Israel 4000
Explore Israel through 4,000 years of Jewish history, literature and culture.
2019-20 Dates TBA soon
Israel, at the center of the world's stage. So many opinions. So much debate. What is it all about? Where does Israel fit in the Jewish experience?
- 6 90-minute classes (Dates/times TBA. Select your preference here).
- Falafel dinner with each class.
- Write a 2-page essay.
- Receive a $200 stipend.
Apply Here (On the application form the course is called Your Israel)
Syllabus:
1. 1. The Holy Land
Israel in the Torah – a People and a Promised Land
When did Israel become part of the Jewish story? How? Why?
2. 2-3. Trials and Triumphs of the Jewish Kingdom
Israel in Scriptures – Over One Thousand Years of Jewish Sovereignty
What was life like in ancient Israel? What were Jewish systems of governance?
What were the ups and downs of the Jewish kingdom, and what caused those rises and falls?
4. Diaspora and Homeland
Israel in Talmudic and post Talmudic times – Forever the Jewish Homeland
What happens when a people is exiled from its homeland? What happens to the people? What happens to the land? What happens to the bond between the two?
5. Holy Cities
A Closer Look at Special Cities within Israel
Which cities in Israel were especially significant in Jewish history? In which ways? In what eras? A look at Israel though space rather than time.
6. Israel in Modern Times
Torah Perspectives on Contemporary Political Issues
So many accusations, loaded words, and half facts concerning Israel are thrown around campus; is there a clearer Torah way to view this conflict?