Modern Jewish History and Thought
Module title | Modern Jewish History and Thought |
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Module code | THE3224 |
Academic year | 2023/4 |
Credits | 30 |
Module staff | Dr David Tollerton (Convenor) |
Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
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Duration: Weeks | 11 |
Number students taking module (anticipated) | 20 |
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Module description
The module will provide you with an understanding of the diversity and debates present in modern Jewish history and thought. Focusing largely on the 19th century to the present, you will be introduced to the challenges posed to Jewish communities by modern ideas of rationalism, nationalism, and gender-equality, also highlighting the evolution of antisemitism, Zionism, and responses to the Holocaust. Interdisciplinary in nature, this module resonates with the study of theology and religion, history, and many other subjects in humanities and social sciences. There are no prerequisites and you are not expected to have any prior knowledge of Judaism in the modern period.
Module aims - intentions of the module
The module aims to:
- provide you with an understanding of diversity and change in Jewish thought over the last two centuries, including how this relates to both pre-existing forms of rabbinic Judaism and wider historical developments during the period;
- give you the tools to critically navigate debates about the evolution and definition of antisemitism, the context of Zionism’s origins and its historical development, and the meaning of the Holocaust for late-20th and 21st century Judaism;
- convey the key differences between Orthodox, ultra-Orthodox, non-Orthodox, and non-religious forms of Jewish identity, including their varied views on issues such as gender-equality and 19th century rationalism
- highlight some of the key complexities in the changing relationships between Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, and their consequences for modern politics and history;
- provide you with the skills to discuss and write on sometimes contentious topics, including those that prompt us to reconsider familiar concepts of religion and identity.
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
ILO: Module-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 1. Critically evaluate some of the key variations of Jewish identity and thought since the early 19th century
- 2. Demonstrate a detailed understanding of how anti-Jewish prejudice has manifested and evolved during the last two centuries, and how this has impacted Jewish thought
- 3. Critically research how wider historical processes and events have impacted Jewish communities and their relationships with other groups
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 4. Critically research the role history, religious tradition, and community identities play in shaping modern Judaism
- 5. Demonstrate a detailed awareness of how definitions of religiosity, secularity, and prejudicial behaviour can and have been contested
ILO: Personal and key skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 6. Shape detailed information into a clear written account
- 7. Show consistent coherence and rigour in argument
- 8. Critically analyse written sources, with some guidance
- 9. Address controversial topics with sensitivity and nuance
Syllabus plan
Whilst the content may vary from year to year, it is envisioned that it will cover some or all of the following topics:
- Rabbinic Judaism before modernity
- Religious-secular diversity in modern Judaism
- Judaism in modern Britain
- Gender in modern Judaism
- Antisemitism – its manifestations and definitions
- Zionism – its history and evolution
- Jewish responses to the Holocaust
- Changes in modern Jewish/non-Jewish relations
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
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33 | 267 | 0 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
Category | Hours of study time | Description |
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Scheduled Learning and Teaching | 22 | Lectures |
Scheduled Learning and Teaching | 11 | Seminars |
Guided Independent Study | 267 | Reading and preparation for seminars and essays |
Formative assessment
Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
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Case study report on the history and development of one specific community within modern Judaism | 1000 words | 1, 4-9 | Oral and Written |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
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100 | 0 | 0 |
Details of summative assessment
Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
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Essay 1 | 50 | 3500 words | 1-9 | Oral and Written |
Essay 2 | 50 | 3500 words | 1-9 | Oral and Written |
Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)
Original form of assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
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Essay 1 (3500 words) | Essay 1 (3500 words) | 1-9 | Referral/Deferral period |
Essay 2 (3500 words) | Essay 2 (3500 words) | 1-9 | Referral/Deferral period |
Re-assessment notes
Deferral – if you miss an assessment for certificated reasons judged acceptable by the Mitigation Committee, you will normally be either deferred in the assessment or an extension may be granted. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of deferral will not be capped and will be treated as it would be if it were your first attempt at the assessment.
Referral – if you have failed the module overall (i.e. a final overall module mark of less than 40%) you will be required to submit a further assessment as necessary. If you are successful on referral, your overall module mark will be capped at 40%.
Indicative learning resources - Basic reading
- Judith R. Baskin and Kenneth Seeskin (eds.), The Cambridge Guide to Jewish History, Religion, and Culture (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2010).
- Dean Phillip Bell (ed.), The Bloomsbury Companion to Jewish Studies (London: Bloomsbury, 2013).
- Dan Cohn-Sherbok, Judaism Today (London: Continuum, 2010).
- Lloyd Gartner, History of the Jews in Modern Times (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2001).
- Nicholas de Lange and Miri Freud-Kandel (eds.), Modern Judaism: An Oxford Guide (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2005).
- Paul Mendes-Flohr and Jehuda Reinhartz (eds.), The Jew in the Modern World: A Documentary History (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1995).
- Hilary L. Rubinstein, Dan Cohn-Sherbok, Abraham J. Edelheit and William D. Rubinstein, The Jews in the Modern World: A History Since 1750 (London: Arnold, 2002).
Credit value | 30 |
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Module ECTS | 15 |
Module pre-requisites | None |
Module co-requisites | None |
NQF level (module) | 6 |
Available as distance learning? | No |
Origin date | 31/01/2023 |
Last revision date | 31/01/2023 |