Course Description
An examination of the modern practice of Judaism in the United States. An interdisciplinary analysis of diverse Jewish religious and non-religious affiliations, identities, traditions, diaspora experiences, and contemporary issues.
Additional Requirements for Graduate Students:
Additional readings and a research paper will be assigned along
with more extensive examinations to reflect the graduate
students' additional responsibilities.
Athena Title
Modern American Judaism
Prerequisite
Any RELI or HIST or HEBR or SEMI or SOCI or POLS or CMLT or ENGL or PHIL course
Semester Course Offered
Offered every odd-numbered year.
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Student learning Outcomes
- By the end of this course, students will be able to describe major historical developments, main denominations, and important religious and cultural practices of Jews in the United States.
- By the end of this course, students will be able to analyze differences and similarities between different American Jewish religious, cultural, and political groupings.
- By the end of this course, students will be able to engage with and analyze similarities and differences between their own cultural traditions, community life, and social engagement as compared to a variety of American Jewish cultural traditions, community life, and social engagement.
- By the end of this course, students will be able to identify and deconstruct stereotypes and evaluate the credibility of information regarding American Judaism. Students will be able to support their own assessment and conclusions with sound critical reasoning and ethical judgment.
- By the end of this course, students will be able to navigate interpersonal communication with respect, maturity, and awareness of cultural differences by engaging in meaningful, guided discussion about American Jewish historical changes and contemporary challenges and issues.
Topical Outline
- 1. Introduction to Jewish Studies
- 2. Historical overview of Jews in the United States
- 3. Religious differences and similarities between contemporary American Orthodox Jews, Conservative Jews, Reform Jews, minority Jewish movements, and religiously unaffiliated Jews
- 4. Contemporary meanings and changes related to Jewish religious holidays in the United States, Jewish synagogues and communities, the Jewish home, family, life cycle events, and gender roles
- 5. Modern American Jewish subcultures, Jewish day schools and camps, Jewish food, humor, literature, arts, film and entertainment
- 6. Jewish social engagement in American politics, professions, and civil society
- 7. Contemporary issues and challenges, antisemitism, internal tensions, and current questions facing American Judaism
- 8. Demographic trends, changing identities, and future possibilities in American Judaism
