Ithaca College
Spring Semester 2006
Ithaca College |
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Judaism
Rebecca Lesses
340-20300-01, 02 / 344-20300-01, 02
HU LA 1a, 1b, g
TR 1:10-2:25 and TR 2:35-3:50
This course offers an introduction to Judaism as a religious civilization, with a focus on theology, ethics, and ritual practices. Readings include selected texts from the Biblical, rabbinic, medieval, and modern periods. Theological and ethical issues include God, good and evil, covenant, death and afterlife, justice and social responsibility. The course examines how these understandings are lived out through practices associated with birth and death, marriage and commitment, sexuality, and the life of study, prayer, and devotion.
Introduction to Traditional and Popular Jewish Music
Joel E. Rubin
340-26200-01 / 554-26600-01
MWF 11:00-11:50 JJWCM 3320
What are the traditions that have inspired artists as diverse as Madonna, John Zorn and Prokofiev? This course is designed for students of the humanities, music, and other interested students. It will provide an introduction to sacred and secular Jewish musical traditions as they have developed in the various diaspora communities throughout the past 2,000 years. Using a case study approach, we will be come acquainted with the music and culture of the three main groupings of Ashkenazic, Sephardic and Mizrakhi Jewry. In particular, we will concentrate on developments in Jewish musical traditions since the middle of the 19th century, including the emergence of diverse streams of popular Jewish music (Yiddish operetta and vaudeville, klezmer, Radical Jewish Culture, Orthodox popular music, Israeli Mediterranean music etc.). In America, dynamic changes since the late 1960s have brought forth a number of flourishing popular music genres which reflect the direction of American Judaism at the turn of the 21st century.
Biblical Interpretation in Judaism and Christianity
Rebecca Lesses (Jewish Studies) and Michael Twomey (English)
340-34300-01 / 307-32300-01
TR 10:50 A.M.-12:05 P.M.
This course examines the theological and literary dimensions of reading the Bible in the Jewish and Christian traditions. In both religions, Biblical interpretation, or hermeneutics, is a special discipline that combines theology with techniques of literary exposition, or exegesis. The focus of the course will be the comparative study of Jewish and Christian readings of the Bible. The Hebrew Scriptures, which were formed out of the historical and religious experiences of the Israelites, became the religious and literary inheritance of two communities. Although it is often said that Jews and Christians share a common scripture, it is perhaps more accurate to say that the differing interpretations of a common scripture have defined the differences between the two communities. Thus, our comparative study will explore in the texts the evidence for conflict as well as those occasions when concurrence and even dialogue is possible. This semester the course will focus on biblical texts about the creation and end of the world.
European History Seminar: Jews in Modern Europe, 1789-1945
Karin Breuer
311-48102-01
TR 4:00-5:15 P.M.
This class will examine the political, social, and intellectual histories of Jews in Continental Europe from the French Revolution until the Holocaust. It will examine themes of emancipation, acculturation/assimilation, Zionism, and anti-Semitism. Readings include the following: excerpts from Paul Mendes-Flohr, The Jew in the Modern World: A Documentary History , David Vital, A People Apart: A Political History of Jews in Europe, 1789-1939 , and Lucy Dawidowicz, The War Against the Jews . Students will be expected to write a 15 page research paper based on primary and secondary source materials.
The Political Implications of the Holocaust
Don Beachler
Politics 310-40100-02
W 4:00-6:30 P.M.
The seminar explores portions of the voluminous literature on the Holocaust to extract implications for politics. Topics be considered include the conditions that permit people to participate in genocide and the capacity for self-deception that enables people to rationalize their actions. We will consider the controversy raised by Daniel Goldhagen's book Hitler's Willing Executioners , and the academic politics of Holocaust studies by reading works that proclaim the uniqueness of the Holocaust and those who argue that too much attention has been paid the Holocaust to the neglect of other historical instances of genocide. The ethical lessons that can be gleaned from global indifference to the destruction of the European Jews will form another segment of the seminar. The global response to atrocities in Rwanda and Bosnia will be included for comparative purposes.
ELEMENTARY HEBREW II
Michael Faber
316-10200-01/02
MWF 9:00-9:50 AM; Drill Sections: Thursday, 8:25-9:15 AM, or 4:00-4:50 PM
Continuation of 316-10100; verbs consists of present and future tenses; basic understanding of grammar, namely pronouns, possessives, particles, objects. etc.
INTERMEDIATE HEBREW II
Eva Kadar
316-20200-01
MWF 10:00-10:50 AM
Continuation of work begun in 316-20100. To develop intermediate level proficiency in speaking, listening, reading, and writing Hebrew and cultural literacy.
KLEZMER CHAMBER ENSEMBLE
Peter Rothbart
Music 558-32100-01
Time & Place: TBD .5 credit
Chamber ensemble devoted to learning and performance of Klezmer (secular Jewish) music. Proficiency on a musical instrument is expected. Prerequisite: permission of instructor.
INDEPENDENT STUDY (JEWISH STUDIES)
Rebecca Lesses
340-49100
Individual advanced work on Jewish Studies topics which are not covered in regular course offerings. For upper level students who have made prior arrangements with the instructor for the desired topic. Interested students should contact the instructor. Variable credits (1-3).
Last revised December 8, 2005
