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Bachelor of Arts in Modern Jewish Studies
The Bachelor of Arts in Modern Jewish Studies is designed to provide an understanding of Jews and Judaism in terms of the interactions of culture, history, and religion. The challenge of modernity faced by Jews and Judaism over the last two hundred years has transformed traditional Jewish societies and generated a great measure of difference and diversity. After a history of more than two millennia, Jews have redefined religion, notions of identity, and social organization in contexts of a dominant culture (in Israel) and a minority culture (elsewhere in the world). The broader dynamics of how ethnic, religious, or racial minorities interact with the majority societies are examined in both these contexts. Courses explore the constants and variety of the Jewish experience in different historical periods and geographical settings and include language study.
The interdisciplinary Minor in Jewish Studies consists of four (4) three-unit core courses and two (2) three-unit elective courses selected on advisement from offerings by a variety of colleges of the university. The purpose of the interdisciplinary Jewish Studies Minor is to acquaint the student with the history, culture, contributions, and religion of the Jewish people as seen through the eyes of modern academic disciplines and with particular reference to contemporary issues and patterns.
Segment III Cluster: The Jewish Experience
The cluster represents a broad intellectual project for introducing students to a wide variety of literatures, histories, cultures, philosophies, and religious expression of the Jewish people. Students will acquire an understanding of the interplay of Judaism as religious identity with Jewish ethnic and national identity. Correspondingly, students will learn that this is both an intrinsically Jewish process and one that unfolds in relation to universal contexts and themes. Students will deepen their understanding of topics and problems of general importance through examining and applying the particulars of Jewish experience and thought. They will see how Jews and Judaism have been influenced by the societies and cultures around them, and in turn, how they have influenced those societies. Students will incorporate the assumptions and methods of different academic disciplines in the study of Jews and Judaism. They will also learn about multiculturalism, both as an internal Jewish characteristic and in a context of the relationship of Jews and Judaism to other cultures and religions.