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Fall 2008 Courses

Jewish Studies

JWST-205 Ancient and Medieval Jewish Civilization
M/TH 9:55-11:10 a.m. (General Education 2:2)
Pamela Nadell, Director of Jewish Studies Program
A survey of the political, economic, social and intellectual history of the Jews from the biblical era to 1492. Class covers the independent Jewish states that flourished in Palestine, Jewish sects and early Christianity, and the rise of Diaspora Jewries as it explores the inextricable ties between the Jewish and non-Jewish worlds.

JWST-320.002/HIST-344 Topics in Jewish Culture: Modern Jewish Politics
T/F 9:55-11:10 a.m.
Tatjana Lichtenstein, Schusterman Teaching Fellow in Jewish Studies
Examines the emergence and development of modern Jewish politics since the early nineteenth century focusing on the relationship between politics, culture, and society; topics include the Jewish encounter with major political ideologies; the relationship between Jews and the state; and the role of modern philanthropy in transforming Jewish societies.

History

HIST-319/619 Holocaust
M/TH 2:10-3:35 p.m.
Pamela Nadell, Director of Jewish Studies Program
Traces the history of antisemitism and the development of racism that led to the Holocaust. Examines the historical development of the Final Solution. Considers the perpetrators and the victims, as well as international reactions.

HIST-343 History of Israel
W 11:20-2:00 p.m.
Tatjana Lichtenstein, Schusterman Teaching Fellow in Jewish Studies
Traces the development of modern political Zionism in nineteenth-century Europe; the historical background leading to the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948; and the history of Israel since then, including patterns of Jewish immigration and its relationship to the Arab World.

School of International Service

School of International Service
SIS-496/696/GOVT-496.696 Israeli Politics
Tue 5:30-8:00 p.m.
Yoram Peri, Schusterman Visiting Professor of Israel Studies
This course provides an overview of current issues, topics, and controversies affecting Israeli politics. It considers the Israel political system in the context of major political and social developments, in a comparative context.

School of Communications

COMM-549 Topics in International Media: Comparing Media Systems in Democracies - Israel and Europe
Thur 5:30-8:00 p.m.
Yoram Peri, Schusterman Visiting Professor of Israel Studies
Students in this seminar learn about the media and the important political roles they play in key states in Europe and in Israel. The Mediterranean, North European, Post-Soviet and the Liberal models will de discussed. A special emphasis will be on the Americanization process of the media, on tabloidization, and on the new political role that they have acquired—culminating with the formation of "mediapolitik", that is politics that has adopted the "media logic."

Religion

RELG-371/671.001 Topics in Jewish Religion: The Bible Through Jewish Eyes
W 11:20-2:00 p.m.
Leila Berner, Adjunct Professor of Religion
For millennia, Jews have sought to understand the Bible through deep engagement in a multi-leveled interpretive system (midrash) that yields myriad meanings. Jews and Christians approach the Bible very differently, deriving vastly different meanings from it. This course explores how Jews read the Bible, in contrast to Christian approaches. Meets with RELG-671 002.

Language and Foreign Studies

In the early twentieth century bold pioneers determined that Hebrew, not Yiddish, would become the language of the emerging Jewish state. Learn the Hebrew that modern Israelis speak and master grammar as well as vocabulary; this is particularly useful to those planning to visit Israel.

HEBR-116.001 Hebrew, Elementary Modern Ι
M/TH 11:20-12:35 p.m.

HEBR-116.002 Hebrew, Elementary Modern I
M/TH 12:45-2:00 p.m.

HEBR-216.001 Hebrew, Intermediate Modern I
M/TH 8:30-9:45 p.m., Prerequisite: HEBR 117 or equivalent

HEBR-316.001 Hebrew, Advanced Modern I
M/TH 9:55-11:10 a.m., Prerequisite: HEBR 217 or equivalent

Additional independent study, independent reading, and internships available. Prerequisite: Standing as Jewish Studies major or minor and permission of Professor Nadell.
JWST-390/590 Independent Reading (1-6 Credits)
JWST-392 Cooperative Education (3-9 Credits)
JWST-481/482 Senior Thesis (3 Credits)
JWST-490/690 Independent Study (1-6 Credits)

Intern in Metropolitan Washington D.C.

Prerequisite: Standing as Jewish Studies major or minor and permission of Professor Nadell.

JWST-491 Internship (1-6 Credits)
An opportunity to earn university credit while contributing services to a local Jewish organization such as the Anti-Defamation League, Hadassah Washington Action Office, Jewish Historical Society, Jewish Community Center, and the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. For complete internship list, please see:

http://www.american.edu/academic.depts/cas/js/internships.html

Go to the Jewish Studies Program home page.