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JEWISH STUDIES

 

The Jewish Studies Program, in the Division of Interdisciplinary Studies, is an academic program whose core mission is to educate students in the breadth and complexities of Jewish history, religion, politics, and culture and to situate this learning in the larger context of their liberal arts education. Jewish studies courses engage students of all backgrounds in diverse aspects of Jewish civilization and address themes as divergent as identity formation, prejudice, and intercultural relations. Through the minor in Jewish studies, the program offers students an opportunity to take courses in several disciplines of the humanities and social sciences, including history, religious studies, English, and government.

As the only program of its kind in Maine, Jewish studies seeks not only to educate Colby students but also to provide public programming to members of the Maine community through its curricular and co-curricular activities. Though a major in Jewish studies is not offered, interested students are encouraged to consult the director about an independent major.
 

REQUIREMENTS +

Requirements for the Minor in Jewish Studies

A minimum of six courses, including two core courses (Religious Studies 181 and 182) and four other courses in Jewish studies that are approved for the minor. Jewish Studies 125 and 126 do not count toward the minor.

Successful completion of the minor requires a 2.00 average for all requirements above. None of the required courses may be taken satisfactory/unsatisfactory.

Courses listed below are described in the appropriate department sections of this catalogue.

OTHER APPLICABLE COURSES +

Courses approved for the Minor in Jewish Studies

  • English 
    • 398C Life and Literature in Nazi-Occupied Paris
  • French
    • 376 Shadows of the Past: Remembering Vichy France and the Holocaust
  • Government 
    • 251 Israelis and Palestinians: Conflict and Accommodation
    • 252 Politics of the Middle East
  • History 
    • 421 Research Seminar: Debating the Nazi Past
  • Music
    • 121 Entartete (Degenerate) Musik
  • Religious Studies 
    • 143 Introduction to Hebrew Scriptures
    • 181 Conceptions of Jews and Judaism
    • 182 Jews, Judaism, and the Modern World
    • 219 Texts of Terror: Violence and the Religions of the Book
    • 221 Topics in Maine's Jewish History
    • 282 The Making of Judaism
    • 297 History of Anti-Semitism
    • 297J Jewish Theology
    • 298 Prostitutes, Queens, Prophets
    • 322 Food and Religious Identity
    • 382 Abraham in the Abrahamic Religions
    • 384 Jewish Responses to Ethical Dilemmas
    • 398A American Jews and Judaism from World War II to the Present
    • 398B Behind the Bible: Discovering an Ancient World
For updates to the list of courses approved for the Jewish studies minor and courses offered in the 2011-2012 academic year, refer to the Jewish Studies website.

 
Learn more about the program »

Faculty

Director, Professor Raffael Scheck
Program Steering Committee and Faculty: Professors Véronique Plesch (Art), Raffael Scheck (History), David Simon (Art), and Robert Weisbrot (History); Assistant Professors Audrey Brunetaux (French), David Freidenreich (Jewish Studies), Julie Faith Parker (Religious Studies), and John Turner (History); Faculty Fellow Linda Maizels (Jewish Studies); Visiting Instructor Rachel Isaacs (Jewish Studies)

Program Affiliated Faculty: Professors Guilain Denoeux (Government) and David Suchoff (English); Visiting Assistant Professor Phillip Silver (Music)
 

Colby College reserves the right in its sole judgement to make changes of any nature in its program, calendar, academic schedule, fees, deposits, or any other matters in this catalogue.