Jewish Civilization I: Secular Judaisms from Spinoza to Salami
What is it about Jerry Stiller's humor that is quintessentially
Jewish? What makes a corned beef special "Jewish food"? Can atheist
Jews “believe” in Judaism? How is the ex-communicated philosopher
Spinoza a “Jewish” thinker? This course is a survey of modern Jewish
secularism. Jewish secularism raises problems about the nature and
viability of “traditions,” “faith,” “belief,” and “practice” in the
modern world. We will focus on how Jews have critiqued Jewish religious
traditions, and in turn created new sorts of Jewish traditions,
politics, and cultures, as we try to answer the question: What is
secular Judaism?
Course Outline:
Introduction
Emancipation
Secular Jewish Philosophy
Zionisms
Socialisms
Zionism and Socialism
Secularism and Science
Coming to America
Yiddish Language and Culture
Jewish Humor
Jewish Secularism Today
Secular Jewish Celebrations
Readings will include:
Spinoza, Theologico-Political Tractatus
Cahan, Yekl and the Imported Bridegroom, and Other Tales from Yiddish New York
Freud, The Future of an Illusion
Diner, A New Promised Land
Michael Wex, Born to Kvetch
Douglas Rushkoff, Nothing Sacred: The Truth About Judaism
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