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HU Credits:
2
Degree/Cycle:
2nd degree (Master)
Responsible Department:
History
Semester:
1st Semester
Teaching Languages:
Hebrew
Campus:
Mt. Scopus
Course/Module Coordinator:
Dr. Iris Nachum
Coordinator Office Hours:
Tuesday, upon appointment
Teaching Staff:
Dr. Iris Nachum
Course/Module description:
This seminar examines the life, work, and time of the Jewish jurist Jacob Robinson (1889, Lithuania – 1977, New York) and his significant contribution to legal and political debates in the 20th century. Through Robinson’s figure, topics such as the protection of minority rights, compensation for serious violations of human rights, refugee rights, the development of key international institutions, and other related issues will be discussed. The seminar takes a multidisciplinary approach, integrating history, law, and political science to understand the broader context of his work.
Course/Module aims:
The seminar aims to critically study Jacob Robinson’s involvement in key international institutions and debates of the 20th century, including the European Congress of Nationalities, the Institute of Jewish Affairs, the United Nations, the Nuremberg and Eichmann trials, the Refugee Convention, the Compensation Agreement between West Germany and Israel, and Yad Vashem. By examining his activities in these arenas, the course aims to provide insights into the legal, political, and humanitarian challenges that shaped the 20th century.
Learning outcomes - On successful completion of this module, students should be able to:
- Describe the life, career, and historical context of Jacob Robinson.
- Critically discuss key political and legal issues of the 20th century.
- Evaluate the impact of legal and political decisions on minority rights and refugee protection.
- Reflect on the ethical and humanitarian dimensions of international law and human rights in the 20th century.
- Integrate perspectives from history, political science, and law to contextualize the emergence of international organizations in the 20th century.
- Analyze and interpret primary and secondary sources related to Jacob Robinson.
Attendance requirements(%):
100
Teaching arrangement and method of instruction:
Lecture and in-class discussion.
Course/Module Content:
1. Jacob Robinson: The Man and His Time
2. Robinson in Lithuania Between the Two World Wars – A Zionist Activist?
3. The Lithuanian “Seimas” in the 1920s
4. The European Congress of Nationalities
5. The Bernheim Petition (1933)
6. Minority Rights and Population Transfer
7. Crimes Against Humanity, Genocide, Human Rights
8. The Refugee Convention (1951)
9. The Compensation Agreement (1952)
10. The Eichmann Trial (1961)
11. Yad Vashem
12. Guest Lectures
13. Conclusion: National and International Issues in the 20th Century
Required Reading:
For the required reading material, see the course’s Moodle site.
Additional Reading Material:
Grading Scheme :
Essay / Project / Final Assignment / Referat 100 %
Additional information:
Students choose between two options.
Option 1:
-Submit a summary paper. (10-11 pages, in English)
-The grade of the summary paper is the grade of the course.
Option 2:
-Give a short presentation in class and submit a seminar paper (30 pages, in English).
-Students receive two grades: 1. the grade of the presentation is the grade of the course, 2. a grade for the seminar paper.
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