RS 322 2QR - Contemporary Jewish Life & Thought

4 Credit(s)

Judaism has long been seen as a patriarchal religion in which women are relegated to a secondary role in religious life. However, no religious community lives in a vacuum. Egalitarian ideals in the 19th century liberation movements, plus contemporary feminist liberation movements in the United States have greatly influenced and improved the status of women in modern progressive Jewish movements. Current feminist Jewish scholarship is reclaiming the lost stories and lifting up the lost voices of women throughout Jewish texts and history. At the same time contemporary liturgical developments and social justice efforts continue to raise up women’s experiences and to enhance women’s place in the Jewish community. This course explores traditional understandings of women’s roles in Jewish life and contrasts this with contemporary developments in feminist Jewish scholarship, feminist Jewish theology, and feminist Jewish activism. An essential component of this course will be participation in community-based service learning in partnership with Jewish women in Madison.

Prerequisite(s): COR 1 or equivalent; open to students in their second or third year, or sophomore and above transfers.