REGISTRATION CLOSED

Session One: January 17, 24 & 31

10 am – 11:30 am
“THE ARAB SPRING AND THE ARAB WINTER”
Team taught by SISMEC Graduate Students

Near Eastern Studies graduate students Colin Owens Matt Flannes, Dylan Baun, and David Callen will provide an intimate description of the current turmoil in Arab countries from Syria to Morocco. The four are founding members of SISMEC (Southwest Initiative for the Study of Middle East Conflicts)

Noon – 1:30 pm
“A LINGUISTIC JOURNEY THROUGH HEBREW
AND RELATED/UNRELATED LANGUAGES”
Professor Adam Ussishkin, Department of Linguistics, University of Arizona

Despite its relationship to other Semitic languages, modern Hebrew has evolved into a unique language with rules of its own. Question: “Does the nature of a language Influence the nature of the people immersed in it?”

Session Two: February 7, 14 & 21

10am-11:30
“JERUSALEM AS A SACRED SPACE:
THE RELIGIOUS SIGNIFIANCE OF JERUSALEM FOR JUDAISM. CHRISTIANITY AND ISLAM”
Rabbi Sandy Seltzer, Center for Judaic Studies, University of Arizona

For centuries the city of Jerusalem has played a unique role in the history of three Abrahamic faiths and continues to do so today. Jews refer to it as “ir Hakodesh,” Christias as “Civitas Dei” and Muslims as “al Quds.” What were the consequences  resulting from three faiths making the same claim?

Noon – 1:30
APOCALYPSE 1012”
Professor Ed Wright, Director, Judaic Studies Center Will the world end on December 12, 2012? Some people think so, and they derive that belief from an eclectic mix of data from Mayan calendars, supposed astronomical alignments, and obscure numerological calculations. In this course we will explore the sources used in these bizarre speculations to see if December 12, 2012 will see the end of world, the dawn of a new era in human history, or just another day. Moreover, we will explore answers to why this kind of apocalyptic speculation continues to captivate thousands of people around the world.

Session Three: February 28, March 6 & 13

10 am – 11:30
“IN RELUCTANT PURSUIT: THE TEPID PROSECUTION OF NAZI WAR
CRIMINALS IN AUSTRALIA, GREAT BRITAIN AND CANADA”
Sol Littman, Visiting Scholar, AZ Center for Judaic Studies

The United States stands out for its consistent pursuit of  WWII Nazi war criminals. Unfortunately the same cannot be said of England, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. As a result, hundreds of concentration camp guards, Nazi bureaucrats and Waffen-SS veterans have found sanctuary in the bosom of Commonwealth countries.

NOON – 1:30  (This class will be broken into three separate parts.)
“BOYCOTTS, FLOTILLAS AND DIVERSIONS: ISRAEL FIGHTS BACK”
February 28

“DOKTOYREM ARE SLITTING THE THROATS OF JEWISH CHILDREN”
March 6
The 1906 New York School Riot and the Contending Images of Gentiles.

“I DON’T KNOW WHAT THEY DID TO MY SON:
THE HOLOCAUST ODYSSEY OF YITZHAK KATZNELSON”
March 13