JWST 342 - The Jewish Diaspora

Unit(s): 4

Jews across the world are connected to one another through the religious tradition they hold in common and through a shared sense of identity as a people. Yet, over the past two millennia, Jewish peoples have also been shaped by their diaspora experiences. Scattered across the globe, their diverse histories and environments have given rise to a variety of Jewish religious, cultural and social forms. This course compares on Jewish life in Eastern Europe, North Africa, Central Asia, Israel and the United States. These select case studies will not provide a comprehensive view of the great range of Jewish diaspora life. They will, however, provide a framework for understanding some of the critical issues at stake in the discussion of the Jewish Diaspora experience, including: cultural and religious adaptability, social boundary flexibility and maintenance, and ambivalence surrounding the question of where home is.

Grading: GRD