Description
Jewish Studies is a dynamic area of study that can be approached from many disciplinary perspectives, including those of history, religious studies, literature, linguistics, and politics. This module brings together MA students from different academic backgrounds and provides them with a coherent graduate-level introduction to this diverse and fascinating field.
The module begins by providing students with a theoretical overview of the main approaches to the field, presenting key concepts in history, politics, linguistics, and literature from a Jewish Studies perspective. It then moves on to examine topics within each of these disciplines in more depth. We will consider a range of specific issues in Jewish Studies and place them within their broader theoretical and methodological frameworks. Questions to be considered include the following: How has the Hebrew Bible been interpreted through the ages? How useful is rabbinic literature as a historical source? How do the changes that Jewish society underwent during the early modern period reflect broader cultural and religious developments? What role does the State of Israel play in the contemporary world? What can Hebrew and Yiddish literature teach us about historical trauma? What makes a language Jewish?
Module deliveries for 2024/25 academic year
Last updated
This module description was last updated on 19th August 2024.
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