Jews in Poland, Ukraine, and Russia (348-1-20)
Instructors
Yohanan Petrovsky-Shtern
847/467-3399
Harris Hall - Room 317
Meeting Info
Harris Hall L28: Tues, Thurs 11:00AM - 12:20PM
Overview of class
Who are the European Jews, how and when did they arrive to East Europe, and why did they seek to move to the United States at the turn of the nineteenth century? Why do Americans consider them too traditional and conservative while Russians and Poles view them as too leftist and liberal? Using contextualization and unique primary sources, this course explores how East European Jews managed to build a robust civilization that lasted over a millennium, how they perceived historical upheavals such as wars, revolutions and pogroms, how they interacted with Christians and Muslims, and how the imperial politics in Russia, Poland, and Austria shaped Jewish identities that continue to frame Jewish mentality. This course traces the itinerary of East European Jews from the times of the medieval Kievan Rus to the early twentieth-century revolutionary upheavals taking a close look at Jews in Poland and the Russian Empire, which also include Lithuania and Ukraine. It challenges cultural myths, provides substantial European context and integrates Jewish history within a framework of a broader imperial and national histories.
Learning Objectives
Mastering how to contextualize Ashkenazic Jews against the backdrop of the Russian, Polish, and Ukrainian history; exploring the art of in-depth study of historical documents of different genres, from visual to auditory to verbal; mastering the art of historical thinking and framing historically valid questions.
Evaluation Method
Grades will be based on a final research paper (12 pages plus bibliography; 40 percent of the grade), two 2-page long response papers (30 percent) and active participation in class discussions (30 percent)
Class Notes
Area(s) of concentration: European, Africa/Middle East
All readings will be available at the course NU Blackboard
Class Attributes
Historical Studies Distro Area
SDG Reduced Inequality
SDG Peace & Justice