In their quest for religious liberty and cultural renewal the Early Americans were conscious of their desire to be an exception to all the pitfalls of medieval, European, religious conflict. The New World might bypass the crusades, prejudices, and dogmatic frictions of the Old.

Through the prism of Jewish settlement and ideological influence, this course will examine the values of the Founding Fathers, the mindset of waves of Jewish immigrants, the Civil War, and the modern yearning for innovative spiritual frontiers in determining the American religious landscape. In our Jewish desire to be considered and consider ourselves in fresh ways, can we reconsider the gentile communities and their dynamics on this promising new land? Or will there be new theocracies, race wars, and more trails of tears?

This five-part class is hybrid, meeting in-person and on Zoom, and concludes with a Shabbat scholar on Friday, December 15.