| Course Meetings |
Tuesdays, 4th
period (10:40-11:30) |
Matherly 18 |
| Thursdays, 4th-5th
periods (10:40-12:35) |
Matherly 18 |
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| Instructor Information |
Office: 303 Anderson Hall |
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| Hours: Tuesday
1:00-2:30, Thu 2:00-3:30 or by appointment |
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| Phone: 352-273-2391 |
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| Email: kenwald@ufl.edu |
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Subject: As one of the oldest civilizations on the earth, Judaism has a long if incomplete tradition of governance. This course explores the operation of that tradition over time and in several diverse contexts. There are two central questions to be examined: How do Jews govern themselves (often referred to as communal governance)? and How do Jews relate to the political system where they live? The first few weeks of the class explore the development of the Jewish political tradition in the Biblical period, in the Middle Ages (when most Jews lived under either Muslim or Christian sovereignty) and in the early modern/modern period when we focus primarily on Europe. During this historical survey, we will explore both the major political roles assumed by Jews (prophet. intermediary, etc.) and the political systems in Jewish communities. The bulk of the class contrasts the political situation of Jewry in the two primary areas of Jewish concentration today--the United States and Israel. The US is a multiethnic, liberal democracy where religion is purely a voluntary matter and no concern of the state. By contrast, Israel defines itself as a Jewish state and is the only nation on the earth with a Jewish majority. We will examine how these differences affect both communal government and politics at the national level. Expectations: Students are expected to attend class each session, to keep up with the readings, and to contribute to class discussion. While in class, I ask that you show courtesy and respect by turning off your cell phones and refraining from texting. You will need access to the UF computer network in order to read some of the web-based material. If you are directly connected to the UF campus network, the links will take your directly to the readings (except for those on reserve). If you use a private service provider, you will need to configure your system to work with the UF network. UF recommends using the VPN system for this purpose. with a proxy to access some materials that are limited to people with UF identification. There's a less efficient way to access library materials using a proxy system you can access here. Grading: The course grade is based on three major components--a midterm examination on October 3rd (30%), a research paper due in class on November 26th (40%), and a final examination (which focuses primarily on material since the midterm) on December 3rd (30%). There are interim paper deadlines on October 17th and November 12th. There may be opportunities for extra credit that will be announced as they arise. Please note on the schedule that there is a required make-up class that will be held in two sessions on Monday, September 30th. I reserve the right to adjust the final grade to account for outstanding class participation. My grade scale follows the conventional 10 point cutoff (eg. 90-100 = A, 80-89 = B, etc. with an B- for 80-82 and a B+ plus for 87-89)/ The exams will include both multiple-choice and essay questions. Students who miss examinations must provide either a letter from a competent UF authority (assuming there is an official conflict with the exam date) or persuasive documentation about medical and/or family emergencies. Make-up examinations will be administered only for students who satisfy these conditions. Specifics about the paper are available at the appropriate link. I will be happy to make suitable accommodations for students who provide documentation of a disability from the UF Disability Resource Center. |
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