The Jewish People in Life and Literature

Catalog description

This introduction to Jewish history and literature will examine the Jewish experience in the context of several world cultures: Europe, the United States, Latin America, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. Students will read and discuss historical and literary texts by and about the Jewish people from ancient times to the present. Topics include Jews under Islam and in medieval Europe, anti-Semitism, enlightenment and emancipation, the Russian experience, immigration to and life in North and South America, Zionism, the Holocaust, Israel, Judaism from a femal perspective, and Jews in North Africa and India. Museum trips, guest lectures, and films will complement the texts. Themes of discrimination, integration, and assimilation as well as relations between Ashkenazi and Sephardic Jews will be stressed as we look at what it means to be "The Other." 'Old Core: Fulfills LIT 211 or LIT 212 (Exploratory) and Contemporary Global Issues ( HIS 223 ). New Core: Fulfills 3 credits of ENG 201 and 3 credits of AOK III.