REL 461 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.