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The courses listed below, although not included in the university catalog, are offered periodically and are applicable to a Jewish studies minor. The course number may vary. Israeli-Palestinian Case Intractable intergroup conflicts are characterized by a high level of intensity and destructiveness and they often remain unresolved for several generations. They tend to build up “conflict-baggage” in both parties, such as group narratives, collective memories, ethos of conflict, perception of the ingroup as a victim, sense of ingroup moral superiority, and delegitimization of the other. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict, regarded as one of the most intractable contemporary international conflicts, will serve as a primary example in discussing the social psychological dynamics of intergroup conflicts and paths to resolution and reconciliation. White Fire: Midrash and Mystery Midrash, the traditional Jewish practice of interpreting and re-imagining holy texts, comes from a Hebrew term meaning to seek or investigate. Mysteries also interpret and re-imagine society as they seek to explore universal human truths through the art of the story. By filling in the white spaces between words-–what Hebrew sages call “white fire”–-both midrash and mystery attempt to restore order to a chaotic world, create a sense of wonder in the reader, return us to the enchanted (often dark) woods of literature when reading itself was an adventure, and perhaps most important, turn us into detectives searching for answers to eternal questions. In this course we will read Biblical texts, contemporary midrash, and mysteries from all over the world in order to write our own stories of wonder. Hebrew Then and Now Reading, discussion, and written reflections of classic and contemporary Israeli film, music, and literature from a variety of online and print sources.
Prerequisite: HEBR 2, 11 or 12, or advanced knowledge of Hebrew with instructor's consent. Basic Jewish Texts Contemporary
Israeli Literature Dead Sea Scrolls: Windows into Ancient Judaism & Christianity The discovery of almost 800 scrolls near the Wadi Qumran between 1947 and 1953 revealed a treasure trove of ancient Jewish works—some already known, many previously unknown. In this course we will look at the Dead Sea Scrolls, the history of their discovery and their importance for understanding the nature and development of ancient Judaism and Christianity. Why are they so important? Why have they generated so much interest and controversy? Hebrew Press I and II Reading, discussion, and written reflections of Israeli culture and society from Hebrew print media and internet news sources. Taught in Hebrew. What are the basic components, conflicts, and tensions that inform the construction of Israeli national culture and identity? What role does religion play in their formation? What are the origins and roots of Israeli nationalism and what was the role of religion in its development? What is the relationship of Israeli national identity and Palestinian nationalism. What role does the tensions and conflicts between Palestinian-Jew, religious-secular, European-Middle Eastern, and Zionist-postzionist play in Israeli national culture and the construction of Israeli national identity? Israeli Women Writers This course will explore Israeli women writers and their writing as literature, as women's texts, and as products of Israeli culture. Through powerful and provocative poetry and fiction by Shulamit Hareven, Savyon Liebrecht, Ronit Matalon, Yehudit Katzir, Amalia Kahana-Carmon, Yona Wallach, and Orly Castel-Bloom, among others, we will deepen our awareness of what it means to be an Israeli, a woman, and a writer today in the volatile Middle East. Readings, as well as contemporary music and videos, will serve as catalysts for discussions about the meaning of homeland, exile, diaspora, women's sexuality and spirituality, and the effects of war on the creative soul. (HU) Jews, Christians, and Buddhism: The Turn to the East in American Culture In recent decades, a growing number of Americans raised as Jews and Christians have embraced the teachings and practices of Buddhism. Through a study of contemporary Buddhist writings, personal accounts, and other readings, we shall examine what Jews and Christians find attractive in Buddhism. We shall also explore the areas of conflict between Buddhism and Western religions as well as the cultural conditions that are contributing to Buddhism's growing appeal. Multicultural
Women's Literature: Jewish/Indian/Asian Some of the most exciting American writing today is being written by women from ethnic groups that were invisible and voice less until the relatively recent rise in multicultural awareness. What do these 1st and 2nd generation immigrant writers tell us about individual identity, social and national consciousness, gender issues, politics, religion and love? Why is their writing sharper-edged, funnier, more imaginative, risk-taking and explosive than anyone else's? We will explore startling, revelatory visions of ourselves, our country and our world by groundbreaking authors from three ethnic groups: Jewish, focusing on Sephardic and immigrant writers; Indian; and Asian. Among the writers we will read are critically acclaimed bestsellers Jhumpa Lahiri, Amy Tan, and Gina Nahai. (HU) Philip Roth's Complaint From the notorious bad boy of American literature to one of its most respected masters Philip Roth has dominated the 20th century literary scene. The winner of the Pulitzer Prize, the National Medal of Arts, the American Academy of Arts and Letters Gold Medal in Fiction, and two-time winner of the National Book Award, the PEN/Faulkner Award, and the National Book Critics Circle Award, Roth's work has been a touchstone of sexual, religious, nationalistic, political, psychological and literary controversy. His fictional explorations of Jewish identity--"the object itself, like a glass or an apple"--and in particular, Jewish male identity, have resulted in some of the most provocative, fearless, hilarious and brilliant prose ever written. Through his long career he has managed to infuriate both Jews and non-Jews, feminists, political leaders and moral conservatives, and is sure to continue to do so. His writing shows no signs of the gentle tolerance attributed to age: he's as mean, funny and sharp as ever. It's time to take a trip into the world of Philip Roth: Goodbye, Columbus; Portnoy's Complaint; The Counterlife; Sabbath's Theater; and others, and see what the fuss is about and what we can learn from him about the nature of language, faith and America. The Spiritual Quest in Contemporary Jewish Life In this course we shall study the phenomenon known as "spirituality" and the various ways in which the quest for the spiritual is reflected in contemporary Jewish life. Major themes include the relation of spirituality to religion; the relation of Jewish mysticism (Kabbalah) and Hasidism to contemporary Jewish spirituality; the impact of spirituality on the contemporary synagogue, worship, and the understanding of God; Jewish meditation practices; the relationship of Judaism and Buddhism; and the relationship of Jewish feminism to Jewish spirituality. Finally, we shall situate the quest for the spiritual among Jews within the wider context of the spiritual quest in general American culture. Philip
and Muriel Berman Center for Jewish Studies
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