Led by Professor Claire Sufrin

Remembering is a central aspect of Judaism. God commands the ancient Israelites to remember, zakhor, in the Torah text and each year on Passover we reenact the exodus from Egypt, "as though we ourselves were there." Engaging with the Jewish past can provide a sense of connection to earlier generations and provide meaning in the present. Other times, the Jewish past can feel like a burden stifling present-day creativity and the potential for developing new ways of what it means to be Jewish.

In these classes, Dr. Claire Sufrin will present recent novels that explore the relationship between the tragedies and triumphs of Jewish history and what it means to be a Jew today, including Eternal Life (Dara Horn), Great House (Nicole Krauss), The Ruined House (Ruby Namdar), and The Memory Monster (Yishai Sarid). Students are invited to read the novels if they would like but it is not required.