My Space–Your Space: Finding Yourself in Society

This course focuses on three pairs of themes which will help you define your Jewish identity and your place with in the community. The three themes are: 1) Identity and Community  2) Heritage and Exploration, and 3) Ethics and Action. You will develop new skills of analysis by being introduced to a variety of types of methodologies used in the analysis of ideas. We will use examples from many disciplines and viewpoints reflecting both Jewish and non-Jewish cultures. Although we emphasize the building of skills of analysis, we hope to be stimulating you to explore your own identity including your multiple group memberships and your roles in the larger society.

Introduction to Economics

This course is an introduction to the principles of microeconomics and macroeconomics, emphasizing analytical skills in the areas of allocation of resources, the roles of the marketplace, and monetary and fiscal policy, with a specific focus on the Israeli economy.  By using examples from the Israeli economy, you will understand how Israel makes economic policy decisions and how that effects society as a whole. The first part of the course provides the basic concepts, terminology and tools used by economists. The second part of the course addresses microeconomics, or the study of individual choice (personal and organizational) and how that choice is influenced by economic forces. The third part of the course addresses macroeconomics, that is, the study of the economy as a whole including inflation, unemployment, business cycles, and growth. This course will also survey the economic strength of Israeli society as written in the book Start-Up Nation:  The Story of Israel's Economic Miracle by Dan Senor and Saul Singer.

Introduction to Midrash

This course aims to introduce students to the Midrash and understand its place it within the context of Rabbinic Judaism. It will help students to become comfortable with learning Midrash and understand challenging and exciting concepts that shaped the development and meaning of Judaism through the ages. Students will engage in a learning exchange: simple skills (knowledge, comprehension, application) to complex skills (analysis, synthesis, evaluation) and through that experience the joy of learning the literary genre Midrash.

Evolution of Science and Religion

This course is an ambitious experiment in critical thinking across disciplines.  Although the focus of this course will be on the interactions between religion and science, primarily over the last 150 years, we will also be sensitive to cultural currents that influence the relationship between religion and science.  This course will be challenging.  It includes history, history of science, science, philosophy and religion.

Contemporary Politics

To really understand Israel, you have to know what is going on. This course takes as a premise the importance of rational, informed discussion and analysis of current political events for really appreciating the complexities of the State of Israel. All major Israeli news events, domestic and international, are fair game for class discussion during the semester. Students will develop skills of analysis and analytical thinking to explore political events as and when they happen. This is a great course in order to stay attuned with what is going on Israel whilst you are here.

Zionism, Israeli Society, and the Arab-Israeli Conflict

In the first half of this course, we will focus our attention to a study of early Zionist ideologies. In discussing the positions of some of Zionism’s major intellectuals, we will examine their proposed answers to the so-called Jewish Question and investigate how their ideas may have shaped the formation and contemporary contours of the State of Israel. For the second half of the class, we will build upon our understanding of Zionism and investigate some of the major developments and conflicts within Israeli society since the state’s founding, with particular focus on the Arab-Israeli conflict. Throughout, we will pay special attention to situating these issues within both the greater geo-political context of the Middle East and the larger flow of Jewish history.

Judaism as a Faith and Civilization

This course will serve as an introduction to the history and traditions of classical Judaism. This course will examine the continuities and changes in Jewish society, institutions, personalities, concepts and traditions through the ages. We will also focus on the theological and institutional structures of Judaism as they developed through history. Judaism will be portrayed in all of its facets: historical, national, literary, theological and cultural.

Ecology

This is an introductory course in Ecology (the study of interactions between and among organisms and the environment) with a specific emphasis on Israel.  The overall emphasis of the course is on developing a thorough working knowledge of the major concepts of Ecology as a discipline of learning as well as providing a means for examining how human beings affect the planet overall. We will use Israel as our case study and examine the key ecological issues challenging the state of Israel and see how Israel is attempting to meet those challenges. Through these examples we will be able to learn how various changing global conditions influence living organisms and their distribution around the world.  We will then turn our attention to an in-depth look at the interactions that occur within and between populations of organisms (population ecology).  The latter half of the course (approximately) will be devoted to a study of planetary ecosystems and biomes as well as the organisms that characterize each ecosystem.  Part of the course will also be dedicated to exploring the Jewish perspective on ecology.

Introduction to Political Science

An overview of the field of political science. Introduces students to major concepts in political science; how political scientists study politics, including the role of values and beliefs; sub-fields of political science; and writing in political science. The course will cover such topics as: the scientific method, key concepts in political science,  political theory and ideology, comparative politics, political participation, political institutions, international relations, and the new world order.  Also covered will be how these concepts relate to modern day Israel.

The Destruction of European Jewry

This course will be a review of the history of European Jewry and its eventual destruction at the hands of the Nazis. The first part of the course will explore the vibrant Jewish life of Europe for 2,000 years. The second part of the course will focus on the growth of the Nazi Party and the final Solution, which led to the annihilation of that once vibrant community. The third and final part of the class will focus on post war European Jewry and Jewish reactions to the Shoah.

Introduction to Psychology

This class will provide you with an introduction to the field of psychology.  You will be exposed to most of the major areas of psychology including, but not limited to, social, cognitive, developmental, and biological psychology. You will gain an understanding of: 1) how psychologists think, 2) what psychology really is, 3) the basic areas with which psychology deals, and 4) the way psychology is relevant in your own life.

Jewish Medical Ethics

Whose decision is it: the patient, the doctor, or the rabbi?  This introduction to Jewish Medical Ethics will include an overview of the major issues in the field and help students better understand issues such as abortion, organ donation, and euthanasia from a Jewish perspective.  Examining Jewish texts, both ancient and modern, students will be challenged to consider their own stance on each topic as well.

Introduction to Service Learning

This course introduces students to the concept of Service Learning and is a study of community service agencies and how they effect change. Emphasis is placed on the agencies in Israel in which students are volunteering. Students will participate in simulation exercises that deal with the populations with which they are working.  The class content includes listening techniques, conflict resolution, an introduction to the different populations, and an overview of Israeli community service organizations.  Students will also keep a journal of their experiences as volunteers.

Hebrew Language

Students are placed according to their Hebrew language skills and courses are offered on multiple levels.  Grammar, reading, and writing are covered in all classes, with the main focus being placed on conversational Hebrew.

All courses offered on Aardvark Israel are 3 credits.