Transformations of Judaism in Modernity, 15 Credits

Contents

This course deepens students' specialized knowledge in the history of Judaism and Jewish/non-Jewish relations, with a special emphasis on contestation and religious change in the modern era. It specifically attends to issues of Jewish representation and self-presentation as drivers of religious change, and equips students to consider the representational framework as potentially applicable to other religious communities. The course consists of three modules of 5 credits each. 

Modul 1: Emancipation and Religious Change in the 19th Century (5 credits) 
This part traces the impact that the debate over Jewish Emancipation, citizenship, and integration on the formation of forms of modern Jewish thought such as Reform, Orthodoxy, and early Zionism. 

Modul 2: Antisemitism and the Holocaust (5 credits) 
This part focusses specifically on antisemitism and the Holocaust as factors external to Judaism which prompted significant changes to Jewish religious self-understanding. It will particularly engage with current scholarly debates on the question of Holocaust uniqueness, discussing both lines of continuity from Emancipation debates as well as distinctive features of the antisemitism of the 1930's. 

Modul 3: Representation and Religious Change in the 20th Century (5 credits) 
This part traces developments in Judaism in the 20th century including both external factors (post-Holocaust dialogue, the state of Israel, feminism, postcolonialism) and Jewish communal, cultural, and religious responses to these. It focusses particularly on the role of public representations of Judaism in religious debate and the creation of new forms of Jewish understanding and expression.

Expected learning outcomes

​Knowledge and Understanding:  
After completing the course, the student should be able to:  

• Give an account of the history of Jewish integration in Europe (and European colonies) 
• Understand, summarise, and critically explain how social and political debates surrounding Jewish integration, representation, and self-presentation have contributed to religious change 
• Demonstrate an appreciation for the diversity of practice within Judaism across historical periods, and account for this diversity with reference to particular factors of historical development. 

Skills and Abilities:
After completing the course, the student should be able to:  

• Present a balanced and well-argued assessment of key historical texts, both orally and in writing 
• Present an account of the distinctiveness and the overlap between religious and cultural forms of expression 

Judgement and Approach:  
After completing the course, the student should be able to:  

• Analyse historical documents with an understanding of their context and intended audience 
• Demonstrate critical awareness of the one's own and others' arguments, conclusions, and positions 

Required Knowledge

The course requires university or college studies in theology and / or religious studies comprising 60 credits with a passed result of at least 45 credits, of which at least 7.5 consists of the elements Religion and Society, History of Religion, Judaism or equivalent.

Form of instruction

The teaching is conducted in the form of lectures, group exercises, seminars and individual supervision. The language of the course is English. 

When the course is given as an online course, access to a computer and a good internet connection are a prerequisite for participation in the course. The course is given via the university's learning platform.

Examination modes

Module 1 forum dialogues, 5 credits U-VG 
Module 2 forum dialogues, 5 credits U-VG 
Module 3 thesis, 5 credits U-VG 

For VG on the entire course, VG is required on module 3 essay and either module one or two and G on the remaining module. 

Students who have passed may not undergo further examination for higher grades. For those students who have not been approved at the regular examination opportunity, a re-examination is arranged within two months after the ordinary examination opportunity, and another within one year, so-called collection examination.  

Students who have twice failed an examination for a course or part of a course have the right at the next re-examination opportunity to request from the head of education at the Faculty of Humanities that a new examiner be appointed for future re-examinations unless there are special reasons to the contrary.  

Deviations from the syllabus' examination form can be made for a student who has a decision on pedagogical support due to a disability. Individual adaptation of the examination form must be considered based on the student's needs. The examination form is adapted within the framework of the syllabus' expected study results. At the request of the student, the course teacher in consultation, in consultation with the examiner, shall promptly decide on an adapted form of examination. The decision must then be notified to the student.  

In the event that the syllabus expires or undergoes major changes, students are guaranteed at least three exams (including regular exams) according to the regulations in the syllabus on which the student was originally registered for a period of a maximum of two years from the previous syllabus expires or the course has been discontinued.