Academic Approaches to Teaching Jewish Studies

In this much anticipated follow-up to his Methodology in the Academic Teaching of Judaism (University Press of America, 1987), Zev Garber brings together an outstanding group of scholars and master teachers at the cutting edge of Jewish Studies. As each of these contributors confronts the process of integrating Jewish Studies into college humanities classes, the reader is treated to a wide-ranging and imaginative set of essays that will assist and inspire any educator who wishes to incorporate the concepts and themes of Jewish scholarship into his or her course. The volume is divided into four sections. The first concentrates on theory and methodology while the second examines the various approaches or topics that can be used to teach Jewish Studies. These include the Bible, rabbinical and modern literature, ethics, Zionism, Shoah, feminism, and Hebrew language. The third section is concerned with the proper direction of teaching Jewish Studies to non-Jews and touches upon the sensitive issue of how to educate and not indoctrinate. The last section includes personal perspectives on curricular issues that have a bearing on the integration of Jewish Studies and Western culture. Like the critically acclaimed first publication, this volume provides a thought-provoking and useful introduction to Jewish studies for a new cadre of scholars, students, and clergy.