PDF version of this chapterJudaic Studies
Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion
3077 University Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90007
(213) 749-3424
FAX: (213) 747-6128
Email: louchheim@huc.edu
www.huc.edu
Chair: Joshua Holo, Ph.D.
Registrar: Carol Sofer
Email: csofer@huc.edu
Faculty
Professors: Rachel Adler, Ph.D.; Lewis M. Barth, Ph.D.; William Cutter, Ph.D.; Tamara Eskenazi, Ph.D.; Stephen Passamaneck, Ph.D.; Bruce Phillips, Ph.D.Associate Professors: Sharon Gillerman, Ph.D.; David Kaufman, Ph.D.; Dvora Weisberg, Ph.D.
Assistant Professors: Sarah Benor, Ph.D.; Eitan Fishbane, Ph.D.; Adam Rubin, Ph.D.
Adjunct Associate Professor: Steven F. Windmueller, Ph.D.
Adjunct Assistant Professor: Yaffa Weisman, Ph.D.
Lecturer: Rivka Dori, M.A., M.S.
Judaic Studies is offered by the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, an independent college adjacent to the USC campus. Students of the program receive regular course credit and their degrees from USC. Hebrew courses may be used to fulfill graduation requirements in a foreign language; courses which meet humanities general education requirements may be used as electives or may be used for major credit with the approval of an advisor.
Emphasis in Judaic Studies
A Bachelor of Arts in Religion with an area of emphasis in Judaic Studies is offered cooperatively by the School of Religion and Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion. Program requirements are listed in this catalogue under Religion.The Ph.D. program in Religion and Social Ethics, offered at USC through the School of Religion, may be taken with a concentration in Judaic Studies. Applicants for the joint Ph.D. program in Religion and Social Ethics with Hebrew Union College should apply to USC; applications are considered jointly with Hebrew Union College. Applicants are required to demonstrate proficiency in Hebrew. See the Department of Religion section in this catalogue for more information.
Minor in Jewish American Studies
The minor in Jewish American Studies offers the opportunity to study the experiences and cultures of the American Jewish community in relation to those of other American peoples. For the minor, 20 units of American Studies and Judaic Studies are required.| core requirements | units | |
|---|---|---|
| AMST 202 | Interethnic Diversity in the West | 4 |
| JS 300 | American Jewish History | 4 |
Three courses from the following: | ||
| AMST 301 | America, the Frontier, and the New West | 4 |
| AMST 350 | Seminar in Ethnic Studies: Theories and Methods | |
| JS 330 | Jewish Power, Powerlessness, and Politics in the Modern Era | 4 |
| JS 381 | The Jew in American Society | 4 |
| JS 382 | Judaism as an American Religion | 4 |
| JS 383 | Jews in American Popular Culture | 4 |
| JS 415 | The American Jewish Experience in Film | 4 |
| JS 428 | Blacks and Jews: Conflicts and Alliances | 4 |
Minor in Judaic Studies
The minor in Judaic Studies provides the opportunity for in-depth study of Jewish thought, ethics, history, literature, tradition, spirituality and women's studies using approaches developed through the academic study of religion. It is an interdisciplinary program that challenges and stimulates students to examine and learn about Judaism as a topic of scientific interest.For the minor, 20 units in Judaic Studies and Religion are required. The following courses are required: REL 301 and JS 180. Three additional courses may be chosen from among JS 311, JS 321, JS 340, JS 361, JS 375, JS 382, JS 383, JS 415 and REL 312. Successful completion of five 4-unit courses or the equivalent in Jewish American Studies is required to qualify for the minor.
Courses of Instruction
The terms indicated are expected but are not guaranteed. For the courses offered during any given term, consult the Schedule of Classes.
Hebrew (HEBR)
120 Hebrew I (4, Fa) Modern spoken and written Hebrew with emphasis on the principles of grammar.
150 Hebrew II (4, Sp) Continuation of modern Hebrew I.
220 Hebrew III (4, Fa) Continuation of Hebrew II; stress on grammar, composition, and conversation.
315 Biblical Hebrew Literature (Hebrew IV) (4, Sp) Introduction to biblical Hebrew style through reading of selected biblical texts; examination of linguistic and literary aspects. Prerequisite: HEBR 220.
Judaic Studies (JS)
100g Jewish History (4, Fa) Major ideas, personalities, and movements in Jewish history from antiquity to the present in light of the interaction of the Jews with the general culture.
180 Introduction to Judaism (4, Sp) Jewish beliefs, practices, and history from the biblical period to the present; Judaic contributions to Western civilization.
211g The Holocaust (4, FaSp) Historical background and responses to the Holocaust, with special emphasis on ethical implications. Concurrent enrollment: WRIT 140.
214 Zionism, Israel, and the Modern World (4, Fa) Ideas about nationalism, Zionism, and society-building; emphasis on self-definition in the Jewish state.
300 American Jewish History (4, Fa) Patterns of immigration, acculturation, religious forms, and ethnic expression in America from the colonial period to the present.
311 Contemporary Jewish Ethics (4, FaSp) Classical Jewish roots and modern Jewish approaches to critical ethical problems and ambiguous situations where an ethical course of action must be determined.
321 Gender and Judaism (4, FaSp) An investigation into the ways in which gender has structured Jewish religious, social, political and intellectual life from the Biblical period through the present.
330 Jewish Power, Powerlessness, and Politics in the Modern Era (4, FaSp) Explores the relationship between the Jewish people and political powers. Topics include politics in exile, changing relationships to power, and relations with the modern nation-state.
340 Modern Jewish History (4, FaSp) A survey of the major trends and themes of modern Jewish history. Examination of Jewish culture, society and politics from the Spanish Expulsion to the Second World War. Recommended preparation: JS 100.
361 Scripture and Polemic in Judaism, Christianity and Islam (4, FaSp) Origins of Scriptures and their polemical environments in earliest Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Scripture as polemic and legitimation, and cross-religious/cross-cultural interpretation and argument based on scriptural themes.
375 Issues of American Jewish Literature (4) Issues-oriented study of the human experience in America as expressed in the fiction, poetry, drama, memoirs, and literary criticism of America's Jews, using a dual approach incorporating both literary history and specific issues.
381 The Jew in American Society (4, FaSp) The changing sociological profile of the American Jew and changing organization of the American Jewish community as they developed over the 19th and 20th centuries.
382 Judaism as an American Religion (4) The development of American expressions of Judaism as part of the American religious context, from the perspective of the social scientific study of religion.
383 Jews in American Popular Culture (4, FaSp) Social and cultural history of American Jewish contribution to the arts, science, literature, economics and politics.
390 Special Problems (1-4) Supervised, individual studies. No more than one registration permitted. Enrollment by petition only.
415 The American Jewish Experience in Film (4) A survey of American Jewish history through the medium of film, with particular emphasis on the experience of the post-war generation.
428 Blacks and Jews: Conflicts and Alliances (4, Sp) Examination of the relationship between the American Jewish and African-American communities and what it teaches about race and coalition politics in American society.
465 Medieval Jewish Philosophy (4, Fa) Foundation of medieval Jewish thought in the Western philosophical tradition.
467 Modern Jewish Thought (4, Sp) Foundations of modern Jewish thought from the Western European Enlightenment to the present.
490x Directed Research (2-8, max 8) Individual research and readings. Not available for graduate credit. Prerequisite: departmental approval.
501abc Bible Texts (4-4-4, FaSp) a: Advanced grammar and reading. An introduction to principles of form criticism as applied to selected narrative and legal portions of the Pentateuch. b: A critical evaluation of the biblical books of Amos and Hosea with a view to gaining an appreciation of the prophets' literary skill, their religious motivations, and the originality of their thought. c: Critical readings in each of the biblical books of Ruth, Lamentations, Ecclesiastes, Esther, and Song of Songs, with a view toward gaining an appreciation of their literary and religious values. Knowledge of Hebrew required.
504 Modern Hebrew Literature (3, Fa) Reading of unvocalized texts primarily from modern Hebrew literature. A survey of the development of modern Hebrew literature, with an emphasis on short story and poetry. Knowledge of Hebrew required.
590 Directed Research (1-12) Research leading to the master's degree. Maximum units which may be applied to the degree to be determined by the department. Graded CR/NC.
623 Social Reality and Halacha (Jewish Law) (4, Sp) The conflict between social reality and Halacha (Jewish law); rabbinic responses of the 19th and 20th centuries.
626 Seminar in Jewish Ethics (4, Fa) A theoretical analysis of the sources and structure of Jewish ethics and the application of these sources to contemporary moral concerns.
680 Boundaries of Jewish Normative Behavior (4, Sp) Institutions claiming Jewish authenticity and their treatment of Jews perceived to be deviant.