In this course, students will explore various aspects of Jewish history, focusing on Jewish holidays, symbols, and traditions that originated in an agricultural environment. They will then compare these traditions with the contemporary evolution of the Israeli village, as described in Amos Oz’s short story collection Scenes from a Village Life. 

This comparison will enable students to analyze the intersections between historical Jewish agricultural practices and the fate of the modern Israeli agricultural village.

By examining both the traditional agricultural roots and their depiction in
modern literature, students will gain a deeper understanding of how modernity and globalization influence the beliefs and cultural identity of a community.

This course will examine how changes in farming practices reflect wider
societal shifts and how Jewish traditions have evolved in response to the
modern world.