| JWST 109 |
| Jews and Judaism |
| A historical and conceptual survey of some of the major texts, traditions, movements, ideas, and practices associated with Judaism from antiquity to the present. Special attention will be paid to the changing social categories through which Judaism and Jewishness have been understood, by Jews and others, in various historical and geographic contexts, including, e.g., "religion," "nation," "ethnicity," "race," and "culture." Students who take this course will be prepared for further coursework in Jewish Studies and coursework on Judaism in Religious Studies. No prior knowledge of Jewish religion, culture, history, or languages is assumed. (GLB2) |
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1.00 units, Lecture
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| JWST 214 |
| Jews in America |
| A social and religious history of American Judaism from pre-revolutionary to contemporary times. After examining the era of immigration and “Americanization,” the course will focus on the ethnic, religious, and social structures of American Judaism: the community center, the synagogue, and the federation. (May be counted toward American studies and Jewish studies.) (HUM) |
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1.00 units, Lecture
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| JWST 215 |
| Jewish Feminism in America |
| The aim of this course is to introduce students to the foundational texts of Jewish feminism in the United States from the early 1970s through the present. By "Jewish feminism," I refer specifically to the movement by Jewish women to name and theorize injustice toward women in the Jewish tradition. This course will also address the wider historical developments that informed the intellectual trends, including Christian feminist influences. Students will emerge from the course with an appreciation of the vocabulary of Jewish feminism, its central questions, and its historic evolution. Attention will also be paid to LGBT Jewish ideas and activism and the extent to which they relate to, and are influenced by, Jewish feminist concerns. (HUIP) |
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1.00 units, Seminar
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| JWST 220 |
| Modern Israeli Literature and Jewish Heritage |
| Artists, and especially writers and poets, are the seismographs and mirrors of society, anticipating and reflecting its many forces and movements. During the past two hundred years Jewish life has been profoundly affected by such forces and movements as emancipation, the Enlightenment, assimilation, Zionism, and the Holocaust. A primary focus of modern Israeli writers is the birth of the State of Israel and its ongoing struggles, internally as well as with its Arab neighbors. One of the main ways Hebrew literature captures these significant changes is through the use of biblical themes, images and archetypes which resonate through the generations.
This course will examine the ways in which modern Hebrew literature enriches and brings deeper understanding of collective Jewish experiences and detects and shapes the reality of modern Israel. (HUM) |
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1.00 units, Lecture
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| JWST 223 |
| American Jewish Literature Since 1865 |
| An exploration of the relationship between US Jewish identity and literary form, through the reading of major works in a range of genres such as prose fiction, lyric poetry, drama, graphic novels, and essays, from the late 19th century to the present. We may also view some films and TV episodes. Throughout, we will insistently pose the question of what makes a literary work count as "Jewish" or "American." Readings may address such topics as immigration, assimilation, nationalism, racialization, whiteness, ethnic identity, antisemitism, class and labor
politics, the Cold War and McCarthyism, the impact of the Holocaust, the memory of pre-WWII Europe, Zionism, gender and sexuality, HIV/AIDS, the politics of "Jewish languages," and religious vs. secular textual traditions. (HUM) |
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1.00 units, Lecture
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| JWST 229 |
| Israeli Art: Reflecting Israeli Culture |
| The course deals with different forms of art created in Israel from the establishment of the state in 1948 until contemporary times. Analysis of artwork provides students with an opportunity to experience a myriad of clashing perspectives on Israeli culture and society. Utilizing a chronological perspective, combined with thematic approaches, students will gain access to Israeli cultural discourse. Through the art works, students are exposed to ongoing societal issues such as the Holocaust, military conflict, social tensions, politics, gender representation, and alterity. (ART) |
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1.00 units, Lecture
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| JWST 276 |
| Parables in Religion and Literature |
| Parables, very brief stories that illustrate ethical or theological lessons, are among the most distinctive contributions of Judaism and Christianity to world literature. These mysterious tales are characterized by the tension between their superficial simplicity and the depth and complexity of their meanings, making parables into dynamic sites for thinking through the relations between truth, signification, meaning, power, and the self in both religious and secular contexts. Together, we'll hone our skills as interpreters of parables as we trace their development: from their biblical origins, through their transformation by medieval Jewish and Christian traditions, and onward into modern literature and philosophy by authors writing in English, Hebrew, German, French, and Danish. All texts will be read in translation. (GLB2) |
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1.00 units, Lecture
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| JWST 308 |
| Jewish Spirituality and Mysticism |
| This class examines Jewish spiritual expression across the ages. Special attention will be paid to the relationship between Jewish mysticism and spiritual expression. The goal is not to be exhaustive but rather to engage with important themes and ideas, and to provide a foundation and the keys for further study. Questions we will consider include: How has Jewish spirituality evolved over time? How have historical developments and the wider culture in which Jews lived informed this evolution? How has modernity shaped Jewish spirituality? How have women historically related differently to Jewish spirituality than men? In what ways is Jewish spirituality as manifested in America continuous and discontinuous of its manifestations elsewhere? This course has no prerequisites, so don't worry if you have little or no prior knowledge of Judaism. (HUM) |
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1.00 units, Seminar
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| JWST 329 |
| Modern Jewish Thought |
| This seminar acquaints students with some major figures and ideas of the philosophical tradition of "modern Jewish thought," focusing mainly on the 20th century. But our readings will also put this tradition into question: What makes a text count as modern Jewish thought? Does it have to do with the thinker's identity, a particular set of themes or questions, or something else? What makes modern Jewish thought "modern"? Is it different from theology or literature? Can non-Jews produce Jewish thought? Who decides? Authors may include Arendt, Benjamin, Buber, Butler, Cohen, Derrida, Deutscher, Freud, Levinas, Mendelssohn, Rose, Rosenzweig, Scholem, Spinoza, and/or others. Prior coursework in Jewish Studies or Philosophy is recommended, but not required. (HUM) |
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1.00 units, Seminar
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| JWST 399 |
| Independent Study |
| Submission of the special registration form, available in the Registrar’s Office, and the approval of the instructor and director are required for enrollment. (HUM) |
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0.50 units min / 1.00 units max, Independent Study
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| JWST 466 |
| Teaching Assistant |
| Submission of the special registration form, available online, and the approval of the instructor are required for enrollment. Guidelines are available in the College Bulletin.
(0.5 - 1 course credit) |
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0.50 units min / 1.00 units max, Independent Study
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| JWST 497 |
| Senior Thesis |
| Submission of the special registration form and the approval of the instructor and director are required for enrollment in this single-semester thesis. (WEB) |
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1.00 units, Independent Study
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