Family Ties
Übung 09137 – SoSe 2022
Family Ties: Jewish Family Life in Comparative Perspective
Instructor: Dr. Rachel Furst
Family has long been recognized, celebrated, and even romanticized as a foundational element of Jewish life. Yet the basic definition of family, not to mention its significance vis a vis individuals and communities, its intersection with public and private spheres, and its function as a social and economic unit has shifted dramatically over the course of Jewish history, differing from era to era and from place to place. This course will examine the making and meaning of family for Jews from Western Europe to the Middle East, and from the early Middle Ages until the rise of modernity. We will focus on close readings of primary texts and on methodological approaches to the topic, interrogating assumptions about family size, religious strictures, gender relations, divorce rates, educational opportunities, economic need, and other forces of social and cultural change.
Time: Di 8:00-10:00 c.t.
Location: Schellingstr. 7, 304
Language of instruction: English