Outline

Overview

Where did the idea of Israel originate How has it been applied in the modern era Explore the origins of modern Jewish nationalism, or Zionism, in the mid-nineteenth century and chart its development to the creation of the State of Israel in 1948. We also discuss the influences on the Zionist movement and relations under the Ottomans and the British.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit	Hebrew, Biblical and Jewish Studies
Credit points	6
Prerequisites ?	12 credit points at 1000 level in Jewish Civilisation Thought and Culture or Modern Hebrew or HBRW2603 or HBRW2631 or HBRW2632
Corequisites ?	None
Prohibitions ?	None
Assumed knowledge ?	None
Available to study abroad and exchange students	Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Michael Abrahams-Sprod, michael.abrahams-sprod@sydney.edu.au

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length
Participation	Class participation Participation	10%	Ongoing Due date: 02 Jun 2023 at 23:00 Closing date: 02 Jun 2023	Ongoing
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Research essay Long answer/essay	50%	Week 11 Due date: 09 May 2023 at 23:00 Closing date: 23 May 2023	2,500 words
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Critical assessment of reading Short answer	20%	Week 13 Due date: 23 May 2023 at 23:00 Closing date: 23 May 2023	1,000 words
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Discussion board activity Short answer	20%	Week 13 Due date: 23 May 2023 at 23:00 Closing date: 23 May 2023	1,000 words
Outcomes assessed:
= hurdle task ?

Assessment summary

Class participation: Tutorial assessment is based on the tutor’s perception of your preparation for and contribution to tutorials. It is not a grade awarded for how often or long you speak; rather, we value contributions which are relevant, clearly expressed and well-informed (that is, show an understanding of the set reading). Obviously, this grade can only be awarded for the tutorials you attend. The purpose of encouraging successful tutorials is to develop your skills in oral communication, one of the most important (and employable) skills you develop here.
Critical assessment of reading: This task is a written response to the set of questions and set readings assigned for each week’s tutorial. You will be asked to choose from one of the weeks offered. For this task you should submit a written response together with footnotes and a bibliography. In this exercise, you should aim to respond to the set questions as closely as possible. This will involve some reading comprehension, and also some interpretation.
Discussion board activity: This exercise aims to promote critical analysis and objectivity, to a very fraught and difficult topic, as evidenced in the articles that are the focus of your attention. You will be marked on your ability to examine, discuss, and analyse the issues at play in a non-partisan manner. You are not required to include a bibliography, nor footnotes, but should you quote directly from the texts, then acknowledge the author(s). All submitted work will be available to all students and your lecturer and in this way is meant to promote a discourse on the set materials.
Research essay: This exercise is designed to develop your ability to conduct independent research, and to critically evaluate texts. It will also give you the opportunity to pursue an area of particular interest to you within the course. The essay will be assessed according to your ability to research and compile a list of relevant sources, and to make use of the secondary reading to build your argument.

Detailed information for each assessment can be found in the Canvas site for this unit.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a High distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a Distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name	Mark range	Description
High distinction	85 - 100
Distinction	75 - 84
Credit	65 - 74
Pass	50 - 64
Fail	0 - 49	When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

You may only use generative AI and automated writing tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator. If you do use these tools, you must acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section. The assessment instructions or unit outline will give guidance of the types of tools that are permitted and how the tools should be used.

Your final submitted work must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of generative AI tools that have been used in the assessment, and any material that forms part of your submission must be appropriately referenced. For guidance on how to acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the AI in Education Canvas site.

The unapproved use of these tools or unacknowledged use will be considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and penalties may apply.

Studiosity is permitted unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission as detailed on the Learning Hub’s Canvas page.

Outside assessment tasks, generative AI tools may be used to support your learning. The AI in Education Canvas site contains a number of productive ways that students are using AI to improve their learning.

Learning support

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

Weekly schedule

WK	Topic	Learning activity
Week 01	1. Jewish existence in exile; 2. The nineteenth century and modernity	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 02	1. What is Zionism? What and where should Zion be?; 2. Jews in the Russian empire	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 02	1. What is the nation?; 2. Understanding Zionism	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 03	1. Theodor Herzl; 2. Autoemancipation	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 03	Political Zionism	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 04	1. Ahad Ha'am; 2. The first settlers	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 04	Cultural Zionism	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 05	1. The unseen question; 2. Migrations, the Diaspora and Zionism	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 05	Arabs and Zionism	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 06	1. Socialism and Zionism; 2. Anti Zionism	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 06	Socialism	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 07	1. Jewish orthodoxy and Zionism; 2. The story of Palestine	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 07	Essay-writing exercise	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 08	1. Arab Nationalism: The Middle East; 2. Arab Nationalism: Palestine	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 08	Competing Nationalisms, competing histories?	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 09	1. Vladimir Jabotinsky; 2. The Kibbutzim	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 09	Revisionist Zionism	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 10	Documentary film: 'The Long Way Home'	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 10	Muscular Judaism	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 11	1. The Shoah; 2. Liberation and after	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 11	1. Zionism and the Shoah; 2. The Shoah and Israel	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 12	1. The establishment of Israel; 2. Zionism: an overview	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 12	Zionism: an overview	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 13	Completion of discussion board activity	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 13	Completion of discussion board activity	Tutorial (1 hr)

Attendance and class requirements

Attendance: students are expected to attend 90% of their classes. If you attend less than 50% of classes, regardless of the reasons, you may be referred to the Examiner’s Board which will decide whether you should pass or fail the unit of study if your attendance falls below this threshold.
Lecture recording: Most lectures (in recording-equipped venues) will be recorded and may be made available to students on the LMS. However, you should not rely on lecture recording to substitute your classroom learning experience.
Preparation: students should commit to spend approximately three hours’ preparation time (reading, studying, homework, essays, etc.) for every hour of scheduled instruction.

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

Please consult the Canvas site for this unit for a complete list of set questions and readings for the unit’s weekly tutorial schedule. All required readings for the weekly tutorials are to be found in the compulsory unit reader, which must be purchased from the university’s Copy Centre ready for the first tutorial in Week 2.

All other readings for this unit can be accessed on the Library eReserve link available in the Canvas site for this unit.

Required unit reader: JCTC2101: The Idea of Israel: A History of Zionism

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

Outcomes
Graduate qualities

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

LO1. demonstrate an understanding of the nature of Zionism in its historical context
LO2. demonstrate an understanding of modern ideologies such as socialism and nationalism
LO3. demonstrate a knowledge of a major aspect of the history of the Jews and Judaism in the modern era
LO4. develop insights into the importance of historical context in assessing current events
LO5. demonstrate an ability to communicate ideas to others in a clear and concise manner, both orally and in written form
LO6. demonstrate an ability to approach intellectual questions in a rigorous and academic manner, employing analytical skills and independent and reflective thinking
LO7. demonstrate an ability to critically assess scholarly material.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1	Depth of disciplinary expertise Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.
GQ2	Critical thinking and problem solving Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.
GQ3	Oral and written communication Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.
GQ4	Information and digital literacy Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.
GQ5	Inventiveness Generating novel ideas and solutions.
GQ6	Cultural competence Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.
GQ7	Interdisciplinary effectiveness Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.
GQ8	Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.
GQ9	Influence Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes	Graduate qualities
Learning outcomes

Responding to student feedback

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

No changes have been made since this unit was last offered

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.

Current students

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

Media

Student links

About us

Connect

Current students

JCTC2101: The Idea of Israel: A History of Zionism

Semester 1, 2023 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

Media

Student links

About us

Connect