2008 Woodie Awards
New Course Tackles Modern Orthodoxy
Yehoshua Dawidowicz
Issue date: 12/6/04 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
During the upcoming semester, Spring 2005, Dr. Alan Brill, professor of Judaic studies, will be offering an honors course on the history and ideology of Modern Orthodoxy. The course will focus on the differences and histories of the many types of Modern Orthodoxy, such as the relationship between German and American orthodoxy, the new Religious Zionists, and will include discussions as to where Yeshiva falls into the mix.
Dr. Brill recently delivered a series of lectures on this topic, and now, due to a popular interest in the topic, has been asked to teach it as a course in Yeshiva College. The administration assumes the course will generate wide interest outside of Yeshiva, and therefore has arranged for the course to be simulcast over the internet.
Though the course syllabus and readings are still being compiled by Dr. Brill, he did comment on the overall nature of the course. "Instead of simply applying the terms 'right' or 'left' to different parts of the Orthodox spectrum, specific labels and differences will be applied and explained to various institutions," said Dr. Brill.
A number of students have expressed an interest in the course, which has never before been offered in Yeshiva University. However, others have expressed a sense of irony that Dr. Brill, recently involved in a dispute with the administration over his denial of tenure against the wishes of both the students and faculty, and whose future is still precarious will be giving what has the aura of a flagship course for the university. "It seems ironic that Dr. Brill is giving such a high profile course for Yeshiva University when his future here has recently been in question," said an anonymous freshman thinking of taking the course next semester.
Students interested in the course are required to have taken a course in Jewish intellectual history, preferably modern. Others may request permission from the instructor. The course is slated for 3:00 to 4:15 on Mondays and Wednesdays this Spring.
Dr. Brill recently delivered a series of lectures on this topic, and now, due to a popular interest in the topic, has been asked to teach it as a course in Yeshiva College. The administration assumes the course will generate wide interest outside of Yeshiva, and therefore has arranged for the course to be simulcast over the internet.
Though the course syllabus and readings are still being compiled by Dr. Brill, he did comment on the overall nature of the course. "Instead of simply applying the terms 'right' or 'left' to different parts of the Orthodox spectrum, specific labels and differences will be applied and explained to various institutions," said Dr. Brill.
A number of students have expressed an interest in the course, which has never before been offered in Yeshiva University. However, others have expressed a sense of irony that Dr. Brill, recently involved in a dispute with the administration over his denial of tenure against the wishes of both the students and faculty, and whose future is still precarious will be giving what has the aura of a flagship course for the university. "It seems ironic that Dr. Brill is giving such a high profile course for Yeshiva University when his future here has recently been in question," said an anonymous freshman thinking of taking the course next semester.
Students interested in the course are required to have taken a course in Jewish intellectual history, preferably modern. Others may request permission from the instructor. The course is slated for 3:00 to 4:15 on Mondays and Wednesdays this Spring.