HISTORY OF THE JEWS
Prerequisites: one of the following History 111,
112,113, 287, or Liberal Studies 121,122,123, or any upper-division European or
Middle Eastern history course.
An analysis of Jewish history and culture in medieval and modern Europe and in
the classical and modern Middle East culminating in the development of the
Jewish state in the Middle East. development from the age of the Enlightenment
and Royal Absolutism to the outbreak of World War I.
Readings:
Shanks, H., Ancient Israel
Cohen, Under Crescent and Cross
Sachar, The Course of Modern Jewish History
Dawidowicz, The War against the Jews
Yehoshua, A Journey to the end of the Millennium
Browning, Ordinary Men
Freedman, Who Wrote the Bible
Schwartzbart, The Last of the Just
Films:
The Dead Sea Scrolls
The Disputation
America & the Holocaust
Mr. Death
Following are the lecture topics to be covered in class. They do not reflect one class hour:
1. You are expected to attend all classes and films unless you are ill
2. The Bible as History
3. Conquest of Palestine: Jewish Kingdoms-rise and fall
4. Prophecy and faith as cultural and national force
5. Diaspora as a theme in Jewish History: Persian Influence
6. Hellenism & Judaism: Hasmoneans and successors
7. Sectarian Judaism: Pharisees, Sadducees, Essenes
8. Judaism & early Christianity
9. The Pharisees and the Talmud: The Oral Torah
10. Jews in Roman & Persian Empire
11. Medieval Europe & the Jews
12. Medieval Islam & the Jews
13. anti-Semitism in the Middle Ages: Crusades and millenarians
14. Jewish life in Spain-7th-15th centuries
15. Migration and community building in Eastern Europe
16. Jews and the origins of capitalism, -West and East
17. Mysticism and Messianic movements: Cabala and Shabitai Zvi'
18. Hassidism
19. Haskalah_the Jewish enlightenment and Mendelssohn
20. Rights of Man and the Rights of Jews: the Enlightenment and the French Revolution
21. Jews and the spread of capitalism: Emancipation and assimilation in West
22. Eastern European Jews and the spread of capitalism
23. Jewish Socialism
24. Immigration: Jews in America
25. Dreyfus case
26. Zionism and the early Yishuv
27. 19th century anti-Semitism: causes and results
28. Pathology of modern anti-Semitism
29. The Jewish state
30. fascism and the Jews in Italy
31. Nazi Germany & the Jews
32. The Holocaust
33. Modern Israeli State
34. Israelis and Palestinians
Exams:
There will be 2 exams, a mid-term and a final. Following is the format:
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each exam will include 4 to 8 questions divided into 2 groups. e.g. Classical world (Group A) and
Medieval world (Group B).
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You will choose to write a paper at home on one question from either Group A or Group B
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The paper is to be 8-12 pages typewritten and double-spaced, complete with notes and bibliography.
NOTE WELL - All sources from the Internet must be cleared with me before you use them. No sources that are unsigned will be accepted.
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The second question will be answered in class from the group not chosen for the take-home paper
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You will turn in a bluebook with your name and indication of group chosen for take-home at least two days before the exam day.
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I will return the bluebook on the day of the exam with the question to be answered written on cover.
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Example, Group A has three questions, 1, 2, and 3! Group B has three questions, 4, 5, and 6! You choose to write at home on question number 2.
In class you will either write on question number 4, 5, or 6 as chosen by me. In other words you have to prepare to answer all of the questions in the group you did not choose to write on in the take-home essay.
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All work must be your own. Plagiarism will result in failure for the class.
Final Exam will use the same format. Exam questions will be distributed 2 weeks before test and papers are due. ALL WORK MUST BE TURNED IN TO RECEIVE A PASSING GRADE.
Final grade will be made up of two take-home essays and two essays written in class. Each will count equally. I will also consider attendance and class participation in determining your final grade-about 10%.
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