This interactive course, developed and led by the Melton Centre at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, is a comprehensive, sequential series of text-based lessons. This course reveals how many of the critical issues facing the Jewish people today have been with us throughout history. The course provides an overview of Jewish history and delves into the challenges and issues faced by Jewish people. It explores how ideas and conflicts are resolved in different ways in diverse communit... [More]

This interactive course, developed and led by the Melton Centre at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, is a comprehensive, sequential series of text-based lessons. Understanding Jewish ethics is the essence of understanding Judaism. Participants will explore how Judaism views human behaviour and debates practical dilemmas in life. The course is organised thematically and has been tailored to suit the interests of Australian learners. Topics include Respect for Human Life, Justice, C... [More]

This interactive course, developed and led by the Melton Centre at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, is a comprehensive, sequential series of text-based lessons. Rhythms of Jewish Living and Purposes of Jewish Living are taken together. Rhythms introduces the beliefs and practices that shape Jewish festivals, and the life cycle. This enables participants to appreciate the depth and consistency of Jewish life. Purposes is devoted to the question why the Jews believe what they belie... [More]

Anthropology is the study of man, mankind and humanity, its diversities and developments in all its cultural, social and historical dimensions. As a distinctive scientific discipline, anthropology began to emerge in the mid-19th century at the intersection of the development of natural science and European colonial enterprise. Contemporary world understanding of anthropology has become increasingly significant, enabling us to understand the origin and evolution of ours and others’ b... [More]

Learn how to read and write hieroglyphs - ‘the gods words’ - in this practical introduction to the alphabet, grammar and vocabulary of this fascinating ancient script. Through simple exercises based on tomb, temple and biographical extracts you’ll discover for yourself the language, literature and culture of the ancient Egyptians. Course Content In Their Own Write Definition, historical development, not simply picture writing The basic Egyptian Alphabet, direction of reading, transl... [More]

We can usefully understand a given society in terms of its characteristic visions of ultimate reality. What, as shown both by its philosophical preoccupations and its socially valued activities (its economic relations, its sacred rituals, its art), is its basic vision of what truly is? In this course we turn the spotlight on western culture. We familiarise ourselves with some of the major philosophical issues involved in contending views of the ultimately real. We consider how in di... [More]

The conflict in the Middle East can be traced back into ancient history to the Egyptians, the Jews, the followers of Baal, the Zoroastrians and the pagans of Greece and Rome. The arrival of the Christians brought another competing religion, and later the Muslims completed the picture. This course will look at all these religions and how people have fought under their different banners for control and ownership of not only Palestine but the whole area from Turkey to Persia. Course Co... [More]

This course is an introduction to the history, government, economy, people, religion and culture of Saudi Arabia. It will take you on a colourful journey through this enigmatic and closed Islamic society. The complications of the oil diplomacy, rentier economy, and the US-Saudi axis will be discussed in relation to the domestic politics of Saudi Arabia and the wider context of the Arab Spring. Course Content Arabia and its pre-Islamic history The birth of Islam The Mamluks, the Otto... [More]

The Middle East conflict today is a complex and dangerous situation, involving nations inside and outside of the region. It is, in many ways, the centre of East-West tensions and modern terrorism Understanding the conflict requires detailed knowledge of which players are involved, their histories and their ambitions in the region. In this course participants will look at the Arab and Muslim groups who have an input into the conflict and at the same time will look at the state of and... [More]

No other pair of countries offers such frequent comparison and yet share so little in common. This course is an introduction into the cultural, socio-economic and political comparisons of the world’s major growing world powers of India and China. Will India catch up with China’s growth and become the world’s fastest-growing big economy? Major controversies over Kashmir, troubles in the South China Sea, the nuclear arms race, changing population trends, and foreign policies are analy... [More]