Course Catalogue

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This course will provide students with opportunities to study diverse aspects of modern and contemporary Judaism from a multicultural perspective. Students will survey a wide range of historical and cultural material covering issues such as: migration and belonging; the beginnings of emancipation and reform for Jews in Europe; antisemitism and the Holocaust; Yiddish culture; American Jewish identities; the origins of Zionism and the State of Israel; Jews in Scotland and the UK; and Jewish cultures of North Africa, the Middle East and Asia.

1x2hr seminar per week over 10 weeks as scheduled on MyCampus.

This is one of the Level 3 options in TRS and may not run every year. The options that are running this session are available on MyCampus.

Grade D3 or above in any TRS level 2 course or at the discretion of the Head of Theology and Religious Studies.

TRS3021 Modern Judaism: Aspects of Life & Literature Level 3

TRS4027 Modern Judaism: Aspects Of Life And Lit

TRS4089 Modern Judaism: Aspects of Life and Literature 

None

The standard assessments for this course are: 

■ Essay (2,500 words) - 65%

■ Presentation of 5 minutes - 10%

■ Book Review (1,000 words) - 25%

If required, for instance where a disability prevents a student from undertaking a specific method of assessment, the following alternatives are available: 

■ There are no alternatives to the essay or book review, but flexible deadlines can be offered as reasonable adjustment (Students should follow the usual process for extensions). 

■ Recorded presentation as alternative to presentation.

Further reasonable adjustments may be provided where necessary. Students are encouraged to consult with the course convenor.  

This course will provide the opportunity to:

■ explore works by great Jewish thinkers, writers, and artists of the 20th century to understand how their experiences as Jews influenced their cultural contributions;

■ consider aspects of modern antisemitism and the history and impact of the Shoah;

■ develop a critical understanding of Zionism and the State of Israel and its place in Jewish culture;

■ analyse the parallel processes of assimilation, identity formation, memory, cultural trauma from the perspective of Jewish practices, cultures, and traditions across the world as well as locally for Jews in Scotland.

By the end of this course students will be able to:

■ produce a close analysis of a selection of historical and cultural material and develop an understanding of the relationship of that material to modern Judaism;

■ analyse the historical, political, and ideological aspects of Jewish reform and its effect on Jewish religious practices;

■ offer an account of the conditions leading up to the Holocaust and its effect on both Jewish individuals and Judaism as a culture;

■ evaluate the historical and political aspects of Zionism, Israeli culture, and responses to conflict;

■ explore course materials through research and written presentation;

■ present ideas orally through seminar presentation.