Jewish Studies Faculty Bookshelf
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Department of Jewish Studies
Spring 2024 Courses
Introduction to the Modern Middle East
01:563:100
(cross-listed with 01:685:100)
This is the foundational course for Middle Eastern Studies at Rutgers University. The course introduces students to Middle East Studies as an interdisciplinary academic field. Throughout the semester, we study key debates, events, and literature in several of the disciplines that constitute the field. Three major “modules” comprise the course but history is a defining discipline. The first module introduces Middle East Studies as a professional academic field in Euro-American universities by focusing on the relationship between power and knowledge. The second module explores major debates in the field from the vantage point of three major disciplines - History, Political Science, and Anthropology – as well as the key interdisciplinary framework of Political Economy. The third module provides a curated overview of major events, ideologies, and encounters that continue to shape the Modern Middle East: colonialism, nationalism, war, the nation-state system, and political Islam.
Introduction to the Modern Middle East is an intensive undergraduate level course meeting Core Curriculum learning goals and requiring 25-35 pages per session. The classes are a mixture of lectures and discussions. Students are expected to come to classes having prepared the reading(s) for the day and ready to discuss them in detail.
This course fulfills Core requirements CCO, HST or SCL, AHo.
Spring 2024 taught by Professor Bolourchi.
Mondays and Wednesdays, Period 4 (2:00 PM to 3:20 PM)
Spring 2024 Syllabi
Have questions? You can email Professor Bolourchi at
Elementary Modern Hebrew
01:563:101 and 01:563:102
(cross-listed with 01:013:152 and 01:013:153)
Acquire basic competence in reading, writing and speaking Hebrew.
Introductory Hebrew: This course develops primary language skills through extensive practice in reading and writing. Since emphasis is put on the sentence as a unit of language, students are engaged from the very beginning in creative writing and speech as well as in achieving basic competence in grammar. Communication skills are enhanced by engaging in conversations based on everyday situations. No previous knowledge of Hebrew required.
No prerequisites.
Click to learn more about the Hebrew Placement Exam
Spring 2024 taught by Professor Goldman.
Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, Period 1 (8:30 AM to 9:50 AM)
Have questions? You can email Professor Goldman at
Intermediate Modern Hebrew
01:563:132
(cross-listed with 01:013:253)
Achieve proficiency in reading and speaking modern Hebrew.
The objectives of this course are twofold: development of language skills and preparing students to read and analyze Hebrew literature. Students develop conversational skills by regular participation in class presentations and discussions of current and cultural events. Advance grammatical forms are integrated into the discussion of reading material, which is selected from various Hebrew sources.
Prerequisites: 01:563:121 / 01:013:156 or Hebrew placement test.
Click to learn more about the Hebrew Placement Exam
Spring 2024 taught by Professor Goldman.
Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, Period 2 (10:20 AM to 11:40 AM)
Have questions? You can email Professor Goldman at
01:563:211
(cross-listed with 01:013:353)
Improve your proficiency in reading and writing skills by reading short essays, newspaper, and magazine articles.
This course is designed to develop fluency and increase proficiency in reading and writing skills. The course provides an intensive training in Hebrew Grammar and syntax through the reading and analysis of short essays, and newspaper and magazine articles. Reading and writing assignments as well as creative writing and oral presentations are part of the course work.
01:563:210 Prerequisites: 01:563:132 / 01:013:253 or Hebrew placement test.
Click to learn more about the Hebrew Placement Exam
Spring 2024 taught by Professor Goldman.
Mondays and Thursdays, Period 3 (12:10 AM to 1:30 PM)
Have questions? You can email Professor Goldman at
01:563:224
Prerequisites:
Spring 2024 taught by
Spring 2024 Syllabi
Have questions? You can email Professor Goldman at
Statement on Addressing Antisemitism
The Department of Jewish Studies at Rutgers University addresses antisemitism by teaching students of all backgrounds about the complex history, and the changing manifestations and consequences, of antisemitism. Students are encouraged to engage thoughtfully with these subjects in courses such as Antisemitism; History of the Holocaust; Between Nazism and Communism; Jews, Heretics, and the Inquisition; Holocaust Memory; Muslims, Christians, and Jews in Medieval Spain; Modern Jewish History; and many others. The faculty works assiduously to create a safe intellectual environment for all Rutgers students to learn about these and other challenging subjects.
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