Jewish Liberation Theology

Catalog description

Taught by SKSM. The full title of this course is On Constructing a Jewish Liberation Theology and Theological Praxis: Indigeneity, (Anti)-Zionism and Diaspora and is offered as part of Starr King's Hilda Mason Fellowship. In this course, through the use of scholarly writing, news sources, opinion and blog pieces, multimedia, Jewish liturgy, Torah (Hebrew Bible), Talmud (Rabbinical exegesis), and Midrash (rabbinical commentary and interpretation) we will collectively strive to answer the question: In an era of relative Jewish nationalist power and self-determination, what is a Jewish liberation theology and theological praxis that engenders liberation of both self and other? And what does it even mean to pursue a liberation theology or theological praxis, both squarely Christian constructs, within a Jewish context? In order to answer this question, we must start at the beginning and trace the roots of Jewish theological, halakhic (legal) and communal formation and subsequent galut (exile or diaspora) in an attempt to understand Judaism's relationship to divinity as well as ritual and ethical practices that breed liberatory possibility for not just the Chosen people. This will include discussions of Jewish relationships to indigeneity, Zionism, ethnicity, race, diaspora, culture, secularism, intellectual inquiry and liturgical and ethical practice. This course is a 3-unit seminary-style interactive course. It is offered high-residency. Evaluations will be based participation in class discussions, two small projects throughout the course of the semester as well as one culminating final project. This course is open to all, especially those looking to explore the intersection of religious practice and liberatory social change. You do not need to be Jewish or have any background in Jewish studies to take this course. All course participants are encouraged to e-mail the instructor at [email protected] before enrolling saying why you are interested in taking this course and your current relationship to Judaism. This course relates to the SKSM thresholds 2- Prophetic Witness and Work, 4- History of Dissenting Traditions and 4- Thea/ological Quest and Thea/ology in Culture and Context and MFC Comps. [20 max enrollment; Auditors excluded]