JEWISH HISTORY AND POLITICS (POLI3047)

This course will begin with the Abrahamic and Moses legends, and proceed to analyze the territorial histories of the 12 tribes of Israel and Judea in ancient times; the creation of Reform-Orthodox divisions initiated by the Greek invasions of ancient Israel; the great migration waves to the north, east and west during the Syrian and Roman conquest periods and again during the Middle Ages; the Khazar kingdom; the emergence of Yiddish-speaking culture throughout eastern and western Europe; Jewish impacts on European labor movements; the rise of the modern Secular, Reform, Conservative and Ultra-Orthodox Jewish movements; Russian pogroms and Jewish emigration to the Americas; the Holocaust and a lost civilization; Zionism and the creation of the Israeli state; Jewish unionism in America: the ILGWU; Lox, Gefilte Fish, and Jewish cultural influences (music, musicals, Hollywood, comedy, such asYehudi Menuhin, Itzhak Perlman, Leonard Bernstein, and Ben Sidrin). The special contributions to science, business and politics by Albert Einstein, Henry Kissenger, and Michael Bloomberg. Current Israeli politics and Israel-related controversies. The return of Jewish life to Western Europe. Teaching tools will include textbooks, films/videos, debates, discussions, on-line readings. Student requirements include essays, exams, quizzes, discussion contributions, essays, and research projects. Cross-listed with POLI3047