Throughout history, the Jewish people have been subject to being "othered" - conceptually rendered by a given society's majority as falling outside paradigmatic norms. Jews are constructed linguistically and contextualized intellectually as somehow being not of the communities in which they have - and continue to - live, work and pray. This course, a reading and discussion group, examines historical and contemporary texts to look at how this linguistic process takes shape, measures its effects, traces its continued impact on modern-day issues and points of view, and most saliently, catalyzes conversations toward confronting anti-semitism. Featured readings (excerpts) will range from Luther's "On the Jews and Their Lies" (1543); Ford's "The International Jew" (1920); Mamet's "The Wicked Son" (2006); Zizek's "Disparties" (2016); and more. Meets 7-8:30 p.m., Thursdays, Sept. 12, Sept. 19, Oct. 3, Oct. 17 and Oct. 24 at Congregation Emanuel of the Hudson Valley, 243 Albany Ave., Kingston.

Please download the course description and reading list here. Please complete the listed readings prior to the week's class, and come ready to discuss.

Throughout history, the Jewish people have been subject to being "othered" - conceptually rendered by a given society's majority as falling outside paradigmatic norms. Jews are constructed linguistically and contextualized intellectually as somehow being not of the communities in which they have - and continue to - live, work and pray. This course, a reading and discussion group, examines historical and contemporary texts to look at how this linguistic process takes shape, measures its effects, traces its continued impact on modern-day issues and points of view, and most saliently, catalyzes conversations toward confronting anti-semitism. Featured readings (excerpts) will range from Luther's "On the Jews and Their Lies" (1543); Ford's "The International Jew" (1920); Mamet's "The Wicked Son" (2006); Zizek's "Disparties" (2016); and more. Meets 7-8:30 p.m., Thursdays, Sept. 12, Sept. 19, Oct. 3, Oct. 17 and Oct. 24 at Congregation Emanuel of the Hudson Valley, 243 Albany Ave., Kingston.