Israel

This course begins with an examination of the Zionist idea; its common denominators and variegated factions. Due consideration is given to the late-nineteenth century European context in order to appreciate the socio-economic, political, and cultural factors that impacted upon the Zionist movement. The course explores how competing visions for the Jewish state responded to the realities of Palestine, its local Arab population, Ottoman rulers, and existing Jewish population. The class discusses the McMahon-Hussein correspondence, the Sykes-Picot agreement, and the Balfour Declaration in order to appreciate whether Palestine was “a twice promised land.” The class examines the various British attempts to restore law and order and placate the ambitions of the Arab national movement whilst at the same time not giving the appearance of abandoning its commitments to the Zionist movement. The course studies the Peel Commission partition plan (1937) and the reactions of the Zionists, Palestinian Arabs, and emerging Arab states. The course discusses Arab and Zionist approaches towards the Allied war effort as well as their respective attitudes towards the future of the territory in a post-war settlement. The course explains the various claims as to why the British left Palestine, the recommendations of the United Nations Special Committee on Palestine, and its majority proposal for the partition of the territory. Students discuss the first Arab-Israeli war, the refugee crisis, and the Rhodes armistice agreements. Students are introduced to the writings of the New Historians and their critics. At this half way point the course turns its attention to internal and external dilemmas that faced and indeed continue to face the Israeli state. The schism surrounding religious – secular relations is studied both in its manifestation in the early years of statehood as well in ensuing years. The claim that Israel adopted a position of consociational politics in this arena is examined. A further field of study will be the approach of the hegemonic Labor movement towards the Mizrachi-Oriental immigrations of the 1950s and early 1960s. Expressions of alienation and discrimination are explored as well the claim that the ethnic gap remains real and not only symbolic in contemporary Israel. The course proceeds to examine other competing voices in Israeli society including those of its Arab citizens. It asks whether existing tensions can be accommodated by a reaffirmation of the Jewish-democratic characterization of the state or whether alternative paradigms might be considered. The various expressions of the Israel-Arab conflict are given due consideration as well as the efforts at peace making, particularly those with Egypt, Jordan, and the Palestinians. The failure of the negotiations at Camp David in 2000 are addressed as well as the second intifada. Classes take the form of lectures, discussion based on the assigned readings, and one on-site visit.

Music is a fascinating medium through which to study many aspects of Israeli life and politics. This course explores many genres of music, including art, folk, pop/rock, religious genres, as well as genres canonized by the mainstream and others on the peripheries. Among the social and political issues that emerge from music in Israel, students discuss music's role in the development of “Hebrew culture;” the invention of tradition; the politics of race, ethnicity, and nationality; spirituality and engagement with religion; peace and conflict; the problematics of coexistence; and the musical expression of place. No musical training is necessary to be successful in this course, though students with musical skills and training are welcome to contribute their expertise and may choose to augment their projects with performance or theoretical analysis.

This course explores the meanings and functions of human dignity in a comparative and inter-disciplinary perspective. The course provides a critical and complex understanding of how the concept has developed, has been used, and should be used in constitutional and legal contexts. The course begins by identifying the intellectual origins of human dignity and mapping its meanings in philosophical discourse. Students explore developments in the uses and functions of human dignity in national constitutions from the 20th century to present day. The course examines the logic of drafting constitutional articles, and practices those principles on articles containing the concept of dignity in multiple functions. The course also gives tools to understand how justices employ the concept in various ways. The course also discusses topics including a psychological approach to human dignity as self-worth, dignity in medical ethics, dignity in prisons, and the uses of dignity by the Israeli Supreme Court.

This beginning Hebrew course is designed to impart basic vocabulary and grammar for communication in a variety of essential daily-life situations in Israel. Focus is placed on comprehension: listening to short stories and recorded conversations from everyday life; conversation: simple dialogues and stories from everyday life; reading: dialogues and texts in easy Hebrew on various topics; writing: short dialogues and passages on the topics taught in class; and grammatical skills: elementary grammatical structures, inflection of the strong verb in the past and present tenses, and frequent weak verbs.

This course focuses on the objectives, methods, and consequences of media involvement in armed conflicts and the importance of armed conflict for the media, in both historical and contemporary perspectives. The course provides tools to analyze and understand different cultural, social, and technical aspects of the relationship between the media and armed conflicts, while also maintaining strong practical components. These practical components include the workshopping based introduction of key journalistic skills including developing sources, interviewing techniques, and writing with a focus on application within active conflict zones. This course includes multiple field visits and interviews with those involved in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and other Middle Eastern wars and offensives. The course considers media interaction in low, medium, and high intensity armed conflicts.

This course explores the emergence of Zionism and the Israeli state from the late 19th century until today by looking at some of the foundational movements and moments in Israeli history. Themes include expressions of alienation and discrimination, the perceived ethnic gap, and schisms in Israeli society, including Jewish-Arab tensions. The course explores the broad range of influences that have shaped Israeli society and politics: European, Ottoman, Middle Eastern, Jewish, and Palestinian.

This course serves as an entrance into the world of the rabbis of the Talmud. Through close readings of primary sources, it provides insight into the development of rabbinic Judaism and its belief and legal systems. The course also emphasizes competing claims of interpretation prevalent in non-rabbinic Judaism and the influence of the surrounding Greco-Roman and Zoroastrian cultures. The course involves reading primary texts and their accompanying secondary sources.