Welcome to SJSU Jewish Studies
The Jewish Studies Program, a minor program within the History Department, welcomes SJSU students and community members into a study of Jewish ethnicity, history, literature, ethics, religion, and culture. The program features classes, both on campus and in the community (see Yiddish).
We work together with the SJSU Jewish Faculty & Staff Association, Hillel of Silicon Valley, and the Jewish Student Association to offer book discussions, public lectures, film screenings, and other cultural programming throughout the year.
Check back here for dates and times of events.
Fall 2024 SJSU courses
Engl 157, Topics in Rhetorical Analysis: Rhetoric of Hate (4 units), Ryan Skinnell, TR 3-4:15 hybrid (see featured class and faculty on these pages)--canceled due to underenrollment
Eng 169 Ethnicity in American Literature (3 units GE S), Allison Johnson, TR 1:30-2:45, in person
Hebr 1a Beginning Hebrew (4 units GE C2), Galia Stein-Rosen MW 1:30-3:10, synchronous
online
Hist 132 Advanced Topics in World History: World War 2 (4 units), Gregory Tomlinson,
TR 12-1:15 in person
Hist 170s Topics in American History: American Identities and Institutions online (3 units GE S + US1), Katherine Chilton, asynchronous online
Hist 181 Advanced Topics in American History: American Labor (4 units), Katherine Chilton, MW 12-1:15 in person
Hist 188 History of Women in the US (3 units GE S), Katherine Chilton, MW 9-10:15 in person
Musc 10c Pop and Rock in the US (3 units GE C1), Thomas Langan, TR 2-3:15 in person and MW 10:30-11:45 synchronous online
Rels 90 Bible History and Literature (3 units GE C2), Todd Perriera, TR 1:30-2:45
in person; Marianne Delaporte, asynchronous online
Rels 99 Death, Dying, and Religions (3 units, GE E ), Todd Perriera, asynchronous online + MW 1:30-2:45, in person
Rels 109 Philosophy of Religion (3 units), Janet Giddings, asynchronous online
Rels 162 Religion and Political Controversy in the US (3 units GE S), Lee Gilmore, asynchronous online
Rels 191 Religion in America, (3 units GE S), Todd Perriera, MW 10:30-11:45 in person
Featured class Hebrew 1a
Interested in learning Hebrew? This CSU fully online class will help you begin your language journey. MW 1:30-3:10, 4 units, GE area C2. Instructor is Galia Stein Rosen, Hebrew language instructor at UCSC for many years. Questions about the course? Contact Ms Stein Rosen at galia.steinrosen@sjsu.edu
Zoom link will be provided upon registration in the course.
Open University participants may begin registration August 21st. Having trouble with the Open University website? Please feel free to contact Vicki Harrison (victoria.harrison@sjsu.edu or 408 504 7355) in the morning of August 21st, and we can walk through the process.
This course is funded by a generous gift from Dan Feldman.
Featured Faculty
Meet Dr. Ryan Skinnell, creator of a new course in rhetorical analysis: The Rhetoric of Hate (ENGL 157). I think you'll be as moved as I am by his responses to some questions I asked him. The class was canceled this semester due to underenrollment. If you're excited by the topic, please let the English department know!
Featured Student
Outstanding Jewish Studies minor students may be selected to receive a scholarship for their studies.
Ira Zweig, first year Philosophy major, has won the fall 2023 scholarship, on the strength of his exploration of his grandfather's Holocaust history. You will find an interview he did with me on the People page.
Will you be the 2024 recipient? The Jewish Studies minor is now accepting new students into the program.
Featured Friend of Jewish Studies
The Jewish Studies program is blessed with friends who offer the coordinator their expertise, wisdom, sense of humor, generosity of time and resources.
One such person is SJSU Kinesiology Professor Emeritus Dr. David Furst, who last Fall launched a five-year gift of scholarships for Jewish Studies minor program students. Please read about Dr. Furst on the People page, and about Ira Zweig, the first recipient of his scholarship.
Why Study Jewish Studies? One response
From a Christian perspective, why study Jewish Studies? Here are some thoughts from Professor Janet Giddings, who teaches Philosophy of Religion:
The importance and benefits of Jewish Studies.
1. Religious literacy
2. Jesus was a Jewish man. If I am to identify as a Christian I must be Jewish first,
understand the roots of Christianity and understand Jesus.
3. The New Testament is mostly Jewish scripture.
4. Jewish studies helps me better understand and respect Qur'an and Christian scriptures.
5. Teaching Christian tradition over 19 years I came to understand how many students
do not know that Jesus was Jewish. Many of those students thought he was Christian!
He wore the tallit and tzitzit and argued with his religion. I argue with mine so
I understand and can relate to his frustration.
For so many, Jewish Studies is part of the path we need to understand ourselves and our beliefs.
Jewish news, issues, questions
Peruse the Jewish News, Issues, Questions page if you're wondering about Jewish news here in the Bay Area, or about musings in Jewish thought. I welcome guest contributors to this page! Please email me with your interest.
The organization Amcha issued a report on the significant threat to students' Jewish identity, in the face of anti-Semitism on college campuses. If you or someone you know is a victim of identity-based aggression or micro-aggression at SJSU, please let's talk to explore your/their options. Email me so we can meet?
Message from the coordinator
Welcome–I’m glad you’ve stopped by. I’m Vicki Harrison, the Jewish Studies Program coordinator. My career path has been that of a wandering Jew–a PhD in English at Rutgers in New Jersey, a professorship in English at UC Santa Barbara, founding member of Kehillah Jewish High School’s faculty, and most recently, chair of Notre Dame High School’s English department. In between and again, I have coordinated Jewish Studies here at San Jose State and served as faculty advisor to the Jewish Students Association. Returning home to this minor program, 50 years old this year but always in start-up mode, I welcome you: Are you a student considering an interdisciplinary, flexible minor that will challenge you as a critical thinker and as a human exploring the diversity of our world? Are you a community member considering the potentials of lifelong learning? Are you a language lover, seeking to learn another (or two) languages (Hebrew and Yiddish)? Please return to the Jewish Studies website often, as I update it whenever I have something new to show you! Email me with any questions/comments.
