The Jewish Studies Program is designed to acquaint students with the many facets of Jewish civilization through an interdisciplinary study of Jewish religion, history, philosophy, art, literature, social and political institutions and cultural patterns.
For the eight-unit major in Jewish Studies, students must take course pertaining both to the acient and modern worlds and show proficiency in Hebrew (equivalent to at least two semesters at the second-year level). In certain cases, where students whose area of concentration necessitates another language (such as Arabic, French, Spanish, Yiddish, Ladino), that language may be substituted for Hebrew in consultation with the student's major advisor. In addition, students are expected to concentrate in some area or aspect of Jewish studies (such as religion, history, or Hebrew language or literature) by taking four courses about the Grade I level, including at least two at the grade III level.
Majors devise their own programs in consultation with the director of the Jewish Studies program and an appropriate faculty member from the student's area of concentration. Courses with an asterisk (*) also require the permission of the instructor if the course is to be counted by Jewish Studies.
In addition to Wellesley courses, students are encouraged to take courses at Brandeis University in the Department of Near Eastern and Judaic Studies which may be applicable to the Jewish studies major. These courses must be approved, in advance, by the corresponding department at Wellesley. See the director of Jewish Studies for further details.
A minor in Jewish Studies consists of five units from the following courses (of which at least one must be at the 300 level and no more than one at the 100 level): Anthropology 242, 247, History 217, 218, 219, 245, 326, 327, 328, 332, 334, 338, 343, 367; Italian 309; Religion 104, 105, 140, 160, 241, 242, 243, 244, 245, 303, 342; Spanish 252, 267, and 279. Units must be taken in at least two departments; in consultation with the director of the program in Jewish Studies, a student can also arrange to take courses for inclusion in the Jewish Studies minor in Brandeis University's Department of Near Eastern and Judaic Studies.
The following courses are available in Jewish Studies; for related courses, consult the director of the program.
Jewish Studies
AN INTERDEPARTMENTAL MAJOR AND MINOR
Director: Malino (History)
The following courses are available in Jewish Studies; for related courses, consult the director of the program.
HEBR 101-102 Elementary Hebrew
Ronell
Introduction to Hebrew with emphasis on its contemporary spoken and written form. Practice in the skills of listening and speaking as well as reading and writing, together with systematic study of Hebrew grammar. Students will master a basic vocabulary of approximately 1,000 words, and become comfortable in the use of the present, past and future tenses, as well as basic verb patterns. Each semester earns one unit of credit; however, both semesters must be completed satisfactorily to receive credit for either course.
Prerequisite: None
Distribution: None
Semester: Fall, Spring Unit: 1.0
HEBR 201-202 Intermediate Hebrew
Ronell
Building on the foundations in HEBR 101-102, the third semester will continue to develop skills in modern Hebrew. Students will broaden their knowledge of verb patterns, compound sentence structures and mixed tenses. Special emphasis will be placed on composition and oral reports. The fourth semester will focus on literature through reading and discussion of selected short pieces of prose and poetry. Some examples of classical, rabbinic, and liturgical Hebrew will also be analyzed. Students will be required to write short compositions inspired by their readings. Each semester earns one unit of credit; however, both semesters must be completed satisfactorily to receive credit for either course.
Prerequisite: HEBR 101-102
Distribution: Language and Literature
Semester: Fall, Spring Unit: 1.0
HEBR 210 Jewish Fiction Around the Globe: Homeland and the Diaspora (in English)
Ronell
An exploration of contemporary Jewish fiction from diverse Jewish communities around the world including Israel, the US, Latin America, Germany, Eastern Europe, and South Africa. An examination of ideas of Homeland and the Diaspora, immigration and exile. Focus on the challenges of representing post-Holocaust Jewish identity in a global context. The authors to be read include Philip Roth, Shai Agnon, Aharon Appelfeld, Eva Hoffman, Ronit Matalon. The course is designed to provide students with an opportunity to develop a deeper understanding of global Jewish fiction today and its foundation in Hebraic literary tradition. All texts are in English translation.
Prerequisite: None
Distribution: Language and Literature
Semester: Spring Unit: 1.0
HEBR 250 Research or Individual Study
Prerequisite: Two years of Hebrew or permission of instructor.
Distribution: None
Semester: Fall, Spring Unit: 1.0
HEBR 350 Research or Individual Study
Prerequisite: Three years of Hebrew or permission of instructor.
Distribution: None
Semester: Fall, Spring Unit: 1.0
JWST 250 Research or Individual Study
Prerequisite: Open to first-year students and sophomores.
Distribution: None
Semester: Fall, Spring Unit: 1.0
JWST 250H Research or Individual Study
Prerequisite: Open to first-year students and sophomores.
Distribution: None
Semester: Fall, Spring Unit: 0.5
JWST 350 Research or Individual Study
Prerequisite: Open by permission to juniors and seniors.
Distribution: None
Semester: Fall, Spring Unit: 1.0
JWST 350H Research or Individual Study
Prerequisite: Open by permission to juniors and seniors.
Distribution: None
Semester: Fall, Spring Unit: 0.5
JWST 360 Senior Thesis Research
Prerequisite: By permission of director. See Academic Distinctions.
Distribution: None
Semester: Fall, Spring Unit: 1.0
Prerequisite: 360
Distribution: None
Semester: Fall, Spring Unit: 1.0
Related Courses
For Credit Toward the Major
ANTH 242* ‘Civilization' and ‘Barbarism' during the Bronze Age, 3500-2000 B.C.E.
ANTH 247* Societies and Cultures of Eurasia
EXTD 101A-102A Elementary Arabic
EXTD 201A-202A Intermediate Arabic
HIST 217 The Making of European Jewry 1085-1815
HIST 218 Jews in the Modern World, 1815-Present
HIST 219 The Jews of Spain and the Lands of Islam
HIST 245 Germany in the Twentieth Century
HIST 326 Seminar. American Jewish History
HIST 327 Zionism and Irish Nationalism: A Comparative Perspective
HIST 328 Anti-Semitism in Historical Perspective
HIST 332 Europe under German Occupation, 1939-1945: Resistance, Collaboration, and Genocide
HIST 334* Seminar. European Cultural History
HIST 338* Seminar. European Resistance Movements in World War II
HIST 343 Seminar. History of Israel
HIST 367 Seminar. Jewish Identity in the Modern World
REL 104 Study of the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament
REL 105 Study of the New Testament
REL 140 Introduction to Jewish Civilization
REL 160* Introduction to Islamic Civilization
REL 201 Myth and Magic in the Ancient Near East
REL 202 Biblical Poetry
REL 205 The Book of Genesis
REL 207 Goddesses, Queens, and Witches: Survey of the Ancient Near East
REL 241 Emerging Religions: Judaism and Christianity, 150 B.C.E.-500 C.E.
REL 242 Introduction to Rabbinic Literature
REL 243 Women in the Biblical World
REL 244 Jerusalem: The Holy City
REL 245 The Holocaust and the Nazi State
REL 302 Ritual in the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament
REL 303 Seminar. The Sacrifice of the Beloved Child in the Bible and Its Interpretations
REL 342 Seminar. Archeology of the Biblical World
SPAN 252* Christians, Jews, and Moors: The Spirit of Spain in Its Literature
SPAN 267* The Writer and Human Rights in Latin America
SPAN 279 Jewish Women Writers of Latin America