R345 Major Trends in Modern Judaism (3 Cr.) - Samuelson TR 1:00-2:15 JH
A106

Judaism is a religious civilization that encompasses sacred narratives,
laws, rituals, ethics, philosophy, theology, mysticism, and art.  The
Jewish religious civilization evolved over time in response to changing
historical conditions.  Until the 19th century, European Jews lived as a
distinct ethnic and religious minority, organized in semi-autonomous
communities.  The French Revolution, the Enlightenment, and the interests
of the modern nation-state dictated the integration of the Jews into
European society.  The process which resulted in granting Jews civil and
political rights is called "Emancipation."  The Emancipation commenced the
modern era in Jewish history.  Though the Jews wished to be emancipated,
the process has resulted in an ongoing identity crisis.

This course explains the challenges of modernity to Jews and Judaism as
well as the major Jewish responses to it: The Scientific Study of Judaism,
Reform Judaism, Orthodoxy, Conservative Judaism, Reconstructionism,
Zionism, Socialism, and Feminism.  Each of these trends has attempted to
answer three major questions: What does it mean to be Jewish?  Why be
Jewish?  How to be Jewish?  The various answers to these questions led to
plurality of Jewish expressions, one of the major characteristics of
modernity.  The course highlights both the common ground and the
differences among the various branches of modern Judaism.  Special
attention is given to the diversity of American Jewry and its struggle
with the problem of modernity.

Texts: P. Mendes-Flohr and Y. Reinhartz, The Jewish in the Modern World,
M. Meyer, The Origins of the Modern Jew, A. Hertzberg, The Zionist Idea,
A. Hertzberg, The Jews in America, J. Plaskow, Standing Again at Sinai,
R345 Reader (Collegiate Copies).
Assignments: There will be a mid-term exam, a field report, a book report,
and a final essay exam.