Please consult Minerva Class Schedule for days, times and rooms.
JWST 300
Charisma and Social Change
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Jewish Studies: An introduction to charismatic phenomena in politics, religion and the media, and interpretation of them, from the ancient prophets to the modern period. Particular attention will be given to charisma as a general force for social change and also the lives of individuals such as Lenin, Krishnamurti and Chaplin.
Offered by: Jewish Studies
- Terms
- This course is not scheduled for the 2024 academic year
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024 academic year
JWST 303
The Soviet Jewish Experience
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Jewish Studies: Sovietization both fueled the modernization of Russian Jewry and contributed to its eventual suppression. This experience will be examined from two perspectives: history and literature. The interrelationship between culture and politics and the effects of ideology and censorship on literature will be discussed.
Offered by: Jewish Studies
- Terms
- This course is not scheduled for the 2024 academic year
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024 academic year
JWST 305
Course not available
JWST 306
The American Jewish Community
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Jewish Studies: Issues affecting American Jewry in the post-World War I era until today and the American Jewish community's responses to those issues. Special emphasis on understanding the community responses and reactions to developments in both the American society and in the Jewish world.
Offered by: Jewish Studies
- Terms
- This course is not scheduled for the 2024 academic year
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024 academic year
JWST 309
Jews in Film
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Jewish Studies: An introduction to the portrayal of Jews in film from the 1920s to the present. Films to be studied will usually be based on literary texts in English, which will form part of the required study. Films in languages other than English will be subtitled.
Offered by: Jewish Studies
JWST 310
Believers,Heretics & Critics
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Jewish Studies: Issues in the development of Biblical interpretation based on classical Jewish thought, heretical Jewish doctrines and contemporary Biblical criticism.
Offered by: Jewish Studies
- Terms
- This course is not scheduled for the 2024 academic year
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024 academic year
JWST 314
Denominations in N.A. Judaism
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Jewish Studies: A survey of Reform, Reconstructionist, Conservative and Orthodox Judaism in North America. Emphasis is placed on the ideology forwarded by the movements since their inception.
Offered by: Jewish Studies
- Terms
- This course is not scheduled for the 2024 academic year
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024 academic year
JWST 315
Modern Liberal Jewish Thought
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Jewish Studies: The work of Mordecai Kaplan, followed by a study of several contemporary authors following feminist, mystical and postmodernist tendencies.
Offered by: Jewish Studies
- Terms
- This course is not scheduled for the 2024 academic year
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024 academic year
JWST 316
Soc&Eth Issues Jewish Law 1
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Jewish Studies: A brief introduction to the nature and history of Jewish law. Topics include: redemption of hostages; abortion; death and dying.
Offered by: Jewish Studies
- Terms
- This course is not scheduled for the 2024 academic year
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024 academic year
JWST 319
Course not available
JWST 320
Intermediate Hebrew
6 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Jewish Studies: This course is designed to integrate students at various levels into one group with the aim of improving their basic language skills and preparing them for advanced Hebrew.
Offered by: Jewish Studies
- Terms
- This course is not scheduled for the 2024 academic year
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024 academic year
JWST 320D1
Intermediate Hebrew
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Jewish Studies: This course is designed to integrate students at various levels into one group with the aim of improving their basic language skills and preparing them for advanced Hebrew.
Offered by: Jewish Studies
JWST 320D2
Intermediate Hebrew
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Jewish Studies: See JWST 320D1 for course description.
Offered by: Jewish Studies
syllabus_jwst_320_fall_2014-winter_2015.pdf
JWST 323
The Israeli Novel
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Jewish Studies: In-depth examination of selected Israeli novels written during the past fifty years of national formation and consolidation. Authors may include Agnon, Yehoshua, Oz, Shabtai, Shalev and others.
Offered by: Jewish Studies
- Terms
- This course is not scheduled for the 2024 academic year
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024 academic year
syllabus_jwst_323_winter_2015.pdf
JWST 325
Israeli Lit in Translation
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Jewish Studies: Survey of contemporary Israeli fiction that reflects Israel's cultural, political, and historical concerns. Authors may include Yehoshua, Oz, Librecht, Michael, Shamir, Castel-Bloom, and others.
Offered by: Jewish Studies
JWST 327
A Book of the Bible
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Jewish Studies: One book of the Bible will be studied in its entirety in Hebrew. Emphasis on the contributions of Ancient Near Eastern Studies (archaeology, comparative literature and Semitic linguistics) to understanding the text.
Offered by: Jewish Studies
- Terms
- This course is not scheduled for the 2024 academic year
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024 academic year
JWST 328
Course not available
JWST 329
Course not available
JWST 330
Topics in the Hebrew Bible
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Jewish Studies: A selected topic of current interest in the Hebrew Bible will be studied in depth. Emphasis on the contributions of Ancient Near Eastern Studies (archaeology, comparative literature, and Semitic linguistics) to understanding the text. Students
may read the text in Hebrew or in translation.
Offered by: Jewish Studies
JWST 333
Course not available
JWST 337
Jewish Philosophy & Thought 1
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Jewish Studies: Focuses on either a period, a current of thought or the work of a thinker in the history of Jewish thought from Antiquity to the Middle Ages, paying particular attention to the relationship of Jewish thinkers to intellectual trends in their respective cultural contexts. Contemporary Muslim and Christian theologians and philosophers.
Offered by: Jewish Studies
JWST 338
Jewish Philosophy & Thought 2
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Jewish Studies: Focuses on either a period, a current of thought or the work of a thinker in the history of Jewish thought from the Middle Ages to Modern Times, paying particular attention to the relationship of Jewish thinkers to intellectual trends in their respective cultural contexts. themes and concerns of Jewish theology and on Jewish responses to contemporary trends in European thought.
Offered by: Jewish Studies
- Terms
- This course is not scheduled for the 2024 academic year
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024 academic year
Winter 2016—Modernity in Jewish Thought
jwst_338.pdf
JWST 340
Advanced Hebrew
6 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Jewish Studies: Language acquisition - advanced Hebrew.
Offered by: Jewish Studies
- Terms
- This course is not scheduled for the 2024 academic year
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024 academic year
JWST 340D1
Advanced Hebrew
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Jewish Studies: Language acquisition - advanced Hebrew.
Offered by: Jewish Studies
JWST 340D2
Advanced Hebrew
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Jewish Studies: See JWST 340D1 for course description.
Offered by: Jewish Studies
syllabus_jwst_340_fall_2014-2015.pdf
JWST 345
Intro to Rabbinic Lit
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Jewish Studies: An introduction to the study of Rabbinic texts.
Offered by: Jewish Studies
jwst_345_syllabus.pdf
JWST 346
Modern Jewish Studies
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Jewish Studies: Topics in Jewish Studies. Semesters will be devoted to specific issues and periods of the Jewish Experience since 1500 and the literature produced by Jews during this period.
Offered by: Jewish Studies
syllabus JWST 346 Fall 2017.pdf
JWST 347
Modern Jewish Studies
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Jewish Studies: Topics in Jewish Studies. Semesters will be devoted to specific issues and periods of the Jewish Experience since 1500 and the literature produced by Jews during this period.
Offered by: Jewish Studies
- Terms
- This course is not scheduled for the 2024 academic year
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024 academic year
syllabus JWST 347 Fall 2017.pdf
JWST 348
Modern Jewish Studies
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Jewish Studies: Topics in Jewish Studies. Semesters will be devoted to specific issues and periods of the Jewish Experience since 1500 and the literature produced by Jews during this period.
Offered by: Jewish Studies
syllabus_jwst_348_fall_2014.pdf
JWST 349
Modern Jewish Studies
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Jewish Studies: Topics in Jewish Studies. Semesters will be devoted to specific issues and periods of the Jewish Experience since 1500 and the literature produced by Jews during this period.
Offered by: Jewish Studies
- Terms
- This course is not scheduled for the 2024 academic year
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024 academic year
syllabus_jwst_349_w_2015.pdf
JWST 351
Studies in Modern Jewish Lit
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Jewish Studies: Within a comparative framework, this course examines cultural, thematic and artistic developments in the works of modern Jewish literature written in both Jewish and non-Jewish languages. For those without reading knowledge of the original, all works are available in English translation.
Offered by: Jewish Studies
JWST 353
Interdisc Approach to Jew St 1
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Jewish Studies: A study of a topic in Jewish studies from the vantage point of multiple disciplines. For example, "the Figure of Moses in 20th Century Jewish Thought, Literature, Music and Psychoanalysis." Topic varies by year.
Offered by: Jewish Studies
- Terms
- This course is not scheduled for the 2024 academic year
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024 academic year
JWST 354
Interdisciplinary Lectures 2
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Jewish Studies: Interdisciplinary lectures in Jewish studies. Topic varies by year.
Offered by: Jewish Studies
- Terms
- This course is not scheduled for the 2024 academic year
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024 academic year
JWST 355
Course not available
JWST 356
Course not available
JWST 357
Course not available
JWST 358
Topics in Jewish Phil 1
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Jewish Studies: Topics in Jewish philosophy. Topic varies by year.
Offered by: Jewish Studies
- Terms
- This course is not scheduled for the 2024 academic year
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024 academic year
JWST 359
Topics in Jewish Phil 2
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Jewish Studies: Topics in Jewish philosophy. Topic varies by year.
Offered by: Jewish Studies
JWST 361
The Shtetl: 1500-1897
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Jewish Studies: Using historical, sociological, literary and cultural sources, this course will examine various aspects of communal and individual life in the shtetl, the Jewish - or largely Jewish - town in Eastern Europe.
Offered by: Jewish Studies
- Terms
- This course is not scheduled for the 2024 academic year
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024 academic year
JWST 365
Modern Jewish Ideologies
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Jewish Studies: The rise and development of the various ideologies which attempt to define the Jews in historical, national and socio-cultural terms will be analyzed within the context of modern European nationalism. Selected texts of the Jewish Enlightenment, Science of Judaism, Peretz Smolenskin, Leon Pinsker, Simon Dubnow, Chaim Zhitlowsky and Ahad Ha-Am.
Offered by: Jewish Studies
- Terms
- This course is not scheduled for the 2024 academic year
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024 academic year
JWST 366
History of Zionism
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Jewish Studies: An examination of the development of the Zionist idea, the most influential expression of modern Jewish nationalism, which led to the creation of the Jewish state. The transformation of elements of traditional Jewish messianism into a modern political ideology. Hibbat Zion, Political Zionism, Cultural and Synthetic Zionism will be discussed.
Offered by: Jewish Studies
- Terms
- This course is not scheduled for the 2024 academic year
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024 academic year
JWST 367
Hebrew through Israeli Cinema
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Jewish Studies: An opportunity to analyze Israeli cinema from different periods, spanning 1948 to the present. While participating primarily in Hebrew with some assignments in English, students in this course will be invited to engage actively with the social, political, psychological and aesthetic dimensions of these films.
Offered by: Jewish Studies
- For detailed course content go to www.mcgill.ca/jewishstudies/undergraduates.
- Fall
- Prerequisite: JWST 340 or permission of instructor
- This course is conducted at an advanced level of Hebrew. Please contact the instructor to assess your language proficiency.
JWST 368
A Taste of Hebrew Literature
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Jewish Studies: An introduction to short literary forms in Hebrew from the mid-20th Century to the present. Short stories and poems will be discussed in terms of their literary qualities, as well as in relation to their cultural, social, political and historical contexts with the ultimate aim of fostering an improved ability to read, write and speak in Hebrew.
Offered by: Jewish Studies
- For detailed course content go to www.mcgill.ca/jewishstudies/undergraduates.
- Winter
- Prerequisite: JWST 340 or permission of instructor
- This class is conducted at an advanced level of Hebrew. Please contact the instructor to assess your language proficiency.
- Terms
- This course is not scheduled for the 2024 academic year
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024 academic year
JWST 369
History of the Hebrew Language
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Jewish Studies: An exploration of the evolution of the Hebrew language from Biblical texts to contemporary Israeli slang, including Rabbinical commentary, Medieval hymns, poetry by Jewish authors of the Islamic world, Haskalah literature in the modern Jewish Enlightenment, and contemporary texts to showcase the revival of a spoken Hebrew after 2000 years in exile. Linguistic patterns, literary structures and vocabulary.
Offered by: Jewish Studies
- For detailed course content go to www.mcgill.ca/jewishstudies/undergraduates.
- Fall
- Prerequisite: JWST 340 or permission of instructor
- This course is conducted at an advanced level of Hebrew. Please contact the instructor to assess your language proficiency.
- Terms
- This course is not scheduled for the 2024 academic year
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024 academic year
JWST 370
Israeli Popular Culture
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Jewish Studies: Israel's multifaceted contemporary culture including music, theatre and the visual arts, as well as stand-up comedy, dance, film and TV series, and contemporary Israeli society.
Offered by: Jewish Studies
- For detailed course content go to www.mcgill.ca/jewishstudies/undergraduates.
- Winter
- Prerequisite: JWST 340 or permission of instructor
- This course is conducted at an advanced level of Hebrew. Please contact the instructor to assess your language proficiency.
JWST 371D1
Course not available
JWST 374
Course not available
JWST 375
Course not available
JWST 380D1
Course not available
JWST 380D2
Course not available
JWST 381
God & Devil in Mod Yiddish Lit
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Jewish Studies: An exploration of some of the central themes in Yiddish literature: religious faith and doubt; the nature of good and evil; and the role of fear - both awe of the divine and terror of the demonic. We will discuss Yiddish writers’ use of East European Jewish folklore, the influence of Christian culture, as well as the effects of secularization, mass emigration, and the Holocaust. Readings will include works by major Yiddish writers of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, including I. L. Peretz, Sholem Aleichem, and Isaac Bashevis Singer.
Offered by: Jewish Studies
- Terms
- This course is not scheduled for the 2024 academic year
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024 academic year
JWST 383
Holocaust Literature
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Jewish Studies: Readings from Holocaust literature in English translation. Writers include Primo Levi, Aharon Appelfeld, Elie Wiesel, Dan Pagis, Paul Celan, Nelly Sachs, U.Z. Greenberg and others.
Offered by: Jewish Studies
- Terms
- This course is not scheduled for the 2024 academic year
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024 academic year
JWST 384
Yiddish: Intermediate 1
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Jewish Studies: Intermediate study of standard Yiddish with emphasis on reading, composition and conversation. Knowledge of Yiddish culture will also be expanded.
Offered by: Jewish Studies
- Terms
- This course is not scheduled for the 2024 academic year
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024 academic year
JWST 386
American Jewish Literature
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Jewish Studies: An intensive study of American Jewish novels from the 1900s to the present. Attention to representations of gender, class and Jewishness as seen in relation to changing notions of America. Focus on ways novels represent and wrestle with Jewish difference.
Offered by: Jewish Studies
- Terms
- This course is not scheduled for the 2024 academic year
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024 academic year
syllabus_jwst_386_w_2015.pdf
JWST 387
Modern Jewish Authors
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Jewish Studies: Introduction to representative novels written in America by Jews from the 1950s to the present. Issues of Jewish identity, ethnicity will inform our discussions. Focus on contemporary Jewish authors; consideration of the ways in which the complexities of American life are re-scripted in these novels.
Offered by: Jewish Studies
- Terms
- This course is not scheduled for the 2024 academic year
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024 academic year