The Robert A. and Sandra S. Borns Jewish Studies Program

Our last 300-level class for Fall 2026 is titled David: The Man and the King taught by Professor Stephen Katz. This course is exploring who King David was and his complex life through literature throughout not only Judaism but also Islamic and Christian traditions.

Second to last in our 300-level courses is Exploring Jewish Identity Today taught by Professor Jeremiah Lockwood. Students taking this course will explore the diversity of modern American Jewish life and examine Jewish culture through media and other lenses to connect history with modern cultural practices in Judaism today.

A new 300-level course titled Zionism and the State of Israel is next. This course traces the history of Zionism to the founding of Israel, understanding how these ideas continue to shape Israeli society and politics today.

Our next 300-level class is Comparative Foreign Policy taught by Professor Dina Spechler. In this course, students will focus on comparing Israel to other countries around the world.

Happy Monday everyone! For our first 300-level class we have What is Middle Eastern? taught by Professor Aziza Khazzoom. This course takes a look at what "Middle Eastern" could be considered through a variety of different lenses and case studies.

Last is Introduction to the Hebrew Bible taught by our own Professor Laura Carlson Hasler. This course takes a look at the Hebrew Bible in its entirety, analyzing it from a multitude of different perspectives and interpretations. Students will also discuss who might have written it, and what its impact was on its earliest readers and those ancient Jewish communities.

Next is our Introduction to Jewish History course taught by Professor Jeremiah Lockwood. This course takes a look at early Jewish history, focusing on antiquity all the way to the Spanish expulsion in 1492. Students will analyze texts like the Bible as both living and written tradition, seeing how it relates to the Middle Ages.

Happy Wednesday, everyone! Introducing a new course titled Democracy Under Pressure: Israel's Political Story. This course is designed to examine not only Israel's internal political system but how it interacts with other political systems across the Middle East. What makes democracies resilient, and when do they break down?

Last but certainly not least for today is Professor Michael Weinman's course titled Religion, Politics, and Public Policy. This course will examine the role that religion has played in American public life, including politics and public policy.

Next up is Jewish Culture in Modern Times, a course being taught by our Mervis Chair in the fall. Students will discover how Jewish artists have shaped modern culture and explore the impact of these works on cultural expression in the United States!