Jewish Civilization 2018-2019
Jewish Civilization I-II.
Jewish Civilization is a two-quarter sequence that explores the development of Jewish culture and tradition from its ancient beginnings through its rabbinic and medieval transformations to its modern manifestations. Through investigation of primary texts—biblical, Talmudic, philosophical, mystical, historical, documentary, and literary—students will acquire a broad overview of Jews, Judaism, and Jewishness while reflecting in greater depth on major themes, ideas, and events in Jewish history.
JWSC 12000. Jewish Civilization I: Ancient Beginnings to Early Medieval Period. 100 Units.
The Autumn course will deal with antiquity to the early medieval periods. Its readings will include works from the Bible, the Dead Sea Scrolls, Philo, Josephus, the Rabbis, Yehudah Halevy, and Maimonides. All sections of each course will share a common core of readings; individual instructors will supplement with other materials. It is recommended, though not required, that students take these two courses in sequence. Students who register for the Autumn Quarter course will automatically be pre-registered for the winter segment.
Instructor(s): Chavel Terms Offered: Autumn
Equivalent Course(s): RLST 22010, NEHC 22010
JWSC 12001. Jewish Civilization II: Late Medieval to Modern Period. 100 Units.
The Winter quarter will begin with the late medieval period and continue to the present. It will include discussions of mysticism, the works of Spinoza and Mendelssohn, the nineteenth-century reform, the Holocaust and its reflection in writers such as Primo Levi and Paul Celan, and literary pieces from postwar American Jewish and Israeli authors. All sections of each course will share a common core of readings; individual instructors will supplement with other materials. It is recommended, though not required, that students take these two courses in sequence. Students who register for the Autumn Quarter course will automatically be pre-registered for the winter segment.
Instructor(s): Rokem Terms Offered: Winter
Equivalent Course(s): NEHC 22011, RLST 22011
Note: Students who have already taken a course from the previous JWSC civilization studies sequences (JWSC 20120–20199 - ancient or medieval period courses) or JWSC 20220-20299 - modern period courses) and wish to complete the civilization requirement under that system may take an additional JWSC civilization course from the set of eligible courses as defined above, provided that they end up having taken at least one JWSC course in the ancient or medieval period and one in the modern period.