TRS 397A Israel and the Jewish Diaspora: Religion and Identity
This course will focus on the unique and complex relationship between Jews and Christians and its transformation in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. It will analyze the historical milestones and documents. Special consideration will be given to the challenges of the present day dialogue and Jewish-Christian relations in Israel. The positions of recent Popes on the dialogue with Judaism and relations with Israel will also be discussed. The course will include a discussion of the fundamentals of Judaism: the holidays, the prayer books, dietary laws, and the special bond between the state of Israel and the Jewish People. The relations between the Vatican and Israel will also be discussed. The course will include: guest speakers; an interfaith dialogue between a priest and a rabbi; and visits to a synagogue, the Holocaust Memorial Museum, and the Biblical Museum. The instructor will also share his experiences as a participant in the Jewish-Catholic dialogue in recent years and as the ambassador of Israel to the Vatican from 2012-2016.
Cross Listed Courses
TRS 397A &
TRS 797A
Prerequisite
TRS 201 or TRS 201H or
HSTR 101