Public Education Classes

The ALEPH Institute for Jewish Culture public education classes are designed to meet the needs of busy community members and high school students wanting to engage in a university course as well as DU students who are interested in additional study. The not-for-credit courses grew out of overwhelming demand to audit the Center for Judaic Studies academic courses. As part of the University of Denver’s commitment to the public good, the Center for Judaic Studies designed classes that are of the highest level of Jewish Studies and available to students of all ages.

We are excited to be offering ALEPH classes through University of Denver’s University College program. We are also excited to be able to offer Yiddish with a “for credit option” for students interested in earning college credit. Registration begins July 22, 2008.
Please call 303.871.2291 for more information or click here for the non-credit Enrichment Classes.

DU Students can also earn credit for ALEPH courses. Please contact Sarah Pessin at spessin@du.edu.

Seriously Funny: Philosophical and Theological Thoughts on Jewish Humor
Sarah Pessin
Three sessions, $120/CRN 1095
Mondays, 7-9 pm, September 15 & 22, 2008
David Rakoff lecture and discussion, Wednesday, September 24, 2008 at 7 pm

Whether it’s Woody Allen, Jerry Seinfeld or Jon Stewart, it’s clear that Jews have made a contribution to the world of humor. Using this cultural fact as a springboard, explore the deeper question of whether there is some kind of special link between Judaism and humor. For example, is there a distinctively Jewish kind of humor? Furthermore, is there something about Judaism that encourages humor? This course serves as a primer for the Center for Judaic Studies’ year-long emphasis on humor, entitled Seriously Funny: Humor and Jewish Culture. Join Sarah Pessin, associate professor of Philosophy and director of CJS, to examine a number of philosophical and theological themes. On the one hand, explore the darker relationships between suffering, anti-Semitism, self-hatred, stereotypes and humor. On the other hand, uncover the uplifting and positive implications of humor within a Jewish religious context, looking to both Biblical and Talmudic tales of laughter for insights into the deep religious link between Judaism and humor. For a seriously funny finale, attend An Evening with David Rakoff – a public reading and lively interview with the humorist, writer and well known contributor to NPR’s This American Life program.

Sarah Pessin is the director of the Center for Judaic Studies, the Emil and Eva Hecht Chair in Judaic Studies and associate professor in the Department of Philosophy at the University of Denver.

Yiddish 1
David Shneer
Ten sessions, Credit option available: 2 credit hours $576
Non-credit option: $272
Wednesdays, 6-7:30 pm, beginning September 10, 2008

At one time the international language of Ashkenazic Jews (Jews of Central and Eastern Europe), Yiddish is considered a hybrid of Hebrew and medieval German as it takes about three-quarters of its vocabulary from German, but borrows words liberally from Hebrew and languages from the many lands where Ashkenazic Jews have lived. It has a grammatical structure all its own and is written in an alphabet based on Hebrew characters.

David Shneer is the director of the University of Colorado at Boulder’s Jewish Culture program and associate professor with the Department of History at CU-Boulder.

Israel: The Complicated Story Behind the Headlines
Caryn Aviv
Five sessions, $215/CRN 1086
Mondays, 7-9 pm, October 27, November 3, 10, 17, 24, 2008

Israel is complicated. A contemporary nation-state of people from diverse religious, ethnic, and national identities, it’s also a traditional homeland for Jewish people. It’s marked by contested borders, waves of immigrants, and a cacophony of cultures, ideas, and people. It’s easy to understand why the lines are often blurred when it comes to history and memory, fact and fiction, and a host of contemporary dilemmas. Drawing on selected readings and the compelling medium of film, join Caryn Aviv, Posen Lecturer in Secular Jewish Culture at DU’s Center for Judaic Studies, to sort it all out. View films that examine a broad sweep of historical events and others that illuminate intimate stories of families and individual struggles. Consider how different groups of Israelis frame their experiences and make meaning of their worlds. Through chosen readings, discuss a variety of topics, including: anti-Semitism and the rise of Zionism; nation-state building and the emergence of Palestinian nationalism; the impact of persistent war, conflict and militarization; ethnic diversity and immigration; social and political inequalities; and struggles over religion and state issues. Gain a better understanding of why Israel’s culture is difficult to define, and come to see the deeper and more complex story behind the daily headlines.

Caryn Aviv is the Posen Lecturer in Secular Jewish Culture and resident sociologist at DU’s Center for Judaic Studies. An expert on contemporary Israeli society, culture and politics, Caryn also serves as the academic advisor for the Certificate in Jewish Communal Service offered through DU’s Graduate School of Social Work.