American Jews and the Law

Catalog description

How have American Jews encountered the law, and how has American law encountered Jews? This course introduces students to theories about the relationship between law and society as it traces the history of Jews’ treatment under criminal, constitutional, property, immigration, and humanitarian laws. It examines how Jews used legal ideals to broaden their rights while also highlighting divisions among Jews and between Jews and others about topics ranging from the freedom of speech to reproductive rights to church-state matters. As students explore legal battles, they will learn to ask new questions about how the law works and when it fails.