JWST 090 A-Z - (HP) Special Topics in Jewish StudiesSemester Hours: 3
Once a Year
Designed to treat special subjects or themes dealing with some major spiritual, political, and social issues facing the Jewish people. The subject is chosen at the discretion of the department but with the students’ interest in view. Such themes as the dynamics of rabbinic Judaism; the philosophy of ancient Israel; foundations of Jewish mysticism, etc., are considered.
Current Special Topics
JWST 090B - (HP) Broadway & Jews: To Life
The transcendent Yiddish production of Fiddler on the Roof closed in New York in January 2023, after a second successful run, 59 years after the pathbreaking musical first opened on Broadway. This show’s striking, sustained popularity and acclaim is but one example of the powerful impact of Jewish lives, history, experience, and identities on the mainstream and experimental performance of the 20th and 21st centuries in the US. In this course, we will first trace the history of Jews in the US and explore how different genres of theatre and performance reflect the idea of “Jewishness” and evolving multiple Jewish identities. By spotlighting the work of Jewish American theatre artists – performers, playwrights, composers, designers, and directors – and analyzing a variety of plays, we will gain an understanding of how theater resists and/or creates cultural stereotypes and how, through performance, alliances can be forged with other shifting identity categories – including race, class, gender, and sexuality.
JWST 090J - (HP) What is Judaism?
The course introduces students to major themes in the story of Jewish experiences throughout the world and serves as an overview of the field. During the semester, we will explore the following questions: What is Judaism? What is a Jewish Text? What is a Jewish Context? and What are Jewish Studies? Students will end the course with knowledge and tools to explore the diversity of Jewish experiences in diverse geographical regions and through multiple disciplinary lenses from the social sciences and humanities.
Prerequisite(s)/Course Notes:
As individual subjects are selected, each is assigned a letter (A-Z) which is affixed to the course number. May be repeated for credit when topics vary. Specific titles and course descriptions for special topics courses are available in the online class schedule.
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