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The Story of Jews in German-Speaking Europe 500-2012, UCEAP Faculty Led

Summer Study Abroad in
 
Germany, Austria, & the Czech Republic

Led by Professor Glenn Levine

The goal of the course is to explore and develop deep knowledge about the long and fascinating relationship between Jews and Germans in German-speaking lands from the medieval period to the present. Through historical readings, literary texts, essays, memoirs, films, and personal meetings with experts, we will address some of the thorniest questions of German-Jewish culture and history. The course will be conducted with a combination of lecture and seminar format, and of course include numerous fascinating site visits throughout Germany in Frankfurt, Cologne, Hamburg, Berlin, as well as Austria in Vienna and the Czech Republic in Prague. You’ll get to know this exciting and troubling part of European history close up, with Professor Levine as your teacher and personal guide. 

Academic & Cultural Excursions 

Locations You’ll Explore:

  • Germany: Frankfurt, Cologne, Hamburg, Berlin
  • Austria: Vienna
  • Czech Republic: Prague
Excursions will include exploring subterranean excavations of a late Roman/early medieval synagogue and ritual bath in Cologne; touring a Sephardic Jewish cemetery in Hamburg; trips to the phenomenal Jewish Museums in Berlin, Frankfurt, and Prague; a tour of Sigmund Freud's house in Vienna; and a visit to the oldest standing synagogue in Europe in Prague.
 

Language of Instruction

English


Language Study

None
 

Duration

Summer :  
​June 24-July 22, 2012
 

Schedule

Week One:

Arrival, Frankfurt; Cologne, Hamburg – Course Introduction:
Late Roman/Early Medieval to Early-Modern Era (and Sephardic Jews in Germany)
400-1700 C.E.
 
After your arrival at the Frankfurt Airport, we begin the course in that city and then on to Cologne, visiting famous museums as well as archaeological sites (e.g., subterranean excavations in Cologne of a late Roman/early medieval synagogue and ritual bath). We move on to explore early-modern German-Jewish life in Hamburg, with the help of colleagues at the Institute for German-Jewish History. There we will also learn about the Sephardic (Spanish and Portuguese) Jewish history of Hamburg.
 

Week Two:

Berlin – Jewish Emancipation and Assimilation, 1750-1871
 
The second week of the course you will move on to Berlin. In that city we will learn about, and visit and explore several sites related to, the Jewish Enlightenment ("Haskalah") and era of emancipation in the 18th and early 19th centuries.
 

Week Three:

Prague and Vienna – Austria, Zionism, Anti-Semitism, Modernism, Sigmund Freud, Franz Kafka, 1880s-1930s
 
Week three takes the group to Prague and Vienna, two cities that were home to German-speaking Jews for many centuries. We will study some of the complex and troubled history of the Jews of Austria. We’ll learn about the early Zionist movement and the emergence of modern anti-Semitism, and study the ideas and contributions of key Austrian-Jewish figures, such as Sigmund Freud, Joseph Roth, Theodor Herzl, and Franz Kafka. Prague is home to the oldest standing synagogue in Europe (9th century) as well as several other important sites, such as the Old Jewish Cemetery. In addition, we’ll read and study some of the writings of Franz Kafka in his home town, and visit the Kafka museum and his grave site.
 
In Vienna we will experience the grandeur of the formal imperial capital and investigate the place Austrian Jews had in society, as well as the contributions they made to Austrian culture, in particular in the period from the late 19th century through the Nazi era. We'll also learn about the life of Austrian Jews in the period since World War II, and meet with a contemporary Austrian writer. Excursions in Vienna include the Museum Judenplatz and the Sigmund Freud House and Museum.
 

Week Four:

Berlin – Nazi Era and Post-World-War-II Era, 1932-2011
 
In this last week of the course we will focus on the period from mid-20th century to the 21st century. We will devote a few days to learning about German-Jewish life—and death—during the Nazi era, followed by our last segment on post-WWII German-Jewish culture and life. This week we will return to the Jewish Museum Berlin, the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, and the memorial at Bayrischer Platz. We will take a day-long trip to the site of the Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp. In our look at post-War German-Jewish life and culture, we will also enjoy a reading and discussion with at least one contemporary German-Jewish author, and we'll meet with members of the Jewish community of Berlin. The course will end with student presentations of your group research projects, and a forum discussion about the whole course. ​
 

Lodging

Your lodging costs are included in the fees for this program. You will be housed in a variety of accommodations while traveling and studying abroad. These may include shared, budget-style accommodation, single- or double-dorm rooms, or shared hotel rooms. More detailed information on lodging will be available soon.​
 
The Story of Jews in German-Speaking Europe: 500–2012: view this UCEAP Faculty-Led Program on Facebook

Course Work

In this program you will take the following required two courses, totaling 9 UC quarter units.  You may be able to petition these courses towards various departments, beyond the UCEAP subject area designations listed below, on your home campus.  See “Course Equivalents” note below.
 

Core Course

EUROPEAN STUDIES 157 (4.5 UC quarter units, Letter Grade only) 

Through historical readings, literary texts, essays, memoirs, and films we will address some of the following questions:
 
  • How did the Jews come to be in German-speaking lands?
  • How did Jews in Germany live in the medieval and early modern periods?
  • What is the Yiddish language and how did it develop in Germany?
  • Why have Jews had it so good in German-speaking lands during some periods, and so bad during other periods?
  • What was the Jewish Enlightenment (Haskalah) about? What effect did it have on Jewish, German, and Austrian culture in the 19th and 20th centuries?
  • What are the roots of modern anti-Semitism in Germany and Austria?
  • What was German- and Austrian-Jewish life like in the Weimar Republic and the Nazi years?
  • What was it like to grow up as a Jewish child during the Holocaust?
  • What were the effects of the Holocaust on German-Jewish survivors?
  • What was the state of German-Jewish culture and German-Jewish relations in post-World War II period?
  • How has reunification in 1990 affected German-Jewish culture and German-Jewish relations, and what is the state of the culture in contemporary Germany?
  • And the million-dollar question of the quarter: Was German-Jewish history an inexorable path to destruction? 

Directed Group Study

EUROPEAN STUDIES 189 (4.5 UC quarter units, Pass/No Pass only)

You will work in groups of two or three on projects which culminate in presentations during the last week of the course.  Each project will involve an experiential component, such as relevant site visits or interviews with community members, museum curators, or rabbis.
 
Course Equivalents: As with all UCEAP courses, subject area listings do not indicate that these courses will satisfy specific major or other degree requirements at any particular campus. Work with your home UC campus academic department before departure to identify potential requirements that could be fulfilled through this program's coursework. 

Units

​You will take two courses totaling 9 UC quarter units.


Internships, Research, and Independent Study

​The Directed Group Study allows you to focus on particular topics in small groups. Concurrent additional independent study, internships, or research are not an option on this program.
Associate Professor Glenn Levine, UCI
Glenn Levine is Associate Professor of German at UC Irvine. He researches adult second-language learning and teaching, as well as German-Jewish cultural history. He also directs the German language program and trains German language instructors at UCI. He teaches a wide range of courses, both in his research field and in German Studies, but also on broader cultural studies and history topics such as German-Jewish culture and history, Yiddish language and culture, and European culinary culture and history.
 
Professor Levine has long been deeply committed to study abroad. He began as a study-abroad student himself in Heidelberg as an undergraduate, followed by a year of research abroad in Aachen, Germany. Since coming to UCI he has worked tirelessly not just to help as many students as possible to have an education abroad experience, but to affect a change in the culture at UCI so that study abroad is an expected and achievable goal for every student.
 
Professor Levine has spent a significant amount of time over the years in Germany, and so is deeply familiar with the history and life of that country, as well as of neighboring Austria and the Czech Republic.
 

On-site Support

As a UCEAP participant, you will be supported by your UC faculty leader, the UCEAP Systemwide Office, and the University of California, which includes a network of study abroad offices at every UC campus. Drawing on UCEAP’s worldwide resources, your faculty leader will guide you academically, culturally, and logistically, with strong support from UCEAP staff in California.
 

Estimated Cost

Studying abroad with UCEAP, the official UC study abroad program, allows you to enjoy exceptional value and perks! Often, the expenses of participating in UCEAP programs are less than those of non-UC study abroad programs. The cost listed in the chart below include: 1) program fees that are paid directly to UCEAP in the current year, and 2) an estimate of the amount needed to cover your personal living expenses abroad. Recreational travel and entertainment are not included.
 
If you receive UC financial aid, it will be repackaged and customized to the cost of your UCEAP program. In other words, the amount of your financial aid package will take into account the estimated TOTAL COST of this experience, as it is estimated below.
 
These expenses are estimated for the current year. Amounts are subject to change due to potential changes to UC fees, exchange rate fluctuation, etc.
 
Here’s what is included in the estimate:
 
Your Program Fees: 
  • UC fees
  • All Program Costs, including tuition &  instructional expenses
  • Accident and medical insurance
  • Orientation and advising
  • Lodging and partial meals
  • All excursions and entrance fees for cultural activities
  • Automatic transfer of credits and grades to your UC transcript
Estimated Personal Expenses: 
  • Pre-departure expenses (health clearance, student visa, etc.)
  • Round-trip airfare and other travel-related expenses
  • Meals not covered by program fees
  • Books and other incidental expenses
Your Program Fees + Estimated Personal Expenses = $8,400
 

Estimated EAP Costs*

Options Cost
  • Summer
  • $8,400
*Based on estimated 2012-13 costs.

Scholarships

UCEAP scholarships for the 2012-13 academic year are available for the new 50th Anniversary UC Faculty-Led Summer Programs. Please visit our scholarships overview page for general information and details regarding eligibility requirements and application deadlines.

How to Apply

Application Process

​
 
To apply for this program, follow the steps below. You will apply directly to the UCEAP Systemwide Office.
 
  1. Create an account with MyEAP.
    2.  
    Note: Once you register with MyEAP you will receive an auto e-mail from UCEAP with instructions specific to your UC campus. Please disregard this e-mail.
     
  2. Select this program from the dropdown menu.
    3.  
  3. ​Complete the online MyEAP application.
    4.  
  4. Gather the required documents as listed in the MyEAP application Instructions.
    5.  
  5. Mail your application including all the required documents directly to the UCEAP Systemwide Office (must be received by April 13, 2012):
 

Mailing Address
Attn: Ann Logan
UCEAP Systemwide Office
6950 Hollister Avenue, Suite 200
Goleta, CA 93117-5823

APPLICATION DEADLINE: April 13, 2012
 
​

Application Requirements

Class Level:

Freshman, Sophomore, Junior, Senior, Graduate

Language Prerequisites:

None

GPA:

2.50 cumulative GPA at the time of application and maintained through the end of the last term prior to departure.

Minimum Criteria:

 All applicants must also have:
  • Serious academic goals and a clear plan for integrating UCEAP studies into the student's UC degree program
  • Social and cross-cultural sensitivity; the ability to adapt successfully to a different environment and an new education program model; and the ability to exhibit appropriate standards of behavior in a variety of situations, show evidence of maturity, stability, and self-discipline, in a variety of situations
  • A willingness to abide by program regulations
  • An endorsement by the UCEAP Systemwide Office Selection Committee and completion of all application requirements

Selection Process

​The deadline to apply is April 13, 2012.
 
Don’t delay! Applicants are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.

If you are selected for the program, you will be notified within one week of your application submission. At that time, a $400 non-refundable fee will be assessed to secure your participation in the program. The payment will be applied towards your UCEAP program fees.
​