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HISTORY 156

THE AMERICAN JEWISH EXPERIENCE: FROM SHTETL TO SUBURB

3-4 credits.

A century and a half ago, the United States was a backwater of the Jewish world, then centered in Europe with significant Jewish communities in the Ottoman Empire and elsewhere. Yet, by the 1950s, the United States became home to the largest Jewish community at that time. Why did millions of Jews come to the United States? How has life in a liberal political and capitalist economic order shaped the Jewish experience in the United States? In turn, how have Jews influenced American culture, politics, and society? Surveys the history of American Jews from the 17th century to the 21st century. Using Jews as the primary, though not only, case, examines themes in the history of immigration, ethnicity, and religion. Topics include patterns of political activity, social mobility, processes of integration and exclusion, Jewish culture, religion, and problems in community building. Not open to students with credit for JEWISH 219 prior to Fall 2026.

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Prerequisites & course information

Requisites: None Course Designation: Core GenEd - Civics & Perspectives Ethnic St - Ethnic Studies Breadth - Humanities Level - Elementary L&S Credit - L&S Liberal Arts and Science Repeatable for Credit: No Last Taught: Fall 2026 Learning Outcomes: 1. Discuss major trends in Jewish culture, religion, politics. Audience: Undergraduate 2. Explain how Jews have defined themselves as a community. Audience: Undergraduate 3. Describe patterns of Jewish exclusion from and inclusion in American institutions as well as the impact of this history on the present. Audience: Undergraduate 4. Recognize and question assumptions as they relate to ethnicity in the United States. Audience: Undergraduate 5. Examine and interpret historical documents. Audience: Undergraduate Learning Outcomes: 1. Discuss major trends in Jewish culture, religion, politics. Audience: Undergraduate 2. Explain how Jews have defined themselves as a community. Audience: Undergraduate 3. Describe patterns of Jewish exclusion from and inclusion in American institutions as well as the impact of this history on the present. Audience: Undergraduate 4. Recognize and question assumptions as they relate to ethnicity in the United States. Audience: Undergraduate 5. Examine and interpret historical documents. Audience: Undergraduate

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