Courses

France is seen as both a haven for the Jews, celebrated as the first Western European

nation to grant them equal rights, and as a uniquely dangerous place, infamous for a latent

antisemitism that periodically explodes in violent ways. Today, the country is home to the largest

Jewish population in Europe and the third largest in the world. It has also become internationally

known for its concept of laïcité, a form of secularism perceived as hostile toward the public

expression of religion. These seeming contradictions spark questions about the experience of

Jews in France that are the central subject of this course. After a brief historical survey of key

moments in the history of French Jewry, we will explore questions of French and Jewish

identities. Questions under consideration include: what does it mean to be French and Jewish at

the same time? How do Jews relate to dominant French culture and to other minorities? How

does France’s dual status as a republic and an empire complicate these questions? What is

particular about the Jewish experience in France compared to other Western European and North

American countries with significant Jewish populations? We will approach these questions from

a variety of disciplinary perspectives, including history, philosophy, sociology, literature and

film. Our discussions will draw on the rich tradition of French literary and philosophical works

about Jewish identity as well as recent texts and films. The majority of readings will be in

French, but discussion and assignments will be in English in order to make the course accessible

to more students.