Judaic Studies Syllabi

REST/JST 320 Women in Religion: Judaism

Women in Judaism focuses on Jewish women from the Bible to the present.  The objective of this course is to familiarize students with the history and religious traditions of Jewish women.  What is a woman's place in Judaism?  How has life for women changed from Biblical times to the present?  How do women see themselves?  Is a Jewish woman truly a woman of valor or is her price below rubies?  In this course we will examine the lives of women from all walks of life, from different time periods, and from different cultures within Judaism.

REST/JST 381 Introduction to Judaism

Judaism is a civilization.  The objective of this course is to familiarize students with the history, religion, and traditions of the Jewish people.

REST/JST 385 Contemporary Jewish Thinkers

This course focuses on the history and culture of German Jews, the changes through the centuries in Jewish life, the tragic events of the Holocaust, and the spiritual renewal of the Jewish people.  Students will gain an understanding of the history of German Jewry, their culture and religion

REST/JST 386 Voices of the Holocaust

Sadly, extremism and hate have been growing in the United States since 9-11, making the ultimate action of such attitudes more relevant than ever before in our country.  The objective of this course is to familiarize students with the idea of ethnic cleansing and genocide, and the economic, religious, social and philosophical trends that contributed to the genocide known as the Holocaust, to learn about the different aspects of the Holocaust and the different populations affected by it, as well as a recent development known as Holocaust Revisionism.

GERM 350/JS 350 The Afterlife of the Holocaust

Although the literal violence of the Holocaust ended with the end of World War II, the memory of Nazi Germany's great crime lives on. This course examines the complex field of Holocaust representation and the various debates and taboos that condition what one can and cannot say about the Holocaust. For instance, can one ever truly represent what happened, and if so, how? Is there room in Holocaust studies for humor? Has the Holocaust become just another commodity? By examining texts from diverse media, including film, television, painting, monuments, memoirs, poetry, and other fictional and non-fictional forms, we will examine how the Holocaust has been remembered—and misremembered—and what such memories say about the role of past traumas in contemporary life. Readings and discussion in English.