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