Topics in Religion and Politics: Jewish Women and American Culture

How have Jewish women shaped American politics and culture? How much of our modern world do we owe to what Jewish women have created? And how have these women transformed Judaism itself? This course examines the writings, ideas, and lives of Jewish-American women. From explicitly religious organizations like Hadassah and the National Council of Jewish Women, to more secular Jews who subtly incorporated religion into their style and their ethics, we will consider Jewish-American women in all of their fascinating variety. Students will gain a thorough picture of Jewish-American women’s social impact from the ground up. Our reading will extend from colonial community builders like Bilhah Franks, to early feminists like Rosa Sonneschein, to revolutionaries like Emma Goldman and reformers like Lillian Wald; from the philosopher Hannah Arendt to the labor leader Rose Schneiderman and the novelist Ayn Rand; from America’s first woman rabbi, Sally Priesand, to modern-day leaders and celebrities like Ruth Bader Ginsberg, Judy Blume, Adrienne Rich, and Dianne Feinstein. Students will have the opportunity to conduct self-directed research as well as to try out creative projects and collaborative reflection. This course will teach students to thoughtfully analyze texts in historical context, to conduct sensitive conversations with generosity and curiosity, and to broaden their pantheon of American cultural giants. As we explore multiple genres, decades, and perspectives, students will build a rich and collaborative understanding of the vibrant Jewish-American women’s intellectual tradition.