January 7, 2015, Mizrachi (Sephardi) immigrants in an Ashkenazic run state Ashkenazi romantic and patronizing attitudes toward Mizrachim Waves of immigration Mizrachi music as Israeli culture

December 17, Ingathering of the exiles; post-Holocaust dreams and realities Holocaust survivors in Israel German reparations New historians and the failure of rescue during the Holocaust Eichmann on trial The meaning of Yad Vashem

Institution Building Ben Gurion's malachtiyut: the state comes before everything Challenges of the Supreme Court Rabbanoot (rabbinate): good or bad for the Jews? Ministry of Education

Law of Return and Who is a Jew? Who is a Jew defined Judaism (Orthodox and non-Orthodox) in the Jewish state The Law of Return; The Brother Daniel case The conversion crises (1988; 1997-98)

November 19 Status Quo and modus vivendi Religion in Israel's early days The status quo (religious) agreement Ben-Gurion's understanding of the Diaspora

November 12, Building a state in the 1950s Armistice with Arab countries (Rhodes Talks) Egyptian Jew spy scandal Sinai War Building relationship with France

November 5, War of Independence: road to victory and creation of the refugee problem

The struggle for statehood (1947 - 1948) UN recognition and the start of war Resettling refugees (Holocaust survivors amidst new conflict) Weapons smuggling and the role of American Jews The bitter legacy of the British

October 22, 2014 Overview of Zionism 1897 - 1947

Last lecture of Year One. Plus Taste of Year Two featuring Rabbi Dr. David Starr.