Major

JUS 321 - Women in Judaism

This course examines religion and gender through the study of women in Judaism. How do scholars construct a history of women in ancient Judaism when Jewish sacred texts are written by and for men?  How have modern Jewish women accommodated feminist ideals without undermining the authority of the established tradition? What impact has the feminist movement had on Jewish communal institutions in the United States and Israel?  We explore these questions and others by examining the influence Jewish religious beliefs and practices have played in the formation of Jewish women’s identities, image and their understanding of power and authority. Students study the role of women in the formation of Judaism and Jewish society as a culturally constructed and historically changing category through archaeology, biblical studies, rabbinics, theology, folklore, social and political movements.
Course Credits
3
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Major
Electives
Topical “Deep Dive”
Minor
Core
Electives

JUS 160D1 - Introduction to Jewish Thought and Culture

This course explores Jewish thought and culture, religious ideas and practices through multidisciplinary perspectives including biblical studies and rabbinics, theology, philosophy, history, law and medical ethics. Students learn foundational concepts of Judaism and apply them to larger philosophical questions about the evolution of religion and morality in today's world. What are Jewish understandings of virtue, of man's status, role and responsibility to the earth? What are the attributes and nature of God in Judaism and how do they differ from Christianity and Islam? How did Jewish notions of politics, social construct, and the covenant impact the structure and nature of the United States? How does Judaism view abortion, organ transplantation and genetics engineering? 

SBS Course Tracks
Major
Electives
Text and Traditions
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