New program to offer Jewish culture classes

History, geography, and politics of the Jewish culture are some topics the new interdisciplinary minor program Jewish studies will cover. 

The Jewish studies program is a "broad, interpretive approach of the Jewish people and Judaism," said Arlene Lazarowitz, Cal State Long Beach history professor and director of the program.

The program is in the process of going to the College of Liberal Arts curriculum committee and is expected to be approved by the end of the semester, Lazarowitz said.  

The hope is that the new minor option will be included in the CSULB catalog in the near future, she said. 

The minor is open to everybody on campus.

"This class is not just for Jewish students," Lazarowitz said. "It is a history of a people, not for a people."

Jason Gutierrez, a junior majoring in public relations, said he thinks the program sounds interesting.

"I don't know too much about the religion," he said. "I think it's a good way for students such as myself to find out more information about other cultures."

The idea for the program came from Michael Rassler, the director of the Jewish Federation in Long Beach, Lazarowitz said. The program, which needs funding, has received help from the Long Beach community.

The minor will require students to take 18 units from a list of 12 classes. These choices include American Jewish History, History of the Holocaust and The Bible as Literature with other courses also being developed for the program.