JUDS 4937: Holocaust Responsa

Abstract

¶Course Description: This course will study issues of halakha and hashkafa that emerged both during and after the Holocaust. We will study responsa written during WWII such as Rabbi Ephraim Oshry’s Sh”T Mi’Ma'amakim. We will also study teshuvot that were published after the War that grappled with issues such as agunot and reparations. Additionally, the class will focus on Jewish philosophical writings that were published during the Holocaust and in response to the Holocaust, including the works of Rabbi Kalonymus Kalman Shapira, the Piaseczno Rebbe. ¶Course Goal & Objectives: The goal and objective of this course is to study many important teshuvot that were authored during and after the Holocaust in order to more deeply appreciate the halakhic commitment that was displayed by so many Jews during the Holocaust. We will closely examine each teshuva and hashkafic writing to uncover both the halakhic, hashkafic and historical significance. ¶Requirements: The course will be a combination of lectures, chavrusah work and class discussions. In order to maximize the learning, attendance is mandatory. Attendance will be taken at the beginning of each class. More than three absences will negatively affect your grade. You grade will be based on a midterm, final and class participation.