Jewish Midd: Histories of Jews and Judaism in Middlebury and Beyond

In this course, we will explore the social and cultural history of Jews and Judaism at Middlebury College and Vermont through two interconnected frameworks. The first framework employs the college's archives to analyze Middlebury as a case study of Jews in American higher education. We will review admission records and faculty minutes to outline institutional policies concerning Jewish students and faculty and explore the representation of Jews and Judaism in the curriculum and campus life. To provide a longitudinal perspective on contemporary issues, we will revisit campus debates concerning Israel/Palestine and antisemitism and examine their impact on inter-communal relations. The second framework centers on local history to study Vermont's Jewish communities, rural Jewish life, and movements such as the back-to-the-land movement, including visits to local archives and historical sites. This course is part of the Special Collections Collaborative Public Humanities Labs Initiative supported by the Axinn Center for the Humanities and Special Collections.