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director and an urban studies professor
MSU's
team up for a class on black Jewish relations.
JULIE WIENER
Staff Writer
R
abbi Philip Cohen and
Professor Richard Thomas
are practicing what they
teach this semester.
Cohen, a Judaic studies professor
and Michigan State University's Hillel
director, and Thomas, a black scholar
of urban studies, are co-teaching a
new course titled "Relations Between
African Americans And Jews."
The one-credit course, which is in
its fourth week, addresses the history
of blacks and Jews in the United
States, focusing on the Jewish experi-
ence of anti-Semitism, the black expe-
rience of racism and "the common
black-Jewish political agenda," say the
professors. Cohen and Thomas, who
met through a black-Jewish faculty
discussion group, hope the 20-student
class will provide a safe space for
nicities and to attend campus events
blacks and Jews to discuss common
such as a multi-cultural Shabbat cele-
issues. And they won't soft-pedal the
bration.
conflicts between the communities,
Since converting from Christianity
such as tensions over affirmative
to the Bahai faith in the late 1960s,
action and the rise of Nation of Islam
Thomas has been passionately com-
leader Louis Farrakhan, whose speech-
mitted to fostering racial and ethnic
es have been peppered with anti-
Semitic sentiments.
Above: Rabbi Philip Cohen and Professor
Thomas sees the class as a
Richard Thomas.
proactive strategy.
"Rather than just waiting for Below: Students discuss biblical commentary as
controversial things to occur on part of Rabbi Cohen's overview of Jewish ethics.
campus, Phil and I are con-
cerned that we learn to com-
municate and build bonds so
that when these things emerge,
people have more than just
their respective positions from
which to argue," he said.
In addition to keeping up
with readings and participating
in discussions, students are
required to vrork on projects
with partners of different eth-