Melton: Understanding Zionism: The Return to the Jewish Homeland

The story of Zionism is remarkable and without parallel. It is a story of a people exiled from their homeland, a people that despite having suffered from prejudice and oppression for 2,000 years, maintained a strong identity, never losing faith with the dream of an eventual return home. This course examines how these ancient dreams took on new religious, cultural, national, and political dimensions that actualized into the Zionist Enterprise--culminating in the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948. The story continues with questions around the meaning of Zionism today, its relationship with the Jewish people in the Diaspora, and some of the contemporary challenges it faces – most notably, the intense criticism of Zionism and the State of Israel, particularly in the aftermath of October 7, 2023 – inviting a deeper reflection on the values, resilience, and relevance of Zionism in the modern era.

Instructor: Judy Stolovitz