The Land of Israel

Catalog description

This course provides a survey of classical and contemporary Jewish thought regarding the Land of Israel, including the special commandments and laws of the land, both Biblical and Rabbinic. It also reviews the history of the relationship of the Jewish people to the land of Israel, from the Biblical covenant with Abraham to the present-day State of Israel. The course will grapple with various challenges to the legitimacy of the State of Israel, anti-Zionism and anti-Semitism and will provide students with the tools to recognize anti-Israel propaganda and discern it from true criticism of Israel.