Survey Course on the Modern Period of Jewish History- Wednesday evenings online via Zoom

Program: Hebrew College Me’ah Classic
Instructor: Dr. Jacob Meskin (Modern) (Read Bio)
Dates: 11 Wednesdays, Winter/Spring 2024: 1/17, 1/24, 1/31, 2/7, 2/14, 2/28, 3/6, 3/13, 3/20, 3/27 & 4/3
Time: 7:15 -9:15 p.m.
Cost: $360, financial aid is available
Location: Online via Zoom
Hosted by: Hebrew College

Beginning with the 17th century Age of Enlightenment, modernity posed a significant challenge to traditional Jewish culture, community, and identity, creating new social and economic opportunities but also threatening traditional Jewish values and society. As in each of the previous eras, modern Jews remained preoccupied with sacred texts, suggesting that however great the impact of rupture and discontinuity, their passion for reading and re-reading classical Jewish texts became the creative wellspring for modern Jewish thought.

You’ll delve into some of these modern primary texts representing differing ideological viewpoints — works of Jewish philosophers such as Martin Buber and Franz Rosenzweig, and Zionist thinkers such as Ahad Ha’am and Micha Josef Berdyczewski — that mirror the issues faced by Jews of that era.

And you’ll wrestle with the subtle points of comparison and contrast between Jewish modernity and the civilization we’ve inherited. Texts will examine the emancipation of European Jewry; the rise of Hasidism; the Jewish cultural revolution of Eastern Europe; and the birth of Modern Zionism.

NOTE: This course is part of our Me’ah Classic program that we are opening to all who wish to learn about Modern Jewry. We hope you will enjoy taking this course and then register for the other sections of Me’ah Classic.

For more information, contact meah@hebrewcollege.edu