The Jews of Europe, 1450-Present (42.405/505 Section 1)
M. Hickey Office: OSH 130 Office hours: T-Th, 2:00-3:30; M-W. 4-5, or by appointment
phone: 389-4161 e-mail: mhickey@bloomu.edu
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Course Description Class Participation Brief Historiographic Essay
Document Papers Term Paper Assigned Texts
Weekly Schedule With Links to Study Questions
IMPORTANT! People who did not show up for class on 5 April must be absolutely sure that they do the assignment for our next meeting and that they attend class.
ALSO: Prof. Susan Zuccotti--who has published books on the Holocaust and Jews in France and Italy, as well as a recent book on the Vatican and the Holocaust--will be speaking at BU on April 25. If you attend her 2 pm seminar (on interpreting evidence on the Holocaust) or her 7 pm lecture (on the Vatican and the Holocaust), and you write a 1-2 page summary of her main arguments, I will give you "bonus points." (Total possible bonus points = 5 percent of your participation grade, so this is a way to make up for an absence!) See me for further details.
Link to Bibliography from Oxford University Library at http://www.history.ox.ac.uk/libraryit/faclib/jewish.htm
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Warning re. plagiarism!!!! How to use endnote citation form
Brief Description:
This course is a survey of European Jewish history from 1450 to the present. It presents an overview of Jewish history during the Renaissance, the Reformation and "Counter-Reformation," the Enlightenment, the French Revolution, the "Long Nineteenth Century," World War One, the Russian Revolution, World War Two and the Holocaust, and the Cold War. Our discussions will concentrate on specific topics that link each chronological period. These include the problem of Jews’ legal status; relations between Jews and dominant communities; Jewish participation in national politics; anti-Semitism; Jewish political self-organization and communal organization; Jewish family life and gender relations; and the demographics of Jewish communities. (Please note that we will spend little time on the important topics of Jewish cultural and religious history).
Although I may give short lectures, this is primarily a reading seminar. We will read a number of texts and documents in common, and we will then discuss them in class. You will find study questions linked to this syllabus, which serve as the starting point for our discussions.
Your final grade is based upon a 1,000 point scale:
Your grade will be based upon class participation (20 percent); a brief historiographic essay (20 percent); two brief document analysis papers (10 percent each); and a term paper that functions as our final exam (40 percent).
In grading all papers, my primary concern is the essay's accuracy, clarity, and logic, but I will also take into consideration such "technical" matters as grammar and use of proper citation form.
Class Participation will account for 20 percent of your grade. Complete all assigned readings on time, take notes that answer the study questions (linked), and be prepared to discuss them in class. Ask and answer questions, but also be a good listener. While I am concerned with the quality rather than the quantity of your contributions, I do expect you to join in the discussion as often as possible. Your grade will be based upon attendance (your grade will fall in direct proportion to your absences) and the quality of your contributions.
Brief historiographic essay: (20 percent).
Choose one topic from among the twenty listed below. (Please notice that these topics all cover the period before 1850.) Find and read two books and/or six scholarly journal articles that historians have written on that topic (i.e., you will be looking at secondary sources only). I will give you a bibliography which you can use as your starting point in the search for secondary courses. Your aim is to compare and contrast what at least two different historians have written on the topic. Your paper must be at 4-5 pages long, not counting references. You must use endnotes for all citations, and you must cite all quoted or paraphrased material. I will base your grade primarily on the accuracy, clarity, and logic of your essay, but I will also take into consideration such "technical" matters as grammar and use of proper citation form. Due on Week 9.
Brief Document Analysis Papers:
You will write two document analysis papers (10 percent each). They must be 2-4 pages long, not counting citations. Document Analysis One must be on any document assigned during the first five weeks of class, and is due on Week 5. Document Analysis Two must be on an assigned document dealing with Nazi Jewish policy or the Holocaust, and will be due on Week 13.
The document analysis papers must present a thesis (a main point) based upon detailed, close analysis of a specific document. Be sure that you answer the following questions: Who produced the document, when, and in what context? What is the main point of the document? What does the document tell us about Jewish history or the history of Jewish relations with the dominant community?
I will base your grades primarily on the accuracy, clarity, and logic of your essays, but I will also take into consideration such "technical" matters as grammar and use of proper citation form.
Term Paper: (40 percent)
Your term paper can be either an extended historiographic essay (on a topic other than that chosen for your brief historiographic essay) or a primary source research paper.
It must be at least 10 pages long, not counting citations.
If you choose to do a primary source research paper, then you must obtain my approval for you topic and for a clear research question about that topic by the end of Week 5 of the semester and you must obtain my approval for your sources by the end of week 7 of the semester. I expect that you will use a minimum of five separate volumes of sources (at least three of which must be primary sources). In your paper you will formulate a thesis that answers your research question on the basis of your research.
If you choose to do a historiographic essay, then your must pick a topic and get my approval of this topic by the end of Week 5 of the semester compare. You must obtain my approval of a reading list for this paper that includes a minimum of five separate volumes by the end of week 7 of the semester. In your paper, you will explain the arguments made by each historian you have read, compare and contrast their arguments, and explain the strengths and weaknesses of each argument.
Both paper formats require proper documentation of all references sources using endnote form.
I will base your grade primarily on your essay's accuracy, clarity, logic, and use of evidence. But I will also take into consideration such "technical" matters as grammar and use of proper citation form.
The term paper is due at our scheduled final exam time.
Course Readings:
Jonathan I. Israel, European Jewry in the Age of Mercantilism, 1550-1750, 3rd ed. (London, 1998).
David Vital, A People Apart: The Jews in Europe, 1789-1939 (New York, 2001).
Albert Lindemann, Esau's Tears: Modern Anti-Semitism and the Rise of the Jews (New York, 2001)
Bernard Wasserstein, Vanishing Diaspora: The Jews of Europe since 1945 (Cambridge, MA, 1996).
In addition, I will give you a handout of one of my own essays, on Jewish social history in 1450-2000. Also, you must read the documents linked to this syllabus.
Graduate Students:
Graduate Students will write only one document analysis paper (number 1); instead of document analysis paper 2, they will write a historiographic essay comparing the arguments of Lindemann and Vital (e.g., on the nature of anti-Semitism, on the relationship between liberalism and Jewish civil rights, on their use of sources, etc.--consult with me in choosing the focus of your essay). This paper must be at least 10 pages long (not counting references), and will account for 10 percent of the course grade. I will base your grade primarily on the accuracy, clarity, and logic of your essay, but I will also take into consideration such "technical" matters as grammar and use of proper citation form. It will be due on Week 15.
Weekly Schedule:
Section 1: The Jews of Europe During the Renaissance, Reformation, and "Counter-Reformation
Week I 18 Jan.: Introduction. What are we studying this semester? What is a Jew? Themes in Jewish Historiography.
Readings: M. Hickey, "The Jews and Anti-Semitism" in Peter Stearns, ed., The Encyclopedia of European Social History, 1450 to the Present (Handout)
Week II 25 Jan.: Part A: The Expulsion of the Jews from Western Europe.
Readings: Israel, European Jews, Preface-Chapter 1; and 3 documents:
Synod of Castilian Jews, 1432 (http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/1432synod-castile-jews.html)
The Expulsion from Spain, 1492 CE (a first-hand account) (http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/jewish/1492-jews-spain1.html)
The Expulsion Edict, 1492 (handout from Edwards, The Jews in Western Europe, 1400-1600)
AND
Week II: Part B: Europe’s Jews During the Reformation and "Counter-Reformation"
Readings: Israel, chapter 2; and 4 documents:
A Christian Hebraist: John Reuchlin (handout from Edwards, The Jews of Western Europe)
Martin Luther: Letter to George Spalatin, Wittenberg, January or February, 1514. (http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/1514luther.html)
Martin Luther: The Jews and Their Lies (1543) (http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/luther-jews.html)
The Jew and the Renaissance: Italy, 1571-1600 (handout from Edwards, The Jews of Western Europe)
Section 2: The Jews of Europe During the Enlightenment and the French Revolution
Week III 1 Feb.: Jewish Life in the 17th Century, Part I
Readings: Israel, chapters 3-6; 3 documents:
(The first two documents are from the late 16th century, but illustrate points that Israel makes in chapters 2 and 3)
Giorgio Dati in Antwerp makes elaborate plans for inducing rich Portuguese Jews to settle in Tuscany (1545) (http://www.medici.org/jewish/jdoc8.htm)
Francesco I seeks permission from Philip II of Spain to allow Levantine Jews to transship goods (1576) (http://www.medici.org/jewish/jdoc7.htm)
Cosimo II permits…a Jewish actor…to travel…without an identifying badge (1611) (http://www.medici.org/jewish/jdoc4.htm)
Week IV 8 Feb.: Jewish Life in the 17th Century, Part II
Readings: Israel, chapters 7-9; 2 documents:
Declaration Protecting the Interests of Jews Residing in Holland (1657) (handout, from Mendes-Flohr and Reinharz, The Jew in the Modern World)
Emporer Leopold, Appointment of Samson Wertheimer as Imperial Court Factor (1703) (handout, from Mendes-Flohr and Reinharz, The Jew in the Modern World)
Week V 15 Feb.: The Enlightenment and Europe’s Jews
Document Analysis Paper One DUE
Last week to obtain approval for your term paper topic
Week VI 22 Feb.: The French Revolution and the Question of Jewish Emancipation
The Assembly of Jewish Notables: Answers to Napoleon (http://www.acs.ucalgary.ca/~elsegal/363_Transp/Sanhedrin.html)
Section 3: The Jews of Europe During the "Long Nineteenth Century"
Week VI 1 Mar.: Responses to Emancipation
Anti-Semitic Legends (translated and/or edited D. L. Ashliman), that appeared in early 19th century Germany (http://www.pitt.edu/~dash/antisemitic.html)
LAST WEEK TO OBTAIN APPROVAL OF YOUR TERM PAPER READING LIST
Week VIII 8 Mar: In the Thick of the 19th Century
Readings: Vital, A People Apart, Chapter 3 (pp. 166-248); Lindemann, Esau's Tears, Chapter 2 (pp. 64-96)
Discussion Assignments:
Vital, Chapter 3, part I: Anthony Part II: Monica Part III: Monica Part IV: Eric Part V: Barbara Part VI: Kayla Part VII: Doug Part VIII: Tom Part IX: Carl Part X: William
EVERYONE must be ready to discuss the Lindemann pages.
Every time someone agrees to report or is assigned to report and does not show up (unexcused), they get a failing grade for discussion for that week AND their over-all discussion grade drops by 1/14th.
SPRING BREAK (no class 15 March)
Week IX 22 Mar.: The 1870s-1914 as viewed by David Vital
Readings: Vital, A People Apart, Chapters 4-6 (pp. 279-641)
Brief Historiographic Essay DUE
Week X 29 Mar.: The 1870s-1914 as viewed by Albert Lindemann
Readings: Lindemann, Esau's Tears, Chapters 3-11 (pp. 97-387)
Section 4: The Jews of Europe and the Twentieth Century
Week XI 5 April: The Era of War and Revolution and the Shadow of the Holocaust, as viewed by David Vital
Readings: Vital, A People Apart, Chapters 7-Epilogue (pp. 643-898)
Assignment for week 11
We have 4 chapters in Vital. Each chapter is about 50 pages long.
I am going to assign each of you a chapter. Your job is to TYPE your answers to the study questions for that chapter, and then to type a ONE PAGE summary of the main argument of that chapter.
Your answers and your summary must all be in your own words. Do not quote or paraphrase Vital.
You must make 10 photocopies of your answers and your summary (one for every student in class and one for me).
Chapter assignments:
7. War Roscovich Newman Kennedy
8. Peace Siko Black
9. Captivity Borgia Light
10. Denouement Strobl Carter Michael
All must read Epilogue
Week XII 12 April: No Class (Passover)
Week XIII 19 April: The Era of War and Revolution and the Shadow of the Holocaust, as viewed by Albert Lindemann
Readings: Lindemann, Esau's Tears, Chapters 12-Conclusions (pp.387-545)
Chapter assignments:
Ch. 12 Strobl, Carter, Michael, Light
Ch. 13 Borgia, Black, Kennedy
Ch. 14 Roskovich, Newman, Siko
Everyone must read the Epilogue and Conclusions.
You MUST type your answers to the study questions for "your" chapter, and you must type a one page summary of the chapter's main point. Make 10 photocopies of your answers/summary, so that you can distribute these to other students.
Week XIV 26 April: Nazism, World War Two, and the Holocaust
Readings: We will discuss the following documents (no formal study questions):
Adolf Hitler Speech of April 12, 1921 (http://history.hanover.edu/courses/excerpts/111hit1.html)
Der Giftpilz (The Toadstool) (from Calvin College German Propaganda Archive) (http://www.calvin.edu/academic/cas/gpa/thumb.htm)
Also, each student will pick at least ONE document from one the following collections, which they will then "present" in class:
From the website of the Wiesenthal Center Special Collections, Institute of Documentation in Israel:
The Warsaw Ghetto in English (http://motlc.wiesenthal.org/specialcol/instdoc/d07c01/index.html)
We Shall Never Forget The Final Solution (http://motlc.wiesenthal.org/specialcol/instdoc/d07c11/sol1z3.html)
Long Dark Nazi-Years (http://motlc.wiesenthal.org/specialcol/instdoc/d08c01/index.html)
or from the documents section at
The Holocaust History Project (http://www.holocaust-history.org/)
Document Analysis Paper 2 Due
Week XV 3 May: A Vanishing Diaspora?
Readings: Wasserstein book (no formal study questions, but I will ask each of you to focus on one chapter in particular).
Graduate Student Historiographic Paper DUE
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Term Paper Due at Final Exam