Program
- Education Series
- Streaming
Introduction to Judaism Beyond Nationalism Cohort 4
What is a Jew? What is Judaism? And what does Jewish life look like when it's grounded in ethics, history, and practice rather than nationalism?
Whether you're Jewish, Jew-ish, exploring conversion, or simply curious, you're invited into this space.
Introduction to Judaism Beyond Nationalism is a 16-week survey course broken up into two modules, covering Jewish history, belief, practice, lifecycle, philosophy, and culture from the ancient world to the present.
We'll ask hard questions, sit with complexity, and learn together.
Tuesdays, 6:30–8:00 pm Pacific
Module 1 begins April 6, 2026
Course Overview
Introduction to Judaism Beyond Nationalism is a broad-stroke survey of Jewish life, culture, belief and non-belief, and the major ideas that have shaped Jews and Judaism across time. The course offers participants a grounding in the practices, philosophies, and expressions of Jewish life from the ancient world to the present.
The course is divided into two 8-week modules. A third module, focused on personal Jewish development and practice-building, will be offered after the conclusion of Module 2.
Recordings will be provided for anyone who cannot attend live. We encourage regular participation, while recognizing that life happens. The course pairs well with either Judaisms by Aaron Hahn Tapper or Jewish History: A Very Short Introduction by David Meyer.
Course Pricing
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Module One: $300
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Module Two: $300
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Modules One & Two Together: $550
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Scholarships available by application
Module 1: History and Ideas
April 6 – May 25, 2026
This module traces the historical development of Judaism from biblical times to postmodernity, with attention to key philosophical questions, diaspora as a civilizational framework, the advent of Zionism, and Jewish responses to nationalism.
Weekly Topics
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April 6 — Introduction: What is a Jew?
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April 13 — The Jewish Timeline, Pt. I: From Abraham to Maimonides
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April 20 — The Jewish Timeline, Pt. II: From Ramban until Today
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April 27 — Torah: From the Bible to the Talmud and beyond
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May 4 — Jewish Belief
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May 11 — What Is Zionism?
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May 18 — Antisemitism
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May 25 — The Jews in America: Movements & Secularism
Module 2: Practices and Lifecycle
June 1 – July 20, 2026
This module explores Jewish practices, lifecycles, and rituals. Grounded in lived experience rather than nationalist narratives, it introduces the rhythms and symbols that shape Jewish religious and cultural life.
Weekly Topics
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June 1 — Introduction to Shabbat
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June 8 — The Jewish Lifecycle: Birth, Bar/Bat Mitzvah, and Marriage
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June 15 — The Jewish Lifecycle: Divorce, Death, and the Afterlife
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June 22 — Prayer: An Introduction
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June 29 — Fall Festivals: Elul, Slichot, Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur
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July 6 — Sukkot, Passover, and Shavuot: Harvest Festivals
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July 13 — Purim and Chanukah
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July 20 — Jewish Symbols and Ritual Objects: Their Meaning and Use
Related Programming
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Across Generations: Steve Naman and Sam Panken
Join us on Thursday, March 19th at 6:00 PM Eastern for a wide-ranging conversation between two people who have devoted themselves to the American Council for Judaism, one who shaped its modern history, and one who is helping write its next chapter.
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Judaism in Times of Fascism: An Eight Week Course on Theory and Practice
This course will provide students with a unique venue for this inquiry. Students will be introduced to key concepts, theories, and methods that can help us make sense of loaded terms like "Judaism," "fascism," and "antifascism"; to historical readings and case studies that illuminate the lineages of Jewish antifascism -- including anarchist, Bundist, liberal, and Marxist varieties -- as well as the lesser known histories of Jewish fascism; and to recent texts and other media that address the crisis within contemporary Judaism. Finally, the course will feature ample opportunities for open discussion, and will conclude with a consideration of the possibilities for an emancipatory Judaism and a world without fascism.
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- Streaming
Introduction to Judaism Beyond Nationalism Cohort 3
Introduction to Judaism Beyond Nationalism is a broad-stroke survey of Jewish life, culture, belief and non-belief, and the major ideas that have shaped Jews and Judaism across time. The course offers participants a grounding in the practices, philosophies, and expressions of Jewish life from the ancient world to the present.
The course is divided into two 8-week modules. A third module, focused on personal Jewish development and practice-building, will be offered after the conclusion of Module 2.
Recordings will be provided for anyone who cannot attend live. We encourage regular participation, while recognizing that life happens. The course pairs well with either Judaisms by Aaron Hahn Tapper or Jewish History: A Very Short Introduction by David Meyer.
Learn More