Jewish Thought in America
Religion 305a, Fall 2005
Monday, 1:30-4pm
Ken Koltun-Fromm
Gest 201
kkoltunf@haverford.edu
Office hours: Monday 4:00-5:00 pm
Summary
We will focus this seminar on the ways in which Jewish thinkers
conceive of America, becoming American, and establishing Judaism
within an American culture and civilization. Some of the readings
derive from immigrants to America or Canada, and others from those
born in America, but each author is concerned with certain features
of American Jewish identity. To establish America as a home for
Jews, the authors (and/or their readers) must reconstruct a notion
of American culture or American practice in such a way that America
becomes a home to modern Jewish identity. In this seminar we want
to ask: how is America imagined to make room for a vibrant Jewish
presence? What must America be for Judaism to thrive and become a
significant force for American Jews? Do these Jewish thinkers
imagine themselves as Americans, and if so, what kinds of Americans
are they? These and other questions that focus on the relations
between and within religion and society, and in particular American
Jewish identity in that society, will drive our discussions of
American Jewish thought.
Requirements
Class attendance for the seminar is, of course, mandatory and
necessary to insure continuity from week to week. Missing one class
is equivalent to missing an entire week's worth of classes. You
should also come prepared to discuss strenuously the readings for
that week. I will ask one student each week to prepare the class
for the readings for that Monday. This may include asking students
(before the Monday class) to focus on particular sections of the
readings, or to provide a close reading of a portion of the text.
The student will take the first 10-15 minutes of each class
introducing the particular issues to be worked out for the rest of
that day, and the student should be prepared to engage the group
throughout the class. The introductory remarks should not be a
general review of the reading, but a focused analysis of some text,
topic, or theme that the student would like all of us to explore in
more detail. These remarks may come in the form of questions to
pose for the class, a lengthy critique, or a well-constructed
argument for or against claims made in the text. Please feel free
to be creative in your remarks, and use whatever visual or other
materials to better introduce your material.
I will post on blackboard a five-page written text on the Tuesday
following each Monday class that discusses the texts read for that
class. Each student will read my written work and offer a paragraph
of critical responses to it, and will post those responses on
blackboard for each of us to read by Friday morning of the same
week. We will take the first part of the next Monday class to
discuss issues raised in your responses to my work.
Each student will also produce a typed 20 page, double-spaced final
paper due December 16th at 12 noon. We will devote the last class
of the seminar to discuss your final papers, so you should begin
reflecting and working on your topic before finals period. The
final paper could be a research paper, but it need not be. I
suggest scheduling an appointment with me so we can discuss your
final project. If you require an extension for your final paper,
you must speak to your dean first before asking me for an
extension. In most cases, a complaint of too much work is not
sufficient to grant an extension.
Students who think they may need accommodations in this course
because of the impact of a disability are encouraged to meet with
me privately early in the semester. Students should also contact
Rick Webb, Coordinator, Office of Disabilities Services
(rwebb@haverford.edu, 610-896-1290) to verify their eligibility for
reasonable accommodations as soon as possible. Early contact will
help to avoid unnecessary inconvenience and delays.
Grading will be based on class participation, your class
presentations, and your final paper.
Texts to Purchase:
Soloveitchik, Halakhic Man
Soloveitchik, Lonely Man of Faith (buy used: check AddAll Used
Books or Amazon)
Adler, Engendering Judaism
Heschel, The Sabbath
Fackenheim, God’s Presence in History (buy used: check AddAll
Used Books or Amazon)
Kaplan, Judaism as a Civilization (buy used: check AddAll Used
Books or Amazon)
Borowitz, Renewing the Covenant (buy used: check AddAll Used Books
or Amazon)
Liebman, Peace of Mind
Aug. 29
Introduction; Readings from Michaels, Our America
Sept. 5
Orsi, “Gods of the City,” 1-78; Susman, "The City in
American Culture," 237-251 (in Culture as History)
Sept. 12
Soloveitchik, Halakhic Man
Sept. 19
Seeskin, Jewish Philosophy in a Secular Age
Sept. 26
Adler, Engendering Judaism, xiv-103
Oct. 3
Adler, Engendering Judaism, 105-212
Oct. 10
Fall Break
Oct. 17
Heschel, The Sabbath; Bill Brown, “The Tyranny of
Things,” 442-469
Oct. 24
Fackenheim, God’s Presence in History: Braiterman, (God)
after Auschwitz, 134-160
Oct. 31
Kaplan, Judaism as a Civilization, 3-46, 80-87, 173-224; Heinze,
Adapting to Abundance, 1-48
Nov. 7
Kaplan, Judaism as a Civilization, 303-405; Koltun-Fromm,
"Performing the Material Self"
Nov. 14
Borowitz, Renewing the Covenant, 1-152
Nov. 21
Borowitz, Renewing the Covenant, 155-299, Ochs, Reviewing the
Covenant, 60-87, 145-168
Nov. 28
Liebman, Peace of Mind; Heinze, Jews and the American Soul,
195-216
Dec. 5
Student Presentations
Final Paper: Due Friday, Dec. 16 at 12pm