Oregon School of Judaic Studies
Portland State University
Summer courses
June 23-August 15, 2008

Israel Onstage: Israeli Society Through Drama
JSt 099/399 (1 credit)
S. Reich
Summer Term I
June 24, July 1, 8, 15
T 7:00 - 9:20 pm

Note: This excellent course consists of one lecture session and attendance at three staged readings of contemporary Israeli plays.
Israelis attend more theatre performances per capita than any other people in the world. Theatre is considered a cultural necessity in Israel: playwrights are nurtured, plays written and produced and toured throughout the country. In this course we will focus on the work of three contemporary Israeli playwrights who explore themes of family, ethnic and religious divisions, and the Arab-Israeli conflict. We will gain an appreciation for Israeli drama and a deeper understanding of the challenges of life in the Jewish state.

Introduction to Judaism
Hst 099/399 (2 credits)
A. Stone
Summer Term I
July 7 - July 18
MTWR 10:30 am - 12:50 pm

Judaism is a religion of ancient ties to a foundational text, a land, a people, and a way of life. It is also a world civilization that has undergone surprising changes in its more than 3,000 year history. In this course we will explore the religious beliefs and practices of Judaism, from its Biblical origins to the variety of its modern forms. No prerequisites.

Judaism in the Time of Jesus
Hst 099/410/510 (4 credits)
S. Carver
Summer Term I
June 23 - July 18
MTWR 1:00-3:20 pm

What was the matrix of beliefs at the time of the Second Temple which would provide the basis for the development of Rabbinic Judaism and Christianity? This course provides an overview of the beliefs and practices of the Jewish people in the first century CE. Attention will be given to primary texts that exemplify the views of the different Jewish sects, including the Essenes, Zealots, Pharisees, Sadducees, the earliest followers of Jesus, and the Jews in the Diaspora.

The Holocaust and Jewish Thought: Philosophical and Religious Responses
Hst 099/410 (1 credit)
A. Berg
Summer Term I
June 23, 25, 30, July 2
T 7:00 - 9:20 pm

We will study four crucial essays produced by Jewish thinkers in the 20 years following World War Two and which created controversy and valuable communal dialogue with their interpretations of the meaning of the Jewish catastrophe. The essays are: Hannah Arendt's "The Seeds of a Fascist International," Emil Fackenheim's "The Commanding Voice of Auschwitz," Ellis Rivkin's "The Dynamics of Jewish History," and Richard Rubenstein's "Religion and the Origin of the Death Camps."

Science and Nazism
Hst 427/527 (4 credits)
R. Beyler
Summer Term II
July 21 - August 15
MTWR 1:00 - 3:20 pm

How is it that the most scientifically advanced nation of the early 20th century also produced a political system commonly regarded as barbaric, indeed evil? Was Nazism an irrational reaction against a scientific world view, or the manifestation of a technical rationality which has abandoned humane values. This course explores the complex middle ground between these two interpretations.

Family & Identity through Film
Soc 410/510 (4 credits)
R. Liebman
Summer Term II
July 21 - August 15
MW 5:30 - 9:40 pm

Families form our understanding of self and anchor our social identites. Though readings and documentary and narrative films from Europe, the Americas, and Israel, we view marriage, intergenerational dynamics, and gender roles in the experience of Jews, Hispanics, and Asians. Classes organized around lectures, film screenings, and discussion.

Intensive First-Year Hebrew
Heb 099/101/102/103 (4 credits x 3 = 12)
A. Yariv
Summer Terms I and II
June 23 - August 22
MTWRF 8:00 - 10:20 am

First-year Hebrew in an accelerated, nine-week sequence. Emphasis on basic grammar, syntax, noun and verb formation, listening and reading comprehension, translation, writing, and speaking. For non-native speakers of Hebrew only.

To register, visit http://www.summer.pdx.edu/ For questions about payment or registration, e-mail summer@pdx.edu or call 503-725-3276. For questions about Judaic Studies courses and programs, visit www.judaic.pdx.eduor contact Professor Michael Weingrad, weingrad@pdx.edu.

OSJS courses are open to students and learners of all ages and backgrounds for both credit and noncredit. Credit is available through Portland State University. Summer students planning to transfer credits to their home institutions should get advance approval of their selections. Because OSJS is self-supporting, courses are not available through the Senior Adult Learning Center. Scholarships are available through the generosity of donors. Enrollment begins May 2. Visa and MasterCard accepted. Contact 503-72LEARN or http://www.summer.pdx.edu

Non-credit courses and auditing: Courses with 099 numbers may be taken as non-credit (099) courses. Fees are as follows: 1 credit: $80, 2 credits: $150, 4 credits: $250.