There is no single London. In this ever-shifting, multicultural metropolis every religious and ethnic community shapes its own experience of the city, its own London. This course explores the story of Jewish London and how the experiences of Jewish residents past and present relate to other minorities in the modern city.How have Jews negotiated between pressures to assimilate and the fear of losing a cohesive group identity?
We will examine this dilemma in the religious, political, and cultural spheres, considering controversies over religious reform, fierce debates over Zionism, and the flowering of Jewish poetry and painting.Since the 11th century, the majority of Jews in the UK have lived in Greater London, making the capital an unparalleled destination for the study of contemporary British Jews and their history. We'll walk the streets of East London, inspect inscriptions in cemeteries, and study works of art in museums including the Ben Uri Gallery, Tate Britain, and Whitechapel Gallery.You will gain a valuable understanding of key events in the religious, cultural, and political history of London Jews.
This course will cover the religious and cultural history of Jewish life in London from the late 19th century to the present. In addition to becoming familiar with major issues and events in Jewish life, you will be encouraged to make connections with the experiences of other minorities grappling with parallel dilemmas in London and other major cities. The course is primarily informed by approaches from history, religious studies, and cultural studies. Further connections will be made with fields including political science, art history, and English.
The course will be conducted in seminar format, with an emphasis on close readings of primary texts. The class will make lecturer-led site visits to synagogues, cemeteries, galleries, and museums. Within London, Jews have traditionally lived in North and East London, both of which are a short distance from King's. Moreover, King's is uniquely positioned near many major museums and galleries with collections related to Jewish culture, bringing the history of Jewish London right to your doorsteps.
Period
01-07-2013 - 19-07-2013 (3 weeks)
Target group
This course welcomes students interested in any aspect of the study of modern religious and cultural identity. No background in Jewish studies or British history is required. Majors in religious studies and history will find this course particularly useful but it will also appeal to students studying English, art history, and politics. This is a great opportunity to learn about the wider history of London through a fresh lens.
Course aim
You will gain an understanding of key events in the religious, cultural, and political history of London Jews, including: Religious developments such as the birth of Liberal and Masorti Judaism. The impetus and legacy of the Balfour Declaration for Zionism. The experiences of Jewish refugees to Britain in the 1930s, including the Kindertransport of 10,000 children and intellectuals including Freud, Einstein and Gombrich.
Literary and artistic movements led by London Jews, including the The Whitechapel Boys in the 1930s and the School of London in the 1970s and 1980s.Places of interest that you will visit include:Museums: Ben Uri Gallery/ London Jewish Museum of Art; Jewish Museum London; Tate Britain; Whitechapel GalleryOther sites: New Sephardi Cemetery; Cable Street; Bevis Marks Synagogue; 19 Princelet Street
Credits
7.5 ECTS credits
Many of our students get credit for the summer courses taken at Kings. You should approach your home university before applying to find out whether they accept our courses for credit. We would recommend a three-week course to be equivalent 4 US credits or 7.5 ECTS, for instance.
Course fee
GBP 1350: tuition fee only
Course leader
Dr Aaron Rosen is the lecturer in Sacred Traditions and the Arts at Kings College London. He taught previously at Yale, Oxford, and Columbia universities, after receiving his PhD from the University of Cambridge. He has written widely for popular and s
King's College London
Address: Strand, London
Postal code: WC2R 2LS
City: London
Country: United Kingdom
Website: http://www.kcl.ac.uk/summerschool
E-mail: summerschool@kcl.ac.uk
Phone: +44 20 7848 1533
Jews in Modern London
label
Diverse
calendar_month
2013-02-11, 00:00
autorenew
2025-09-29, 17:01
history_edu
Maria Dumitru
