Courses in Judaic Studies
A Jst 101 Jewish Civilization I: Biblical and Greco-Roman Periods (2)
Year course offered to high school students for college credit. Survey of the history of ancient Israel with emphasis on the development of classical Jewish religion and culture, and introduction to methods used in the study of this subject. May not be taken by students enrolled in college. Pre- or corequisite(s): completion of or current enrollment in high school European history course on Regents or AP level.A Jst 102 Jewish Civilization II: Medieval and Modern Periods (2)
Year course offered to high school students for college credit. Survey of Jewish history from the Middle Ages to the present with emphasis on the varied experiences and cultural expressions of Jews and Judaism; e.g., Sephardim and Ashkenazim, Rabbinic thought and literature, philosophy, mysticism, emancipation, anti-Semitism, Zionism. May not be taken by students enrolled in college. Pre- or corequisite(s): completion of or current enrollment in high school European history course on Regents or AP level.A Jst 150 Survey of Jewish Civilization (3)
General Education: CHP
Basic orientation into the Jewish tradition from the biblical period to the present. Emphasizes the history and philosophy of Jewish culture and religion. Required for Judaic studies majors and recommended preparation for other A Jst courses in history and philosophy.A Jst 155 (= A Rel 155) Judaism: Traditions and Practices (3)
General Education: HD
Examines development of normative Jewish traditions and practices from Rabbinic period to present. Major focus is Jewish religious groups and observances in contemporary United States. Topics include how different Jewish groups situate themselves in American society; Jewish calendar and life-cycle observances; impact of feminism; social action agendas; role of Israel.A Jst 221 The American Jewish Experience(3)
General Education: HD
Offers a general, nonspecialized historical studies approach to the American Jewish experience including the impact of colonial Jewry, antebellum Jewry, Reform and Conservative Judaism, the Yiddish immigrant milieu, Zionism and the State of Israel, the Holocaust, and trends in American Jewish life since World War II. Utilizes historical studies, films, literary works and guest lecturers.A Jst 230 American Jewish Philosophy (3)
Survey of 20th-century American Jewish philosophy. Special attention to the confluence of American and Jewish values. Only one of A Jst 230 & 330 may be taken for credit.A Jst 240 (= A Cla 240) Archaeology and Ancient Israel I: Archaeology and the Bible (2)
Important discoveries related to biblical history and literature. Examination of sites, artifacts, texts and scripts from the Bronze Age to the Babylonian exile. Only one of A Jst 240 and A Cla 240 may be taken for credit.A Jst 241 (= A Cla 241) Archaeology and Ancient Israel II: Greco-Roman Period (2)
Important discoveries related to postbiblical Jewish life and history. Examination of relevant papyri, the Dead Sea Scrolls, coins, Masada, Jerusalem, burial caves, synagogue art and other topics. Only one of A Jst 241 and A Cla 241 may be taken for credit.A Jst 242 (= A Eng 221 & A Rel 221) The Bible as Literature (3)
General Education: CHP
Literary genres of the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament) and the cultures from which they emerged. Attention to parallel developments in other literatures and to the influence of the Hebrew Bible on Western life and letters. Only one of A Eng 221, A Jst 242 & A Rel 221 may be taken for credit.A Jst 243 (= A Ant 243) Peoples and Cultures of the Middle East (3)
General Education: CHP
The main features of the "Middle Eastern culture continent." A comparison of selected societies in Southwest Asia and North Africa. The impact of modernization on preindustrial cities and peasantries in the area. Only one of A Ant 243 & A Jst 243 may be taken for credit.A Jst 244 The History of Modern Zionism (3)
The background of 19th-century Jewish and European history resulting in the stimulation of Jewish national feeling. The World Zionist Organization (founded 1897)-its activities, problems and ideologies up to 1914. Political and practical developments in Europe, America and Palestine during and between the world wars. The postwar settlement and Zionism since 1948. May not be offered during 1999- 2000.A Jst 248 (= A Wss 248) Women in Jewish Life and Literature (3)
General Education: CHP
Examines the various roles of women and the diverse ways they have been represented in Jewish life and literature from the biblical period through the 20th century. Texts will include biblical passages, Talmudic legislation and interpretation, medieval documents, early modern memoirs, and modern letters, poetry and fiction. Only one of A Jst 248 & A Wss 248 may be taken for credit. May not be offered during 1999-2000.A Jst 250 (= A His 250) The Holocaust in History (3)
An examination of the Jewish experience in the Second World War in the broader context of 20th century history. Topics surveyed include anti-Semitism, National Socialism and war crimes in the modern era. Only one of A His 250 & A Jst 250 may be taken for credit.A Jst 251 Early Israel and Biblical Civilization (3)
General Education: CHP
The history and culture of ancient Israel from its beginnings to the Persian Empire. A survey of the Hebrew Bible (in English) as the major source for the study of early Judaic religious and social forms in the context of the Near East. Only one of A Jst 251, 341 & 341Z may be taken for credit. May not be offered during 1999-2000.A Jst 252 (= A Rel 252) Jews, Hellenism, and Early Christianity (3)
General Education: CHP
History of the Jewish people from Alexander the Great to the decline of the ancient world. Topics include examination of cultural conflict in Judaea and the diaspora, confrontation with Greco-Roman Hellenism and early Christianity, sectarianism, and the beginnings of Rabbinic institutions. Only one of A Jst 252, 342, 342Z, & A Rel 252 may be taken for credit.A Jst 253 (= A His 253 & A Rel 253) Medieval Jews among Muslims and Christians (3)
General Education: CHP
Studies Jewish history, life and culture in the contexts of the Muslim and Christian civilizations of the Middle Ages. Discusses differences among Jews, Muslims and Christians; emphasizes reactions to persecution, Jewish autonomy and social life as a minority group in a majority culture, and the development of Jewish law, literature, philosophy and mysticism. Only one of A His 253, A Jst 253, 343, 343Z & A Rel 253 may be taken for credit. May not be offered during 1999-2000.A Jst 254 (= A Rel 254) The Jews in the Modern World (3)
General Education: CHP
A survey of modern Jewish history from 1700 to the present, emphasizing the Jewish encounter with modernity in both Western and Eastern Europe. Themes include the struggle for enlightenment and civil rights; religious reforms in Judaism, the Hasidic movement, reactions to anti-Semitism, Jewish nationalist and political movements, the Holocaust, events leading up to the founding of the State of Israel, and Jewish history in the United States. Includes readings from primary sources and fiction. Only one of A Jst 254, 344, 344Z & A Rel 254 may be taken for credit. May not be offered during 1999- 2000.A Jst 255 (= A His 255) The Holocaust: Lessons & Legacies (3)
General Education: CHP
Offers a general, nonspecialized cultural studies approach to the Holocaust, the destruction of European Jewry by Nazi Germany during World War II. Examines European Jewish life as well as the history, cultural significance and public importance of the Holocaust through multiple perspectives. Utilizes historical studies, a film series, literary works and guest lecturers.A Jst 260 Jews and the Immigrant Experience in America
General Education: HD
Surveys Jewish settlement and acculturation in North America from 1800 to present. Compares the experiences of American Jews with those of other ethnic groups through exploration of issues of ethnicity, class and gender. Utilizes literary and documentary sources, as well as guest lectures.A Jst 270 Jewish-Christian Relations (3)
General Education: HD
This course compares and contrasts the belief systems and historical contacts, both positive and negative, of Jews and Christians, from the origins of Christianity to the ecumenical movement in the contemporary United States. Only one of A Jst 270 and A Rel 270 may be taken for credit.A Jst 272 (formerly A Heb 272 & A Jst 172) Modern Hebrew Literature in Translation (3)
General Education: CHP
A Jst 272 introduces the students to representative works of Hebrew literature of the last 100 years. The poetry, short stories and novels address universal themes as they reflect the particular period and conflicts that the Hebrew writers experienced. The issues and themes of the literature include the Jewish encounter with modernity, loss of faith, two world wars, the holocaust, the establishment of the state of Israel and the several wars Israel has fought with its neighbors. Readings and discussion conducted in English. Only one of A Jst 272, 372, and 372Z may be taken for credit.A Jst 275 (= A His 275) Antisemitism in Historical Perspective (3)
General Education: HD & CHP
This course studies the development and varying forms of antisemitism in Western history. The course is divided into three segments: 1) the anti-Judaism of early Christianity and the rise of medieval antisemitism in Christian Europe; 2) the modernization of antisemitism in European society up to World War II; 3) the impact of antisemitism in American history. Learning materials include analytic texts, fiction, films and guest lecturers. Only one of A His 275 & A Jst 275 may be taken for credit.A Jst 280 (= A Rel 280) The Torah (3)
General introduction to The Five Books of Moses (in English) considered against a background of religious, social and philosophical aspects. Studies the significance of the Torah in the development of Judaic civilization. Only one of A Jst 280 & A Rel 280 may be taken for credit.A Jst 281 (= A Rel 281) The Prophets (3)
Survey of the prophets in general (in English), emphasizing the moral and social role of the individual prophet and his impact upon Judaism and Western civilization. A Jst 281Z & A Rel 281Z are the writing intensive versions of A Jst 281 & A Rel 281; only one may be taken for credit. May not be offered during 1999-2000.A Jst 281Z (= A Rel 281Z) The Prophets (4)
General Education: WI
A Jst 281Z & A Rel 281Z are the writing intensive versions of A Jst 281 & A Rel 281; only one of the four courses may be taken for credit. May not be offered during 1999-2000.A Jst 282 (= A Rel 282) Late Biblical Literature (3)
Examination of books in the "Ketuvim" (Writings) section of the Hebrew Bible and some works of the Apocrypha (in English). Topics include stories (Ruth, Judith), poetry (Psalms, Song of Songs), wisdom (Job, Ecclesiastes), historiography (Chronicles), and apocalyptic (Daniel, II Esdras), and how these works develop themes from earlier biblical literature. Only one of A Jst 282 & A Rel 282 may be taken for credit. May not be offered during 1999-2000.A Jst 291 (= A Rel 291) Messiah and Messianism in Judaism and Christianity (3)
General Education: CHP
Origins of Jewish and Christian messianism in the Old and New Testaments and related literature. Topics include the projection of a society's ultimate values, and the tension caused by the actual attempts to realize those values; i.e., to achieve salvation through messianic movements. Only one of A Jst 291 & A Rel 291 may be taken for credit.A Jst 299 Introductory Topics in Judaic Studies (1-3)
An elementary course in Jewish culture, history, philosophy, literature or the Bible that is devoted to a topic or theme, a particular work or works, or a particular author or authors. May be repeated for up to 6 credits when topic differs.A Jst 325 Talmudic Literature (3)
One tractate of the Talmud studied in English translation. Emphasizes philosophic issues, and also examines scientific and social scientific views. Prerequisite(s): A Jst 150 or a course in philosophy. May not be offered during 1999-2000.A Jst 326 Studies in an Individual Judaic Philosopher (3)
The philosopher studied is selected on the basis of faculty and student interest. May be taken more than once if a different philosopher's work is examined. Consult fall and spring schedules for specific philosopher analyzed. Prerequisite(s): A Jst 150 or a course in philosophy. May not be offered during 1999-2000.A Jst 330 American Jewish Philosophy (Advanced) (3)
The same as A Jst 230 but on an advanced level. Students attend two A Jst 230 lectures each week but have additional readings, written assignments, and a separate recitation session. Only one of A Jst 230 and 330 may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): A Jst 150 or a course in philosophy.A Jst 335 (= A Rel 335) The Holocaust in Christian and Jewish Theology (3)
The Christian and Jewish theological and philosophic response to the genocide committed by the Nazis. Christian theologians deal with Christianity's role in the Holocaust, and Jewish theologians examine the problem of God's justice. Examines the works of Flannery, Eckhardt, Littell, Rubenstein, Fackenheim and Berkovits. Prerequisite(s): A Jst 150 or a course in philosophy. Only one of A Jst 335 and A Rel 335 may be taken for credit.A Jst 337 Existential Jewish Philosophies (3)
The philosophies of the 20th century European Judaic existentialists will be examined. Particular emphasis is placed on the writings of Shestov, Rosenzweig and Buber. Prerequisite(s): A Jst l50 or a course in philosophy. May be offered during 1999-2000.A Jst 341 Issues in Biblical Civilization (3)
Covers same period as A Jst 251 but on an advanced level. Students attend two A Jst 251 lectures each week but have a separate, more sophisticated reading list, a research paper, and a separate recitation session. Only one of A Jst 251, 341 & 341Z may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): A Jst 150 or 240, or permission of instructor. May not be offered during 1999-2000.A Jst 341Z Issues in Biblical Civilization (4)
General Education: WI
Covers same period as A Jst 251 but on an advanced level. Students attend two A Jst 251 lectures each week but have a separate, more sophisticated reading list, a research paper, and a separate recitation session. Only one of A Jst 251, 341, & 341Z may be taken for credit. The former A Jst 341 does not yield writing intensive credit. Prerequisite(s): A Jst 150 or 240, or permission of instructor. May not be offered during 1999- 2000.A Jst 342 Issues in Hellenistic-Rabbinic Judaism (3)
Covers same period as A Jst 252 but on an advanced level. Students attend two A Jst 252 lectures each week but have a separate, more sophisticated reading list, a research paper, and a separate recitation session. Only one of A Jst 252, 342, & 342Z may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): A Jst 150 or 241, or permission of instructorA Jst 342Z Issues in Hellenistic-Rabbinic Judaism (4)
General Education: WI
Covers same period as A Jst 252 but on an advanced level. Students attend two A Jst 252 lectures each week but have a separate, more sophisticated reading list, a research paper, and a separate recitation session. Only one of A Jst 252, 342, & 342Z may be taken for credit. The former A Jst 342 does not yield writing intensive credit. Prerequisite(s): A Jst 150 or 241, or permission of instructor.A Jst 343 Issues in Medieval Jewish History (3)
Covers same period as A Jst 253, but on an advanced level. Students attend class meetings for A Jst 253, but have a separate, more sophisticated reading list, a research paper, and a separate recitation session. A Jst 343Z is the writing intensive version of A Jst 343; only one of A His253, Rel 253, Jst 253, 343, & 343Z may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): A Jst 150 or permission of instructor. May not be offered during 1999- 2000.A Jst 343Z Issues in Medieval Jewish History (4)
General Education: WI
A Jst 343Z is the writing intensive version of A Jst 343; only one of A His 253, Rel 253, Jst 253, 343, & 343Z may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): A Jst 150 or permission of instructor. May not be offered during 1999- 2000.A Jst 344 Issues in Modern Jewish History (3)
Covers the same period as A Jst 254, but on an advanced level. Students attend class meetings for A Jst 254, but have a separate, more sophisticated reading list, a research paper, and a separate recitation session. A Jst 344Z is the writing intensive version of A Jst 344. Only one of A Jst 254, 344, & 344Z may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): A Jst 150 or permission of instructor. May not be offered during 1999- 2000.A Jst 344Z Issues in Modern Jewish History (4)
General Education: WI
A Jst 344Z is the writing intensive version of A Jst 344. Only one of A Jst 254, 344, & 344Z may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): A Jst 150 or permission of instructor. May not be offered during 1999- 2000.A Jst 351 Jewish American Ethnic Groups (3)
General Education: HD
Comparative analysis of Jewish ethnicity and assimilation in regard to one or more North American ethnic group(s). Social, political, economic and symbolic adaptations. This course is cross-listed with A Ant 351 & 351Z when Jewish ethnicity and assimilation are a major focus of those courses. When cross- listed, A Jst 351Z & A Ant 351Z are the writing intensive versions of A Jst 351 & A Ant 351; only one of the four courses may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): junior or senior class standing and permission of instructor.A Jst 351Z Jewish American Ethnic Groups (4)
General Education: HD & WI
This course is cross-listed with A Ant 351 & 351Z when Jewish ethnicity and assimilation are a major focus of those courses. When cross-listed, A Jst 351Z & A Ant 351Z are the writing intensive versions of A Jst 351 & A Ant 351; only one of the four courses may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): junior or senior class standing and permission of instructor.A Jst 359 (= R Pos 359) Israeli Politics (3)
Only one of A Jst 359 & R Pos 359 may be taken for credit.A Jst 360 Jewish Autobiographies (3)
An exploration of autobiographies and memoirs written by widely diverse Jewish women and men from ancient times to the twentieth century; includes experiences of immigration, Holocaust, and Jewish acculturation in the modern world. The course pays attention to the historical contexts in which each work was written and also analyzes how individual authors have shaped the events of their lives into a narrative pattern. We consider how gender and minority status shape experience, and explore the ways in which an author does or does not position himself or herself as part of a larger community of Jews. Significant reading and weekly writing assignments. Prerequisite(s): A Jst 150 or any one of A Jst253, 343, 343Z, 254, 344Z.A Jst 367 Jewish American Literature (3)
Literature written by American Jews of the 20th century. Among the topics offered are Jewish fiction writers, Jewish-American Drama, Jewish-American Women Writers, Jewish Humor, and Jewish-American Literature and Film. Intended primarily for juniors and seniors. May be repeated once for credit. Prerequisite(s): a 100-level English literature course or permission of the instructor.A Jst 372 Issues in Modern Hebrew Literature (3)
The same as A Jst 272 but on an advanced level intended for Judaic Studies majors and minors. Students attend A Jst 272 lectures but have additional readings, written assignments, and occasional discussion sessions centering on critical and theoretical approaches to modern Hebrew literature. A Jst 372Z is the writing intensive version of A Jst 372; only one of A Jst 272, 372, and 372Z may be taken for credit.A Jst 372Z Issues in Modern Hebrew Literature (4)
General Education: WI
The same as A Jst 272 but on an advanced writing level intended for Judaic Studies majors and minors. Students attend A Jst 272 lectures but have additional readings, extensive written assignments, and occasional discussion sessions centering on critical and theoretical approaches to modern Hebrew literature. A Jst 372Z is the writing intensive version of A Jst 372; only one of A Jst 272, 372, and 372Z may be taken for credit.A Jst 450 Judaic Studies Practicum (3)
Advanced Judaic Studies students receive undergraduate credit for assisting with the elementary Judaic Studies survey course, A Jst 150, by running optional review/discussion classes several times in the semester; by offering one class presentation, which will also be written up as a paper and submitted to the instructor; and by assisting in grading student examinations. Students meet regularly with the instructor who helps students improve their knowledge of Jewish history, discusses pedagogical techniques, and provides extensive data for exam evaluation. Course may be repeated once for credit with approval of department chair. Prerequisite(s): permission of A Jst 150 instructor.A Jst 490 Judaic Studies Internship (1-6)
Supervised practical experience in an institution of the Jewish community. Students will study the structure and issues of American Jewish communal organization through personal service and directed reading. Course may be repeated once for credit with approval of departmental chair up to a total of 6 credits for both courses. Internships are open only to qualified juniors and seniors who have an overall grade point average of 2.50 or higher. Prerequisite(s): permission of department chair. S/U graded.A Jst 495 Colloquium in Judaic Studies (3)
Directed readings and conferences involving several members of the faculty for students pursuing undergraduate honors in Judaic studies. To be offered only when requested by students eligible for the honors program. Prerequisite(s): major in Judaic studies and junior or senior class standing.A Jst 497 Independent Study in Judaic Studies (1-6)
Directed reading and conferences on selected topics in Judaic studies. May be repeated for credit when topics differ. Prerequisite(s): permission of department chair.A Jst 499 Topics in Judaic Studies (1-3)
In-depth study of selected topics in Jewish history, philosophy, literature or the Bible. May be repeated when topic differs. Prerequisite(s): permission of instructor.
