Courses - Spring 2027
ISRL
Israel Studies
ISRL187
God, Land, Power, and the People: Moral Issues in the Jewish Historical Experience
Cross-listed with: HIST187, JWST187.
Credit only granted for: HIST187, JWST187 or ISRL187.
Examines the complicated relationship between theology, nationalism, sovereignty, and the ethical exercise of social control using case studies drawn from the Jewish historical experience. The universal and age-old issues implicit in the exercise of power have gained special moral force for Jews with the creation of the State of Israel, a Jewish and a democratic state with substantial non-Jewish minorities and hundreds of thousands of non-citizen subjects. Can these be reconciled? Jewish efforts over the ages and in recent times to define justice provide concrete examples through which to examine and discuss crucial abstract principles.
ISRL249O
Selected Topics in Israel Studies; Rational Irrationality: What Behavioral Economics can teach us about Behavior and Beliefs
Credits:
3
Grad Meth:
Reg, P-F, Aud
Cross-listed with ECON298B and PHPE308U. Credit only granted for ISRL249O, ECON298B, or PHPE308U.
Between geopolitical strife and growing social divides, understanding what drives people's beliefs and behavior is more imperative than ever. In this interdisciplinary course, we will discuss and explore what Behavioral Economics can teach us about the psychological forces that shape and distort our thoughts, feelings, and behavior. We will learn about the psychological biases and illusions behind stories people tell about the world we live in, as well as how our environment unconsciously influences and guides our behavior. The course will also address the cultural and intellectual roots of Behavioral Economics. We will explore how cultural differences affect society, policy, and business. We will see how the ideas apply to narratives of modern Israel as well as the means of influencing behavior and thinking.
Between geopolitical strife and growing social divides, understanding what drives people's beliefs and behavior is more imperative than ever. In this interdisciplinary course, we will discuss and explore what Behavioral Economics can teach us about the psychological forces that shape and distort our thoughts, feelings, and behavior. We will learn about the psychological biases and illusions behind stories people tell about the world we live in, as well as how our environment unconsciously influences and guides our behavior. The course will also address the cultural and intellectual roots of Behavioral Economics. We will explore how cultural differences affect society, policy, and business. We will see how the ideas apply to narratives of modern Israel as well as the means of influencing behavior and thinking.
ISRL249P
Selected Topics in Israel Studies; Sport in Israel: Culture, Identity and Competition.
Credits:
3
Grad Meth:
Reg, P-F, Aud
Examination of Israeli sports and athletes as expressions of cultural values, social dynamics and national identity. Conducted in Hebrew.
Cross-listed with HEBR249A. Credit granted only for ISRL249P or HEBR249A.
Cross-listed with HEBR249A. Credit granted only for ISRL249P or HEBR249A.
ISRL282
Introduction to Israeli Cinema
An overview of Israeli cinema, with attention to the distinctive themes, politics, and problems that distinguish Israeli film-making. Taught in English.
ISRL329D
Special Topics in Israel Studies; Religion in Israel: Judaism and Beyond
Credits:
3
Grad Meth:
Reg, P-F, Aud
Cross-listed with JWST319Q and RELS319Q. Credit only granted for ISRL329D, JWST319Q, or RELS319Q.
This multidisciplinary course examines religion in Israel from historical, legal, sociological, and political perspectives. It focuses on Judaism as the country's dominant religion and culture, exploring its relationship to ethnicity, Israel's diverse religious landscape, and religion's role in contemporary Middle Eastern affairs. The course also considers Israel's Christian, Muslim, and Baha'i communities, including their shared spaces and interactions.
This multidisciplinary course examines religion in Israel from historical, legal, sociological, and political perspectives. It focuses on Judaism as the country's dominant religion and culture, exploring its relationship to ethnicity, Israel's diverse religious landscape, and religion's role in contemporary Middle Eastern affairs. The course also considers Israel's Christian, Muslim, and Baha'i communities, including their shared spaces and interactions.
ISRL329Y
Special Topics in Israel Studies; Israel in Regional, International, and U.S. Media and Social Media
Credits:
3
Grad Meth:
Reg, P-F, Aud
Cross-listed with JOUR459Y. Credit only granted for ISRL329Y or JOUR459Y.
This course offers a comprehensive exploration of the multifaceted relationship between Israel and the media landscape in the regional, international, and U.S. media landscapes, providing students with the tools to critically analyze and understand the complex narratives on Israel, Arab-Israeli, Israeli-Palestinian affairs and the dynamics at play. Students will delve into the historical, cultural, and political context that shapes the portrayal of Israel in traditional media outlets, as well as the transformative power of social media platforms.
This course offers a comprehensive exploration of the multifaceted relationship between Israel and the media landscape in the regional, international, and U.S. media landscapes, providing students with the tools to critically analyze and understand the complex narratives on Israel, Arab-Israeli, Israeli-Palestinian affairs and the dynamics at play. Students will delve into the historical, cultural, and political context that shapes the portrayal of Israel in traditional media outlets, as well as the transformative power of social media platforms.
ISRL342
History of Modern Israel
Cross-listed with HIST376.
Credit only granted for: HIST376 or ISRL342.
History of modern Israel since the beginning of the Zionist settlement in 1882. Attention to different interpretations and narratives of Israel's history, including the historical and ideological roots of Zionism, the establishment of the State of Israel, ideological forces, wars, and the triumphs and crises of democracy.
Cross-listed with HIST376. Credit only granted for ISRL342 or HIST376.
ISRL349N
Investigating Topics in Israel Studies; The Arabs in Israel: Palestinian Arab Citizens of Israel
Credits:
3
Grad Meth:
Reg, P-F, Aud
Cross-listed with GVPT368J. Credit only granted for ISRL349N or GVPT368J.
This course examines the political, social, and economic experience of the Arab minority in Israel from the establishment of the State up until recent years. It addresses the relationship between the State and the Arab community and the distinctive internal dynamics of Arab society as well as the relationship between the Arab minority in Israel and the Palestinians, and the Arab world.
This course examines the political, social, and economic experience of the Arab minority in Israel from the establishment of the State up until recent years. It addresses the relationship between the State and the Arab community and the distinctive internal dynamics of Arab society as well as the relationship between the Arab minority in Israel and the Palestinians, and the Arab world.
ISRL349W
Investigating Topics in Israel Studies; Israeli Slang
Credits:
3
Grad Meth:
Reg, P-F, Aud
Cross-listed with HEBR398W and JWST319W. Credit only granted for HEBR398W, ISRL349W, or JWST319W.
Examination of the history, linguistics, politics and sociology of Modern Israeli Hebrew slang, including influences from popular American culture, technology, the military, Arabic and immigrant group languages. Taught in English; course materials in Hebrew with translation.
Examination of the history, linguistics, politics and sociology of Modern Israeli Hebrew slang, including influences from popular American culture, technology, the military, Arabic and immigrant group languages. Taught in English; course materials in Hebrew with translation.
ISRL372
Jewry of Muscle: Zionism and Jewish Masculinity
Cross-listed with: JWST372.
Credit only granted for: JWST319K, ISRL329K, JWST372 or ISRL372.
Formerly: JWST319K or ISRL329K.
Part of the Zionist cultural project involved creating a new Jewish masculinity that would replace the diasporic "sissy Jew" with a strong, healthy new "Jewry of Muscle." Using literary and cinematic sources, we will analyze how these Zionist and Israeli cultural productions served to build (and sometimes undermine) this new model of Jewish masculinity.
Cross-listed with JWST372. Credit only granted for JWST372 or ISRL372.
ISRL380
Israel: Politics and Society
Credits:
3
Grad Meth:
Reg, P-F, Aud
Credit only granted for: ISRL329C, ISRL380, or GVPT368D.
Formerly: ISRL329C .
Addresses the main issues in Israeli politics and society by focusing on the role of Zionism in the Jewish state, the institutional foundations of Israeli democracy, the main political parties and blocs and their different ideological principles and visions, as well as the main social groups, movements, and institutions that comprise Israeli civil society.
ISRL383
Political Psychology, Israel, and the Middle East
Credits:
3
Grad Meth:
Reg, P-F, Aud
Credit only granted for: ISRL329Q, ISRL383 or GVPT368P.
Formerly: ISRL329Q.
What is the role of perceptions and misperceptions in international politics? How do emotions impact policy-making processes? Does social psychology matter when analyzing domestic politics or foreign policy? Political psychology is an interdisciplinary academic field dedicated to the analysis of the nexus between psychological and political processes. This course will identify and employ multiple pertinent political psychology theories to account for Israeli domestic politics and foreign policy as well as other major political events throughout the Middle East including nuclear proliferation, terrorism, and territorial expansionism
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