Departmental Brochure

Judaism is a fundamental study for all who wish to understand the roots of western civilization. The oldest monotheistic faith, it continues as a vital tradition itself and is the foundation for Christianity and Islam. In addition, the history of the Jewish people is a rich tapestry that extends almost 4,000 years in time and throughout most of the world. The major objective of the program in Judaic Studies, within the Department of Religious Studies, is to provide a variety of courses that will deepen your knowledge and understanding of Jewish faith, history, and culture. It seeks to integrate Judaic studies into the curriculum of the College of Arts and Sciences and to offer programs and special events of interest to the University community and to audiences drawn from the Bridgeport/Fairfield region. The academic minor in Judaic Studies was first offered in spring 1996.

Course of Study

The Interdisciplinary Minor

To complete the minor in Judaic Studies, you will take five courses, normally including at least three within the Department of Religious Studies and at least one outside. Your program is planned in consultation with the program director, and you are expected to gain an understanding of basic Jewish religious beliefs and practices as well as those political, social, and cultural forces that have helped shape the historical experience of the Jewish people. Courses offered by the various departments and programs include:

Religious Studies

• Introduction to Judaism
• Jews and Judaism in America
• History of the Jewish Experience
• Women in Judaism
• Modern Jewish Theology
• Faith After the Holocaust
• Jewish Interpretations of Scripture

English

• Literature of the Holocaust
• Jewish Literature

Art History

• Archeology of the Lands of the Bible
• Art and Mythologies of Nazi Germany, Fascist Italy, and Bolshevik Russia

History

• Modern Germany II
• The Third Reich
• The Holocaust in History and Memory
• The History of Modern Germany
• Religious Outsiders in Early Modern France and Europe
• The Jews of the Middle East and North Africa
• Arab-Israeli Conflict
• Jews and Christians, A Social History
• Immigrations and Ethnicity

Modern Languages

• Hebrew I and II

Faculty

The program is supervised by the director, who also teaches, and includes affiliated faculty who are members of other departments. They are listed here with their teaching and research interests.

Independent Study

Independent study and research internship opportunities are available and you may incorporate them into the minor with the approval of the program director. You are also urged to apply for summer, semester, or yearlong programs in the United States or Israel, especially those offering Hebrew language study.

Resources

The cornerstone of the Judaic Studies program is the Carl and Dorothy Bennett Chair in Judaic Studies, created in 1993 by a gift from the Bennetts of Greenwich, Conn., and their children. The Carl and Dorothy Bennett Center for Judaic Studies houses the offices of the program director and program manager, and a seminar/resource room. The University library's collection in Judaic Studies has been strengthened considerably and is being supplemented through the Irving and Shirley Kroopnick Library Fund for Judaic Studies and a grant from the Lucius N. Littauer Foundation. Special programming, administrative, and outreach components of the program are supported, in part, by The Schnurmacher Foundations.

Profile

Tiffany Ommundsen
Judaic Studies minor

"I've been interested in Judaic history and culture for as long as I can remember. One of the first courses I took at Fairfield University was The History of Modern Germany. From that point, I knew I wanted to pursue the program in Judaic Studies.

The Carl and Dorothy Bennett Center for Judaic Studies at Fairfield University sponsors numerous events each semester, from lectures to a Passover Seder. I've heard at least three Holocaust survivors speak on campus this year. And although the Judaic Studies program has many courses about life in the concentration camps and World War II, there are numerous other offerings. I especially liked Jewish Interpretations of Scripture.

The Judaic Studies Program promotes an awareness and understanding for other cultures, which is a part of the Jesuit identity and mission. Learning about other cultures also promotes tolerance."

For further information, please contact:
Dr. Ellen Umansky, program director
Donnarumma Hall 245
Fairfield University
Fairfield, CT 06824-5195
(203) 254-4000 ext. 2065, 2066
or eumansky@mail.fairfield.edu