A New Course Exploring Changing Patterns of Judaism in the 21st Century

This course explores the dynamic interactions between contemporary social, political, and intellectual forces and today’s changing religious landscape. The Jewish experience reflects many of the trends facing religious communities in a global era. Jews thrive in both homeland and diaspora settings, embrace a wide spectrum of attitudes toward socio-cultural integration, and engage diverse cultural contexts from Seattle to Safed. With the help of a social-scientific approach, students will have the opportunity to critically analyze the ways in which religious ideologies and communities transform themselves in relationship to particular geographical contexts and historical processes. The study of Jews and Judaism provide an effective lens for considering changes to religious life.