REL 464 War and Judaism, from the Bible to Zionism

From the commands to wage war in the Bible to the anti-war movements of the twentieth century, from revolts against Rome to revolts against the British Empire, from debates about the American Civil War to debates about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, members of Jewish communities have had much to say about the morality of war.  This course explores how Jews have thought about the morality of war in various historical contexts, giving particular attention to how traditional Jewish sources have been used in modern discussions about the use of force.

Credits

4 sh

Prerequisite

One course in Religious Studies

Course Types

Middle Eastern Studies Elective, IGS-Middle East Elective, Peace and Conflict Studies Elective, Interreligious Studies Elective

Course Outcomes

1. Students will become familiar with the diversity of Jewish thought regarding the morality of war
2. Students will recognize the ways in which Jewish perspectives on war have been shaped by diverse cultural and political contexts.
3. Students will synthesize course materials and sources to generate insightful observations and reach substantial conclusions about war in the Jewish tradition
4. Students will think deeply about how what we learn in this course can help us be global citizens and informed leaders motivated by concern for the common good.