Fall 2015 Courses
Special Topics in Jewish Studies: A Jewish and Democratic State
Prof. Ori Aronson, Bar-Ilan University Faculty of Law
The course will review the central arguments on the meaning, possibility, and legitimacy of a “Jewish and Democratic State,” as Israel is defined in its constitutional documents. We will engage the central debates that have emanated from this constitutional duality, with a focus on their legal incarnations: the design of governing bodies and processes, the status and rights of the Arab minority, the Law of Return and immigration policy, land use and territory, the place of religion in the public sphere, and the future of Israeli constitutional design.
The Emergence of the Modern Jerusalem, 1850-1950
Prof. Yuval Ben Bassat, University of Haifa
To date, the vast majority of research on late Ottoman and Mandatory Palestine tends to focus on the city of Jerusalem. This holy city, which has great religious and symbolic importance to all three monotheistic religions, was the focus of international attention in the 19th century. The course discusses inter-faith relationships in Jerusalem during the late-Ottoman and Mandatory periods as influenced by major political and social developments in the region such as the Ottoman reforms, growing European involvement, the beginning of Zionist activity, WWI, the end of Ottoman rule and the beginning of the British Mandate, the Arab Revolt, World War II, and the establishment of the State of Israel. The course also compares the development of Jerusalem to the situation of other major cities in the Levant at the time, both coastal and inner-land, such as Beirut, Damascus, and Jaffa.
Innovation & Entrepreneurship: The Case of Israel
UGBA 98/198
Nir Maoz, ‘16 and Jackson Block, ‘18, Berkeley Institute Undergraduate Fellows
Faculty of Record: Steve Tadelis, Haas School of Business
This course explores the various sectors of Israeli economy and looks at different innovations that the country produced – everything from high-tech startups to financial programs that are unique to Israel. The course will consist of case studies and guest speakers, including various venture capitalists, innovators, CEO’s, and academics.
Graduate Courses
Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies: Governance Feminism
Prof. Hila Shamir, Tel Aviv University Faculty of Law
Feminists now walk the halls of power. By no means all feminists: some forms of feminism disqualify their proponents from inclusion in the power elite. But you can get a job in the UN, in the World Bank, in the International Criminal Court, in the local prosecutor’s office, and in the child welfare bureaucracy for espousing dominant strands of feminism. This form of feminism – known as Governance Feminism – has been, in some cases, highly successful in changing laws, institutions and practices. What forms of feminism “make sense” to previously entirely male power elites, find their way into legal institutions, and change legal thought and legal operations? Once feminists gain a foothold in governance, what do they do there and which particular legal forms are they most heavily invested in? What are the distributive consequences of the partial inclusion of some feminist projects? Can feminism foster a critique of its own successes? These are among the primary questions we will address in the course. These are among the primary questions we will address in the course. Case studies will include Israel’s sexual harassment legislation, and its successful anti-trafficking campaign.
Spring 2016 Courses
Israeli Feminism
Jewish Studies 120
Prof. Hila Shamir, Israel Institute
Contemporary Israeli feminists face a set of distinct challenges, ranging from the occupation of Palestinian territories, the ethnic hierarchies between Jewish and Palestinian women and Ashkenazi and Mizrahi Jewish women, institutionalized religion that controls marriage and divorce, and the centrality of the male-dominated military service in Israeli society, economy and politics. The course will explore central issues in Israeli feminism, in light of feminist theory, mainly through the lens of law and social movement activism. We will look into the evolution, internal schisms, successes, failures, and compromises of Israeli feminism. The course will also examine the influence of American feminism on Israeli feminists, and the ways Israeli feminists embraced, as well as resisted and transformed American feminist ideas in light of the specific history and challenges of the Israeli context. This course counts towards Gender and Women’s Studies, Jewish Studies, the International Studies breadth requirement, and the Philosophy and Values breadth requirement.
History of Modern Israel: 1882- Present
History 100M
Prof. Yuval Ben Bassat, University of Haifa
This course will offer an interdisciplinary introduction to the history of the modern state of Israel, beginning with the pre-state origins of Jewish nationalism in the late nineteenth century and concluding in the present. The class will consider, among other topics, the history of Zionism, the development of modern Hebrew culture, the Jewish-Arab relationships prior to and after the establishment of Israel, religion and ethnicity in Israel, and historical debates in Israeli politics, law, & constitutionalism. The topics to be discussed are international, political, social, cultural, and legal issues related to the Jewish national movement and to the State of Israel.
Comparative Constitutional Law The Case of Israel
Legal Studies 174
Prof. Ori Aronson, Bar-Ilan University Faculty of Law
The course will provide an introduction to topics in constitutional theory and to the comparative study of constitutional law, using the case of Israeli constitutionalism as an instructive source for engagement and reflection. Issues to be covered include constitutional design, national identity, separation of powers, judicial review, human rights, rule of law and national security, and state and religion. While all of these arise in any contemporary constitutional democracy, the Israeli experience provides unique perspectives and illustrations, which will be explored critically throughout the course.
Holocaust History, Memory, and Representation
Freshman and Sophomore Seminar, Jewish Studies 39N
Prof. Rebecca Golbert, Executive Director of the Berkeley Institute
This course explores Jewish life in Europe before, during, and after the Holocaust and the physical and emotional impact of the Holocaust on Jewish community, memory, and identity and on Jewish relations with non-Jewish neighbors.
Journalism & Judaism
Decal: Jewish Studies 198
Co-Facilitators: Jackson Block and Mallory Foster, Undergraduate Fellows, Berkeley Institute for Jewish Law and Israel Studies
Faculty Sponsor: Rebecca Golbert, UC Berkeley
From Ira Glass to Barbara Walters, Judaism affects journalists’ identity and writing styles. In this course, we will examine how journalism manifests in both Jewish culture and in American society, as well as in the world as a whole. Through a number of case studies and guest speakers, students will learn directly from leaders in the industry. In addition, students will gain technical skills in interviewing, design, editing, and writing to enhance their professional and personal development. For the final project, each student will contribute to the publication of the semester’s Berkeley Jewish Journal.
Innovation & Entrepreneurship: The Case of Israel
Decal: Undergraduate Business 98/198
Co-Facilitators: Josh Woznica, Jackson Block, Rebecca Moll and Emily Shemian; Berkeley Institute for Jewish Law and Israel Studies.
Faculty Sponsor: Steve Tadelis; Associate Professor, Haas School of Business, UC Berkeley
This course explores the various sectors of Israeli economy and looks at different innovations that the country produced — everything from high-tech startups to financial programs that are unique to Israel. The course will consist of case studies and guest speakers including various venture capitalists, innovators, CEO’s, and academics.
gain a foothold in governance, what do they do there and which particular legal forms are they most heavily invested in? What are the distributive consequences of the partial inclusion of some feminist projects? Can feminism foster a critique of its own successes? These are among the primary questions we will address in the course. These are among the primary questions we will address in the course. Case studies will include Israel’s sexual harassment legislation, and its successful anti-trafficking campaign.
Spring 2016
Israeli Feminism
Jewish Studies 120
Prof. Hila Shamir, Tel Aviv University Faculty of Law
Contemporary Israeli feminists face a set of distinct challenges, ranging from the occupation of Palestinian territories, the ethnic hierarchies between Jewish and Palestinian women and Ashkenazi and Mizrahi Jewish women, institutionalized religion that controls marriage and divorce, and the centrality of the male-dominated military service in Israeli society, economy and politics. The course will explore central issues in Israeli feminism, in light of feminist theory, mainly through the lens of law and social movement activism. We will look into the evolution, internal schisms, successes, failures, and compromises of Israeli feminism. The course will also examine the influence of American feminism on Israeli feminists, and the ways Israeli feminists embraced, as well as resisted and transformed American feminist ideas in light of the specific history and challenges of the Israeli context. This course counts towards Gender and Women’s Studies, Jewish Studies, the International Studies breadth requirement, and the Philosophy and Values breadth requirement.
History of Modern Israel: 1882- Present
History 100M
Prof. Yuval Ben Bassat, University of Haifa
This course will offer an interdisciplinary introduction to the history of the modern state of Israel, beginning with the pre-state origins of Jewish nationalism in the late nineteenth century and concluding in the present. The class will consider, among other topics, the history of Zionism, the development of modern Hebrew culture, the Jewish-Arab relationships prior to and after the establishment of Israel, religion and ethnicity in Israel, and historical debates in Israeli politics, law, & constitutionalism. The topics to be discussed are international, political, social, cultural, and legal issues related to the Jewish national movement and to the State of Israel.
Comparative Constitutional Law The Case of Israel
Legal Studies 174
Prof. Ori Aronson, Bar-Ilan University Faculty of Law
The course will provide an introduction to topics in constitutional theory and to the comparative study of constitutional law, using the case of Israeli constitutionalism as an instructive source for engagement and reflection. Issues to be covered include constitutional design, national identity, separation of powers, judicial review, human rights, rule of law and national security, and state and religion. While all of these arise in any contemporary constitutional democracy, the Israeli experience provides unique perspectives and illustrations, which will be explored critically throughout the course.
Holocaust History, Memory, and Representation
Freshman and Sophomore Seminar, Jewish Studies 39N
Prof. Rebecca Golbert, Executive Director of the Berkeley Institute
This course explores Jewish life in Europe before, during, and after the Holocaust and the physical and emotional impact of the Holocaust on Jewish community, memory, and identity and on Jewish relations with non-Jewish neighbors.
Journalism & Judaism
DeCal: Jewish Studies 198
Co-Facilitators: Jackson Block and Mallory Foster; Undergraduate Fellows, Berkeley Institute for Jewish Law and Israel Studies
Faculty Sponsor: Rebecca Golbert, UC Berkeley
From Ira Glass to Barbara Walters, Judaism affects journalists’ identity and writing styles. In this course, we will examine how journalism manifests in both Jewish culture and in American society, as well as in the world as a whole. Through a number of case studies and guest speakers, students will learn directly from leaders in the industry. In addition, students will gain technical skills in interviewing, design, editing, and writing to enhance their professional and personal development. For the final project, each student will contribute to the publication of the semester’s Berkeley Jewish Journal.
Innovation & Entrepreneurship: The Case of Israel
DeCal: Undergraduate Business 98/198
Co-Facilitators: Josh Woznica, Jackson Block, Rebecca Moll and Emily Shemian; Berkeley Institute for Jewish Law and Israel Studies.
Faculty Sponsor: Steve Tadelis; Associate Professor, Haas School of Business, UC Berkeley
This course explores the various sectors of Israeli economy and looks at different innovations that the country produced — everything from high-tech startups to financial programs that are unique to Israel. The course will consist of case studies and guest speakers including various venture capitalists, innovators, CEO’s, and academics.
Summer 2016
Political Ecology of Israel and the Middle East
Geography
Professor Miri Lavi Neeman