Courses

Spring 2025 Courses

Jewish Studies

JS 1002W: Introduction to Jewish Studies
Introduction to Judaism and Jewish history through philosophical, political, social, psychological, and artistic perspectives. Biblical studies; culture, philosophy, and literature. Antiquity and the medieval world; modern and contemporary experience. Repeat credit for students who have completed 1002. (Taught by Pesach Eliav B. Grossman)

JS 1111: First-Year Writing Seminar- FYS: Jews & Muslims
Independent learning and inquiry in an environment in which students can express knowledge and defend opinions through intensive class discussion, oral presentations, and written expression. May be repeated for credit once if there is no duplication of topic, but students may earn only up to 3 credits in any 1111 course per semester of enrollment. (Taught by Re’ee Hagay)

JS 2230W: American Southern Jews in Life and Literature
From colonial times to the present. Interactions between Southern Jews and other Southerners, and between Southern and Northern Jews. The Civil War, Jewish economic activities, and the civil rights movement. (Taught by Adam S. Meyer)

JS 2240W: Black-Jewish Relations in Post-War American Literature and Culture
The historical relationship between African Americans and Jewish Americans and its portrayal in novels, short stories, and films by artists from both communities. (Taught by Adam S. Meyer)

JS 2290W: Imagining the Alien: Jewish Science Fiction
Science fiction and speculative fiction by Jewish writers in cultural context. Aliens, robots, and secret identities; time travel; utopia and political critique; questions of Jewish identity. (Taught by Judith Klass)

JS 2470: Jews and the Left: A Global History
Nineteenth- and twentieth-century Jewish history and leftist politics; Marxist ideology, Jewish society and culture in socialist states; Jewish participation in leftist political opposition movements throughout the capitalist world. (Samuel J. Finkelman)

JS 2530W: Modern Israeli Culture
Social and cultural history of modern Israel from the establishment of the State in 1948 to the present. Representations of national identity, collective belonging, and historical memory in public culture. Offered on a graded basis only. (Taught by Mazalit Haim)

JS 2600: Muslims and Jews
Muslim-Jewish relations from the birth of Islam to the 21st century. The Quran and the Jews. Jews in the Islamic world. Jewish cultures and Islamic cultures. Jewish exodus from the Islamic world. Muslims in Israel today. ISIS and the Jews. Not open to students who have earned credit for JS 1111 section 11 without permission. Total credit hours for this course and JS 1111 section 11 will not exceed 3 credit hours. Credit hours reduced from most recent course taken (or from test or transfer credit) as appropriate. (Taught by Pesach Eliav B. Grossman)

JS 3100: The Holocaust

The history of the Holocaust: its origins, development, and its legacy in the context of Germany and European history. (Taught by Ari Joskowicz)

Hebrew

HEBR 1101: Elementary Hebrew
Introduction to alphabet, the basics of grammar, and elementary conversation. Classes meet three times per week with an additional two hours a week required in the language laboratory. (Taught by Mazalit Haim)

HEB 2201: Intermediate Hebrew
Introduction to modern Hebrew reading, conversation, advanced grammar, and conversation. Classes meet three times a week with an additional three hours a week spent in independent work in the language laboratory. (Taught by Mazalit Haim)

Elective Courses