Jewish History

CORE COURSE

First Semester

Unit 1: Introduction to Jewish History (2–3 weeks)

• Overview: Introduction to the scope of Jewish history, its significance, and key concepts. Exploring how history shapes identity today.

• Topics:

  • The importance of studying Jewish history.

  • Introduction to Jewish genealogy.

  • Modern tools for genealogy: Exploring family roots using websites like 23andMe and MyHeritage.

• Activities:

  • Family tree project: Students start their own genealogical research using tools like family interviews or online databases.

  • Discussion on the use of genetics in understanding Jewish ancestry.

  • Assignment: Essay on the importance of knowing one's family history.

Unit 2: Ancient Israel and Biblical Times (4–6 weeks)

• Overview: Study of the origins of the Jewish people, key biblical events, and how these events shaped Jewish identity.

• Topics:

  • The patriarchs and matriarchs of the Jewish people (Avraham, Yitzchak, Yaakov, Sarah, Rivkah, Rachel, Leah).

  • Major biblical events like the Exodus, the conquest of Canaan, and the establishment of the Kingdoms of Israel and Judah.

  • Archaeological artifacts related to these periods, such as the Dead Sea Scrolls and ancient inscriptions.

• Activities:

  • Explore archaeological findings that confirm biblical accounts.

  • Create a timeline of key biblical events.

  • Assignment: Research an artifact from biblical times and explain its historical significance.

Unit 3: Jewish Diaspora and Exile (4–6 weeks)

• Overview: The study of Jewish exile, the dispersion of Jews across the world, and the preservation of Jewish identity during the diaspora.

• Topics:

  • The Babylonian and Roman exiles.

  • Development of Jewish communities in Babylon, Persia, Egypt, and across the Mediterranean.

  • Introduction to Lost Jews, such as the Bnei Menashe of India and the Kaifeng Jews of China.

• Activities:

  • Research the history of a Jewish community in exile (e.g., Babylon, Egypt).

  • Explore stories of Lost Jews and their rediscovery in modern times.

  • Assignment: Write an essay on the survival of Jewish communities in exile and how they maintained their identity.

Unit 4: Medieval Jewish Life and Scholarship (4–6 weeks)

• Overview: Exploration of Jewish life during the medieval period, including key figures and contributions to scholarship.

• Topics:

  • Jewish life in medieval Spain, France, Germany, and Eastern Europe.

  • Key scholars: Maimonides, Rashi, Yehudah HaLevi.

  • Jews in Eastern Europe: Ashkenazi traditions and life under various European empires.

• Activities:

  • Comparative study of Sephardic and Ashkenazi Jewish life during the Middle Ages.

  • Research Jewish scholarship and its influence on law, philosophy, and science.

  • Assignment: Creative project on the life of a prominent Jewish scholar from the medieval period.

Second Semester

Unit 5: Jewish Communities in the Modern World (4–6 weeks)

• Overview: Understanding Jewish life in the modern era, focusing on the rise of Jewish communities in Europe, the Americas, and beyond.

• Topics:

  • Jewish immigration to Eastern Europe, the U.S., and South America.

  • Jewish life in China, including the Kaifeng Jews and Jewish refugees during World War II.

  • The role of genealogy today: Understanding Jewish roots through genetics and genealogy websites like 23andMe.

• Activities:

  • Students use tools like 23andMe or MyHeritage to explore Jewish genetic markers and their implications.

  • Research the Jewish communities of Shanghai during World War II.

  • Assignment: Create a family genealogy project, incorporating historical research and genetics.

Unit 6: The Holocaust and World War II (4–6 weeks)

• Overview: An in-depth study of the Holocaust, focusing on the impact on Jewish life and the efforts to preserve Jewish history post-Holocaust.

• Topics:

  • Causes of the Holocaust, ghettos, concentration camps, and acts of Jewish resistance.

  • Post-Holocaust efforts to document and preserve Jewish genealogy and culture.

  • The role of DNA testing in tracing lost Jewish families post-Holocaust.

• Activities:

  • Survivor narratives: Exploring the stories of survivors and their families using oral histories.

  • Project: Investigate the impact of DNA testing in reconnecting Holocaust survivors with lost family members.

  • Assignment: Research paper on the use of genetics and genealogy to rediscover Jewish identities after the Holocaust.

Unit 7: The State of Israel (4–6 weeks)

• Overview: The establishment of the State of Israel and its role in Jewish history.

• Topics:

  • The Balfour Declaration, the United Nations vote in 1947, and the War of Independence in 1948.

  • The role of archaeology in Israel: Recent discoveries that shed light on Jewish history.

  • The impact of the ingathering of Jewish exiles from across the globe, including Ethiopian Jews (Beta Israel) and the Bnei Menashe.

• Activities:

  • Create a map showing the immigration routes of Jewish communities to Israel.

  • Research an archaeological discovery in Israel and its significance for Jewish history.

  • Assignment: Write an essay on the role of archaeology in validating Jewish history and identity in Israel.

Unit 8: Contemporary Jewish Life and Challenges (4–6 weeks)

• Overview: Understanding the challenges and triumphs of Jewish life today, focusing on issues such as identity, antisemitism, and the survival of small Jewish communities.

• Topics:

  • The role of Jewish genealogy and DNA testing in reconnecting Lost Jews and Jewish descendants around the world.

  • Contemporary Jewish communities in places like Eastern Europe, Africa, and China.

  • The resurgence of interest in Jewish ancestry through genetics and family histories.

• Activities:

  • Group project: Research a Jewish community from Eastern Europe or Asia that survived or revived in modern times.

  • Discussion: The future of Jewish genealogy and how modern tools are helping preserve Jewish identity.

  • Assignment: Write an essay on a small or Lost Jewish community and how modern technology is helping reconnect them with the broader Jewish world.

Unit 9: Culminating Project (3–4 weeks)

• Overview: Independent or group research project on a selected topic related to Jewish history, incorporating elements from the entire course.

• Assignment:

  • Students choose a Jewish history-related topic (e.g., Lost Jews, Jewish genealogy, archaeology) and develop a research project.

  • The project includes a written report, a creative component (presentation, video, or art), and an oral presentation to the class.

Assessment Methods:

• Research Projects: In-depth projects on topics such as Jewish genealogy, archaeological findings, or Lost Jews.

• Creative Projects: Mapping, genealogical research, and artifact analysis.

• Hands-On Activities: Family tree research, genetics exploration using online tools, and presentations on historical findings.

• Essays and Reports: Focused on specific historical events, figures, or the use of modern technology in Jewish history.