HIS 700 Denominations: A Modern Jewish History
This course explores the history of denominational Judaism, tracing how various offshoots began to develop in the modern period. We will examine the histories of Hasidic, modern Orthodox, Conservative, Renewal, and Reconstructing Judaism, with a particular focus on the rise and growth of the Reform movement. We will historicize these movements with attention to the political, social, cultural, and religious forces that shaped their development and will reflect on questions of religious pluralism, Zionism, and post-denominationalism both historically and in our current moment.