night to it. DO NOT TAKE THIS CLASS WITH THIS PROFESSOR

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: JUDAIC102
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

This prof is terrible! She's very unclear and speaks so quietly it's impossible to hear what she is saying. The readings are at least 15-50pgs per night. She isn't helpful at all. The quizzes are 70% of your grade and are extremely hard to pass. She gave 2 extra credit opportunities but doesn't help much in boosting your grade.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: JUDAIC102
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Super anal about everything, quizzes are extremely hard to do good on. Not an easy A anymore, she is a bad professor.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: JUDIAC102
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

this class used to be unbelievably easy but the curriculum has changed, probably because Aviva realized a third grader could have passed the class but now apparently a prequisite is you have to be Jewish. so don't take this class expecting to pass!! shalom to all and to all a goodnight

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: JUDAICS102
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Her grading system is easy, but her quizzes are extremely difficult. Quizzes are worth 70%, but you only need to score 15/30 each quiz, but it's almost impossible. You need to be very detailed w/ every question you answer otherwise you won't receive any credit. I really wouldn't recommend this class unless you're religious.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: JUDAIC102
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Horrible professor; calls her TA "Mr Cumfort", makes him fetch water, and calls out random students awkwardly. Quizzes are specific to an anal level, if your answer isn't beyond perfect, WRONG!!!!! Extra help is useless; she is condescending and unhelpful. Readings are tedious but you need every little detail for quizzes. Good luck with her BS.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: JUDAIC102
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Seriously this is the worst class ive ever taken. her lecture has no relation to the ridiculous amounts of reading assigned. The quizzes are extremely hard and 70% of grade.no partial credit. TA is no help whatsoever. random graded activities so you have to go to class. She whispers so you can barely hear. Expects everyone in the class is jewish.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: JUD102
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

"Ms SMith??? Mr Winn??" Aviva Ben-ur is so confusing I fail every quiz it is so boring help she just shows pictures to the class and speaks hebrew half the time.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: JUD102
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

The grading system is ridiculously easy. The quizzes are hard but if you get a 15/30 on each of the 6 quizzes you'll still get an A- in the class. I can't stand this class but it's probably the best history gen ed for someone who doesn't like history.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: JUD324
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Good teacher. There's a lot of reading that she expects you to do. You have to go to class.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: JUDAI102
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

If you attend lectures and pay attention, you will get an A in this class. The class consists of 6 quizzes (based on lecture, reading) and 6 "engagement exercises" which are surprise in class attendance (and questions about the assigned readings). Aviva herself is in her own bubble, but she is passionate and extremely helpful.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: JUD102
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

You will not learn anything in this class. Lectures are all over the place and have nothing to do with the subject. You can barely hear her voice, she lives in her own world and has no sense of the class. Quizzes are about readings and not about lectures. Not an enjoyable class. I dont recommend it, or any class with her.