Judaism in America

3 Credits · Level: Undergraduate

Before Ellis Island, before the Lower East Side, Jewish immigrants had already spent over 200 years working to establish a uniquely American form of Judaism. This course will examine the transformation of American Jewish identity from its beginnings in the Colonial period to the present day. Topics will include the development of the various religious movements (Reform, Conservative, etc.), the rise of the American synagogue and mutual aid societies, approaches to social justice, and reactions to anti-Semitism.