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ISRAEL STUDIES COURSES

SPRING 2026

ISRL 180A - First-year Arabic II - Gen Ed: WL2
Cross listed: ARAB 102 
Time: Section 01 M/T/W/R 9:45-10:45 a.m. & Section 02 M/T/W/R 11 a.m. -12 p.m.
Instructor: Farida Badr 

This course is the second in a sequence of courses in Modern Standard Arabic (MSA), the language of all official forms of communication and media throughout the Arab world, the register of Arabic taught in countries where Arabic is an official language, the liturgical language of more than two billion Muslims worldwide and millions of Arab Christians, and one of the six official languages of the United Nations. In this course, students will continue to acquire basic skills in the areas of speaking, reading, writing, and listening. They will further develop the ability to speak about themselves, their lives, and their environment; to initiate and sustain conversations on daily-life topics with educated native speakers; to read simple, authentic texts on familiar topics; to write formal notes and sentences on subjects connected to daily life; to comprehend and produce accurately the basic sentence structures of Arabic; and to understand aspects of Arab culture connected to everyday life, including culturally significant idioms used among friends and acquaintances and important expressions for polite interaction with speakers of Arabic. Prerequisite: successful completion of ARAB 101/501 or the equivalent level of proficiency as determined in advance by the Undergraduate Director.

ISRL 205 - Becoming Israeli - Gen Ed: H
Cross listed: JUST 205 / COLI 280F
Time: T/R 11:45 a.m. -1:15 p.m.
Instructor: Lior Libman

At the center of Becoming Israeli stands a protagonist in the process of becoming: a youngster being educated, learning about themselves, about the world, and about life, overcoming obstacles, maturing, forming their identity. In this class, we will explore the thematic and structural characteristics of such narratives, focusing on Israeli examples in their historical and cultural contexts. We will look at tensions between the individual and their society in the moral and psychological development of the protagonist, and will delve into questions of national affinities, class, gender and sexuality in their passage from childhood to adulthood. The course is an Area Course in Literature for the Minor in Israel Studies, a Literature Course for the Major/Minor in Hebrew, and an Area Course in Israel Studies for the Major/Minor in Judaic Studies. First year appropriate.

ISRL 215 - Israeli-Palestinian Conflict - Gen Ed: G, N
Cross listed: JUST 215 / HIST 285B / ARAB 280A
Time: W/F 9:45-11:15 a.m.
Instructor: Shay Rabineau

Israel-Palestine comprises the territory that lies between the Mediterranean Sea (on the west), Lebanon (in the north), the Gulf of Aqaba and the Sinai Peninsula (on the south) and the Jordan River (on the east). Although it covers a small geographic area and includes a relatively small population (compare present-day Israel's 8 million citizens with Egypt's 90 million), the dispute between the two rival sets of nationalisms which claim the sole right to control this territory has remained at the forefront of international attention for more than half a century. This course will examine the origins of the Arab-Israeli dispute from the mid-nineteenth century through the founding of the state of Israel and expulsion/flight of three quarters of a million Palestinians from their homes till the present day. Among the topics to be examined: the social history of Palestine up to Zionist colonization, the origins of Zionism and Palestinian nationalism, varieties of Zionism, Zionism and colonialism, seminal events and their consequent symbolic connotations (the 1936 "Great Revolt," the 1948 "Nakba" [disaster]) and creation of the state of Israel, the construction of a national consensus in Israel, 1967 and its aftermath, the intifada, and the redefinition of the conflict as a result of Oslo, the second intifada, the security fence, HAMAS, Hizbollah and the Lebanon War. First Year appropriate.

ISRL 227 - Israeli Cultures - Gen Ed: N, G
Cross listed: JUST 227 / ARAB 280D / ANTH 280P / HMRT 289X 
Time: T/R 1:30-3 p.m.
Instructor: Talia Katz

This course traces the origins, development, and transformation of the Middle East and North Africa from the rise of Islam in the Arabian Peninsula in the 7th Century CE until the 21st Century. This course will concentrate on the historical evolution of the Middle East and North Africa in terms of political, religious, cultural, economic, social, institutional aspects, and its relationship with other major faith and social traditions throughout the world. While the course is primarily chronological, the following themes will be emphasized: religious traditions and practice; inter-cultural exchanges through trade, diplomacy, migrations, and war; legal traditions; the arts; popular culture; conquest; the impact of European colonization, decolonization, and the rise of nationalism; gender constructions and the status of women; and the relationship between religion and politics. Students are assessed through their class participation, attendance, two-midterm examinations, and a final paper.

ISRL 280A - Second-year Arabic II - Gen Ed: WL3
Cross listed: ARAB 204
Time: MTWR 1:30-2:30 p.m.
Instructor: Farida Badr

ISRL 280A is the fourth in a sequence of courses in Modern Standard Arabic (MSA), the language of all official forms of communication and media throughout the Arab world, the register of Arabic taught in countries where Arabic is an official language, the liturgical language of more than two billion Muslims worldwide and millions of Arab Christians, and one of the six official languages of the United Nations. In this course, students will continue to acquire more vocabulary and learn fundamental morphological and syntactical structures that allow them to express themselves and respond to communication with ease in predictable situations; request and provide information; write and speak comprehensibly at the sentence level; read basic texts through making use of contextual knowledge and familiar vocabulary; and listen to and comprehend simple and straightforward speech—one utterance at a time. As no language exists in a vacuum, learning about Arab culture will constitute an integral component of this course. Prerequisite: successful completion of ARAB 203/503 or the equivalent level of proficiency as determined in advance by the Undergraduate Director.

ISRL 324 - The Kibbutz in Israeli Culture - Gen Ed: H
Cross listed: JUST 385B
Time: T/R 3:15-4:45 p.m.
Instructor: Lior Libman

The course focuses on representations of the kibbutz, a unique Israeli social formation which aimed at combining Zionism and Socialism, nation-building and the construction of a new, just society. Throughout the past hundred years, the kibbutz has been portrayed in countless literary texts and visual images. In this class, we will analyze and discuss selected literary and cinematic works from different genres and periods to examine the history of the kibbutz-image and the relationship between it and the kibbutz’s history, while also asking, in a broader context, how social and political visions are shaped in, and are shaping, images. Texts will be read in translation. No previous knowledge is required, but for students who took Intro to Israeli Lit. This course will be a continuation of their studies. The course is an Area Course in Literature for the Minor in Israel Studies, a Literature Course for the Major/Minor in Hebrew, and an Area Course in Israel Studies for the Major/Minor in Judaic Studies.

ISRL 380B - Translation, Media & Politics - Gen Ed: H, O, T, W
Cross listed: ARAB 380B / TRIP 380E / GMAP 381C 
Time: M/F 11:45 a.m. -1:15 p.m.
Instructor: Ahmad Ayyad 

This course explores the complex intersections of translation, media, and political discourse in the Middle East. Students will examine how translation practices shape and are shaped by ideological struggles, contested narratives, and power dynamics across languages. Drawing on interdisciplinary frameworks from translation studies, media studies, and political discourse analysis, the course investigates how translation mediates ideologies, constructs narratives, and challenges power structures within a region historically shaped by linguistic tensions and geopolitical conflict. Through critical readings, media analysis, and case studies, students will develop a deeper understanding of translation as a politically charged act—one that not only reflects but also constructs power relations and political meaning in the Middle East.

ISRL 380C - Law & Life: Israel/Palestine - Gen Ed: N, D, T
Cross listed: JUST 380C / ARAB 380E / HMRT 389X / ANTH 380B / GMAP 381F 
Time: T/R  9:45-11:15 a.m.
Instructor: Talia Katz

This upper-level seminar introduces students to concepts and methods in legal anthropology, focusing on conflict and mass atrocity in Israel/Palestine. As anthropologists in training, we will explore how law both shapes and is shaped by the societies and cultures in which it exists. Topics of study to include: the foundational place of Holocaust trials (e.g. Eichmann, Kastner) in crafting Israeli collective memory, the later shift from criminal to civil law in the adjudication of Nazi genocide, the creation of the Israeli military court system post-1967, the Oslo Peace Process, how international legal institutions as the ICC and ICJ shape local political discourses, and the tensions between the laws of military occupation and armed conflict.  We will ask questions such as: what kinds of compromises do witnesses make when they testify to the ‘unspeakable?’ What narratives are produced through the process of building a legal case, and how do these narratives reflect broader political or cultural discourses? How do different groups understand the failures of law, and what kinds of new institutions or practices do they create in response?

FALL 2025

ISRL 120 - Intro to Israeli Literature – Gen Ed: G, H
Cross listed: JUST 120 / COLI 180P
Time: M/W/F 11 a.m -12 p.m.
Instructor: Lior Libman

This survey course introduces students to texts (poems, short stories, novels) and themes (nation-building, conflict, gender constructions, ethnic and religious tensions) in Israeli literature from 1948 to the present. We will place literary works within their historical, cultural and political contexts and examine them to illustrate the main features of the time. Texts will be read in translation. No previous knowledge is required.The course is a Core Course for the Minor in Israel Studies, a Literature Course for the Major/Minor in Hebrew, and an Area Course in Israel Studies for the Major/Minor in Judaic Studies.

ISRL 150 – Modern Israel - Gen Ed: N
Cross listed: JUST 150 / HIST 150 / HMRT 289B
Time: T/R 11:45 a.m. -1:15 p.m.
Instructor: Shay Rabineau

This course presents an overview of the history of Israel from its origins in the Zionist movement to the present. Key topics include: political relations and international diplomacy leading to the establishment of the state in 1948; Israel's wars with its neighbors; conflict with the Palestinians; religion and government; internal divisions between Ashkenazic and Sephardi/Mizrachi Jews; and Israeli cultural life. No previous knowledge is assumed or required. Students who had taken the course under the original number will not receive credit for re-taking the course with the new number.

ISRL 180A - Middle East, 600-Present  – Gen Ed: I,N,T,W,G
Cross listed: JUST 284G / ARAB 180C / HIST 185A
Time: M/W 12:15-1:15 p.m.
Instructor: Kent Schull

This course traces the origins, development, and transformation of the Middle East and North Africa from the rise of Islam in the Arabian Peninsula in the 7th Century CE until the 21st Century. This course will concentrate on the historical evolution of the Middle East and North Africa in terms of political, religious, cultural, economic, social, institutional aspects, and its relationship with other major faith and social traditions throughout the world. While the course is primarily chronological, the following themes will be emphasized: religious traditions and practice; inter-cultural exchanges through trade, diplomacy, migrations, and war; legal traditions; the arts; popular culture; conquest; the impact of European colonization, decolonization, and the rise of nationalism; gender constructions and the status of women; and the relationship between religion and politics. Students are assessed through their class participation, attendance, two-midterm examinations, and a final paper.

ISRL 281A – Israel: Gender Violence Power    2 credit Minicourse, runs 10/14/25 to 12/5/25
Cross listed: JUST 281A
Time: T/R 3:15-4:45 p.m.
Instructor: Talia Katz

What do gender and sexuality have to do with drawing national boundaries? How and why do states regulate reproduction? Is there a relationship between motherhood and peace activism? Using modern Israel as a rich case study, this course equips students with the tools of gender studies and anthropology to critically examine the intersections of everyday life, nationalism, and conflict in the region. We begin by studying the constitutive role of the sexed and gendered body in early Zionist nation-making. We then explore the politics of Israeli pro-natalism, Israeli and Palestinian women’s reproductive decision making, domestic violence law, militarism, and more. No prior background necessary, all are welcome.

ISRL 327 - Israeli PalestinianConf in Lit - Gen Ed: H, O
Cross listed: JUST 380C / COLI 380C / HMRT 389A
Time: W 2:45-5:45 p.m.
Instructor: Lior Libman

The ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict has been represented in a wide body of Israeli and Palestinian literary works of varied genres. In this course, we will read, analyze and discuss, side by side, poems, short stories and novels by both Israeli and Palestinian writers exploring questions of homeland, exile and return, longing and belonging, Self and Other. We will examine the relationships between historical, political and literary narratives, and the ways in which images and metaphors both reflect and shape national affinities. We will also juxtapose the geo-political conflict with other core issues such as religion, ethnicity, gender and sexuality.

ISRL 380C - Holocaust Literature - Gen Ed: C, H
Cross listed: JUST 341 / COLI 380B / ENG 380O
Time: W 4:30-7:30 p.m.
Instructor: Paul Burch

Students in this course read literature of the Holocaust, the Churban, or the Shoah—including diaries, journals, memoirs, fiction, poetry, and works of popular culture, informed by the belief that literary responses to the Holocaust are, as the poet Paul Celan has written, in themselves "material evidence of that which-occurred." The course includes works by First Generation writers, victims and survivors of the Shoah who bear direct witness to the horror, as well as pieces by Second Generation writers—that is, children and “offspring” of Holocaust survivors who bear witness to the witnesses and to events that they did not live through but that shaped their lives. Prerequisite: Sophomore standing. Cross-listed with English and Comparative Literature. THIS COURSE IS NOT APPROPRIATE FOR FIRST-YEAR STUDENTS.

ISRL 385Z - World War I and the Jews - Gen Ed: G,W
Cross listed: JUST 380A / HIST 381N
Time: W 4:30-7:30 p.m.
Instructor: Allan Arkush

This course will investigate Jewish involvement in World War I, in all of the major belligerent countries, as well as the ways in which the war altered the Jewish world. Topics will include anti-Jewish pogroms on the Eastern Front, the rise in anti-Semitism in the ranks of the German Army, the worldwide lobbying for the Balfour Declaration, and the way in which the war reshaped Eastern European Jewry.

ISRL 386K - Religion & Politics in the ME
Cross listed: PLSC 386H
Time: M/W 3:15-4:45 p.m.
Instructor: Ekrem  Karakoc

This is an International Relations/International Security seminar, dealing with how nuclear politics have shaped the Middle East. We will start by covering the history of nuclear politics and key concepts of nuclearization in international politics – including deterrence, proliferation, restraint – as well as their critiques. We will proceed to apply these theories to the Middle East, looking at the emergence of military and non-military nuclear programs and reactions to them. The course deals with nuclear bombs, energy, and other technology through a consideration of both their material and symbolic dimensions. In addition, we will discuss the idea of a nuclear-weapon-free-zone in the Middle East, including the impediments facing its establishment. The course pays special attention to the Israeli nuclear program and Israeli nuclear policies in the Middle East and beyond.

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